By RUTH LOGNONNE ruth.lognonne@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 09:24, Wednesday, 28 July 2010

A PLAGUE of rats is terrorising residents in the west end of Haltwhistle.

And now people living at East View, Dale Street and Tynedale Gardens have signed a petition to have the rodents wiped out once and for all.

Nobody is sure where the rats are coming from, but residents suspect they are scuttling over from the derelict Greystonedale building across the road.

Mother-of-five, Carla Tate, who lives at East View, has seen rats running around her front yard and in and out of her bins all summer.

She is terrified to let her small children play outside in case they come into contact with one of the rats and catch a disease.

“They’ve already chewed right the way through my bins,” she said. “I saw one climbing up the wall of my garden shed where I keep all the children’s toys.

“I’ve put poison out and they’ve been eating it but it doesn’t seem to make any difference – they just keep coming back.

“They are absolutely everywhere and the situation is out of control. We’ve lived here for seven years and I’ve never come across anything like this before.”

The petition to Northumberland County Council was the brainchild of neighbouring South View resident, and town councillor, Margaret Forrest.

She phoned the county council more than a month ago, when the problem was first brought to her attention.

She was told that if the pests were not in resident’s houses then they would have to pay £45 to have the rats disposed of.

Infuriated by the county council’s response, Coun. Forrest is determined to have the rat infestation cleared up free of charge.

“This is a health and safety issue and if a child gets bitten by a rat then it could be fatal.

“I know of five families who hardly dare let their children play out in the yards. If they get into the houses it will be dreadful and it will cost the county council a lot more to sort it out.”

Haltwhistle town councillor John Watson said the rat problem in Haltwhistle could eventually echo one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.

“Remember the Black Death was caused by rats,” he said. “The county council say they won’t do anything unless the rats are in people’s houses, but they are using roads and paths owned by the county council to get into the back yards of these houses.

“No one can leave their doors open and children are not allowed to play in their own yards.”

Public safety and enforcement manager for Northumberland County Council, Philip Soderquest, said the pest control service ruled out the Greystonedale site earlier this month

“We are now working with Network Rail, as we believe the source may be a nearby railway embankment,” he said.

“At our request, Network Rail undertook a survey and they have now commenced pest control treatment.”

First published at 09:40, Friday, 16 July 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk