Regular readers of these pages will be well aware of recent problems with a rat infestation in Fourth Street, Blackhall Colliery. Full details and background story can be found at this links: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/06/progress-with-vermin-issue-in-fourth.html and here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/06/vermin-infestations-and-private-sector.html
One of the main causes of infestation of course is rubbish left out in the street in back lanes and yards - and particularly the type of rubbish that is edible or contains food waste. With this in mind I was asked by residents to see what I could do to have abandoned bins removed in the hope that this would prevent rat infestations in future.
I had already started the process a few weeks ago when residents reported bins left in the street for weeks and often months on end in certain locations, but mainly in the back lanes between Third & Fourth and Sixth & Seventh Streets.
In addition to those incidents I also asked the waste collection service to remove abandoned bins in other locations where it was obvious they were either badly damaged or had been left out for a lengthy period of time.
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| Fourth Street after the abandoned bins were removed earlier this week |
I received confirmation yesterday that most of the bins reported had either been removed or had been returned to their owners. Hopefully this will address some of the problems associated with vermin, and also keep the streets looking a bit tidier.
Any associated problems can be dealt with by the council at: https://doitonline.durham.gov.uk/ or if you prefer you can get in touch with me at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk and I’ll see what I can do to help.