Oswestry pensioners fear rats at bungalows

Elderly tenants say that they are being told they will have to fork out £35 for first visits by pest controllers, the figure rising to £70 for subsequent visits.

Housing bosses have apologised for the billing error, and say the rat problem is being addressed.

The rodent problem has been upsetting the pensioners who live in Yorkfields in the west of Oswestry, a complex of bungalows.

Betty Richards, 83, has lived at Yorkfields for four years although has lived all her life in Oswestry.

Pest controllers visited her property free of charge when she reported signs of rat infestation adjoining her bungalow and put down poison.

"The rats had completely chewed a brick out at the front of the offices at Yorkfields, which is right next to my bedroom," she said.

"I am really scared that they are going to get through into the bedroom.

"I can also hear them running and scrabbling behind the wall in the bathroom and have seen their shadows running the other side of my fence. My Jack Russell, Dotty, sits by the fence for hours – she knows they are there.

"Now my neighbours who have complained have had letters saying that they will have to pay a fee of £35 for one visit by the pest control people.

"After that the cost rises to £70."

"We shouldn't have to pay. These are council properties and we are tenants.

"We are also pensioners.

"We shouldn't be charged as it is the council's property not our own."

Chris Shepherd, neighbourhoods manager at Shropshire Towns & Rural Housing, which manages the properties, said: "Following reports of rats in the wall cavity at Yorkfields we asked Shropshire Council's pest control officers to visit the area.

"I'm happy to say that the rats have now been successfully treated and the cavity sealed.

"We did ask the tenant to pay the bill for the pest control work, but she will be fully reimbursed and I would like to pass on my apologies."