Rat problems are on the rise in towns across Ceredigion – with one Aberystwyth councillor saying the current situation is ‘not acceptable’.

Problems with rats and reports to pest control are rising in Ceredigion with steps to restart “sewer baiting” underway, councillors were told this week.

An overview of the community warden and pest control services was brought to scrutiny committee today, following previous discussions about rat problems in Aberystwyth.

A report states that in 2020/21 there were 265 rat issues reported to pest control, compared to 220 in 2019/20 and 163 in 2018/19 and the “apparent increase may be attributable to a whole range of factors.”

These include “takeaway foods become more popular resulting in more food waste, rubbish being collected less frequently, poor housing conditions, low income/vulnerable households unable to afford pest control services, and milder winters.”

Members of the healthier communities overview and scrutiny committee heard that after running with just one officer for a considerable amount of time the community warden service had recently filled a vacant post, with training and accreditation to be completed.

Councillors were also “pleased to hear” that steps to achieve the necessary safety certification required by Dwr Cymru to resume joint sewer baiting work was being considered to fight the problem in Ceredigion’s towns.

“The current situation in Aberystwyth and other towns in the county is not acceptable, and it’s certainly not acceptable to the public,” said Cllr Alun Williams.

Anne-Louise Davies, trading standards and licensing manager, told the committee that sewer baiting can be successful in towns and the accreditation to work with Dwr Cymru is “something we will be doing.”

During the pandemic officers in the public protection team had to prioritise the most serious reports and although there had been an increase in litter and dog waste in some areas, hazardous issues had to be dealt with first, the committee heard.

The next steps include creating a new pest control policy with revised charges, including a new safeguard for low income and vulnerable households, and consideration of ways to increase dog fouling patrols and enforcement work.