Today's most viewed
| THURROCK NEWS |  | | | | | | | | | SPORT | | | | ELECTION
2008
| | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | | | | |
|
|
|
Thurrock Council set to cut pest services
THURROCK Council is set to cut its pest control services.
From next month infestations of rats, mice, brown tail moths, lice, cockroaches, fleas and bed bugs will no longer be the responsibility of the Council and anyone wanting help with dealing with pests, including wasps nests, will have to go private.
Thurrock Council expect to save £80,000 a year from 2009 by cutting the service.
A Council spokesman said: "Among the savings agreed by Thurrock Council at its meeting of February 27 this year was the cessation of non-statutory functions in pest control.
"These include: bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, wasps, mice, rats, brown tail moths and lice.
"Many local authorities have ceased these services and direct residents to private sector pest control services.
"This is Thurrock Council's intention. This is expected to save the council £80,000 a year from 2009."
Labour councillor for Grays Thurrock, Yash Gupta, raised concerns over the welfare of the elderly and vulnerable.
He said: "Pest control is the kind of service people expect their local council to provide.
"So what do Tory Councillors do? Stop providing it.
"So from April this year if you've a problem with wasps, rats, flees or cockroaches you'll have to make you own arrangements even if you're vulnerable or elderly."
News of the cut has already angered some residents and a Grays householder, who who asked not to be named, said: "It's obvious that they (Thurrock Council) are keen on a clean environment but surely this will have a detrimental effect.
"What are the Council officers going to do when they have a problem on their premises and are Council tenants going to have to pay for Rentokil to come round?"
Councillor Wendy Herd, Thurrock's Cabinet member for Commissioning and Community Well-being, said: "We have identified the pest control service as a saving for the coming financial year.
"This does not mean it will close in April.
"First, there are some statutory duties the pest control team must still deal with, and second, exact details of the saving have yet to be worked out, but that will not happen in April either.
"In making these imposed savings and balancing our duty to all council tax payers we have had to look carefully at services we provide.
"While we will be saving approximatly £80.000 from Pest Control in 2009 the cost of the imposed stray dogs duty will be in excess of £125.000."
2:58pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Aaron, Ockendon, Thurrock on 6:14pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The council should be extending the services it offers, not cutting them back. I agree fully with Mr Gupta, as such a decision can only hurt the elderly and those on low incomes which will not be able to go private.
Nice of the Tory party to show that they are the nasty party yet again.
The council should be extending the services it offers, not cutting them back. I agree fully with Mr Gupta, as such a decision can only hurt the elderly and those on low incomes which will not be able to go private.
Nice of the Tory party to show that they are the nasty party yet again.
Posted by: Sue on 8:26pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Yet another service being cut - how disgusting. Council tax is going up year on year and yet cuts are made to essential services - it always seem the truly vulnerable suffer!
Yet another service being cut - how disgusting. Council tax is going up year on year and yet cuts are made to essential services - it always seem the truly vulnerable suffer!
Posted by: Rubber Gloves, Stanford-le-Hope on 11:08pm Thu 27 Mar 08
One of my kids broke my kitchen window last year, I paid to get it repaired, I don't expect my fellow council tax payers to cough up when something goes wrong with my home - what is the difference.
This is not a free service it cost £50 a hour to use,(info from Thurrock Council website) how much is a mouse trap or a can of flea spray from Morrisons, a lot less I bet.
One of my kids broke my kitchen window last year, I paid to get it repaired, I don't expect my fellow council tax payers to cough up when something goes wrong with my home - what is the difference.
This is not a free service it cost £50 a hour to use,(info from Thurrock Council website) how much is a mouse trap or a can of flea spray from Morrisons, a lot less I bet.
Posted by: Knighs1, Over here on 11:41pm Thu 27 Mar 08
There will be no requirement for the Pest Control team as Rats always leave a sinking ship, and oh boy is Thurrock sinking!
There will be no requirement for the Pest Control team as Rats always leave a sinking ship, and oh boy is Thurrock sinking!
Posted by: Thurrock Voice of Reason, Grays on 8:44am Fri 28 Mar 08
A year ago I had a wasp nest in the eves nice man from the council came sprayed what I found out was ant powder on the entrance, all the wasps died and I was £40 poorer. If I had known what was involved I would have done it myself. I agree with Mr Gloves to a degree why should we all have to pay more council Tax to cover the cost of home repairs and up keep? I am sure it is not beyond the minds of the council to come up with a fact sheet on how to help prevent and cure these problems.
