Sewer baiting to kill rats in Aberystwyth is set to resume in the spring ahead of a move to three-weekly bin collections.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water baited sewers in Aberystwyth in 2006 and 2012 after complaints at the time that the rat population was “spiralling out of control” due to poor litter storage in the town centre.

With the introduction of controversial three-weekly black bin bag collection due in the spring, concerns have been raised that the amount of rubbish gathered on Aberystwyth streets will exacerbate the rodent problem in the town centre.

An agreement over who will fund the baiting programme has yet to be reached.

Ceredigion council said that talks are ongoing with Welsh Water about reintroducing sewer baiting at specific locations around the town, but insists that if the Aberystwyth public “make proper use” of the new waste collection services, the rat population will not rise.

Sewer baiting, involving placing poisoned traps around manholes and sewer entry points, is suggested by experts to be carried out regularly in urban areas to ensure rodent populations are kept under control.

A council spokesperson said: “The local authority is in negotiation with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water in relation to funding sewer baiting in certain areas identified within Aberystwyth town.

“Once a suitable funding arrangement is reached, it is the local authority’s intention to bait early spring when it is most effective.”

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