Tower Hamlets tops UK for pest infestations
Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of pest infestations per 1000 people in the UK, according to new research from the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of pest infestations per 1000 people in the UK, according to new research from the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
The report named and shamed Tower Hamlets for having more call-outs than any other local authority in the UK for treatments for cockroaches, bed bugs and mice. This is despite the fact that - unlike some local authorities - Tower Hamlets does not provide pest control services for commercial premises.
Total pest infestations in the borough reached 80 for every 1,000 people. The report, based on data from 2010-11, was released just two months after Tower Hamlets council introduced charges for visits from pest control officers.
Paid-for services include call-outs for bed bugs, cockroaches and mice, with treatments costing residents as much as �108. However, the charges do not apply to residents of council housing, some housing associations, state pensioners, or call-outs for rat infestations.
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When The Advertiser contacted Tower Hamlets’ cabinet member for the environment, councillor Shahed Ali, he was not aware of the report’s findings.
After reviewing the data, he said: “The infestation of bed-bugs and cockroaches is to some degree attributable to the high percentage of tower block housing accomodation which facilitates the easy migration of these pests between living units thereby spreading the infestation.
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“Our charges for treatments are highly competitive, and we have a very experienced and committed workforce. The report recognises that London has very high infestation rates and so it follows that our service will be under great demand.”
The BPCA’s Technical Manager, Richard Moseley, said that the findings were unsurprising.
He said: “Tower Hamlets council is not necessarily doing anything wrong, as you would expect the borough to have higher numbers of call-outs than other, less densely populated areas. They have a wide, very well-used and well organised pest control team in a difficult area to manage.”