A year ago I had a wasp nest in the eves nice man from the council came sprayed what I found out was ant powder on the entrance, all the wasps died and I was £40 poorer. If I had known what was involved I would have done it myself. I agree with Mr Gloves to a degree why should we all have to pay more council Tax to cover the cost of home repairs and up keep? I am sure it is not beyond the minds of the council to come up with a fact sheet on how to help prevent and cure these problems.
Posted by: Thurrock Voice of Reason, Grays on 9:02am Fri 28 Mar 08
further to my previous comment a quick check on google using councils responsibility for pests shows nearly every council saying the same "it your your responsibility to deal with the pests". A significant majority charged for any service provided or advised to get a pest control company in.
It is about time that the expectation that Council will do every thing is dismissed unless everyone is happy to pay through the nose in Council Tax. I assume this is what Mr Gupta and his chums want us to do if they get back in power.
further to my previous comment a quick check on google using councils responsibility for pests shows nearly every council saying the same "it your your responsibility to deal with the pests". A significant majority charged for any service provided or advised to get a pest control company in.
It is about time that the expectation that Council will do every thing is dismissed unless everyone is happy to pay through the nose in Council Tax. I assume this is what Mr Gupta and his chums want us to do if they get back in power.
Posted by: Thomas Johns, Essex on 9:22am Fri 28 Mar 08
Alexi Sale did a sketch years ago where he said in a scouse accent "I got a council flat once, it was terrible. I went to the toilet and it was a week before anyone from the council came round to wipe my ar5e" I see Thurrock Voice of reason right the council shouldnt have to do everything and why should I have to pay more tax to pay for someone elses problems
Alexi Sale did a sketch years ago where he said in a scouse accent "I got a council flat once, it was terrible. I went to the toilet and it was a week before anyone from the council came round to wipe my ar5e" I see Thurrock Voice of reason right the council shouldnt have to do everything and why should I have to pay more tax to pay for someone elses problems
Posted by: jw on 9:24pm Fri 28 Mar 08
My mum was unfortunate to live next door to a family who seemed to think it was ok to chuck out rubbish into the back garden, this went on for over a year, the smell was disgusting! This resulted in rats! My mum had them invested in her loft because of this, she is elderly and disabled! Why should she be made to pay because of the neighbour?!
My mum was unfortunate to live next door to a family who seemed to think it was ok to chuck out rubbish into the back garden, this went on for over a year, the smell was disgusting! This resulted in rats! My mum had them invested in her loft because of this, she is elderly and disabled! Why should she be made to pay because of the neighbour?!
Posted by: The Truth Seeker, Seeking Truth Everywhere on 10:35pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]jw[/bold] wrote:
My mum was unfortunate to live next door to a family who seemed to think it was ok to chuck out rubbish into the back garden, this went on for over a year, the smell was disgusting! This resulted in rats! My mum had them invested in her loft because of this, she is elderly and disabled! Why should she be made to pay because of the neighbour?![/quote] If she used the council service she would have to pay as well.
The service is a commercial service being charged at commercial rates.
From Council website:-
Rats and Mice (domestic) - £40.00
Rats and Mice (business) - £50.00 per hour
The service isn't free. Could you explain how your mother got the rats removed for free when the council is charging 40 quid per hour?
jw wrote:
My mum was unfortunate to live next door to a family who seemed to think it was ok to chuck out rubbish into the back garden, this went on for over a year, the smell was disgusting! This resulted in rats! My mum had them invested in her loft because of this, she is elderly and disabled! Why should she be made to pay because of the neighbour?!
If she used the council service she would have to pay as well.
The service is a commercial service being charged at commercial rates.
From Council website:-
Rats and Mice (domestic) - £40.00
Rats and Mice (business) - £50.00 per hour
The service isn't free. Could you explain how your mother got the rats removed for free when the council is charging 40 quid per hour?
Posted by: jw on 11:51am Sat 29 Mar 08
She got them removed for free because she was not at fault, I do agree that the lady nextdoor should and been charged and to be honest im not sure whether she was. When she was finally evicted it took 10 lorry loads of rubbish to clear the mess! I wonder who paid for this as well, probably the tax payer yet again!
She got them removed for free because she was not at fault, I do agree that the lady nextdoor should and been charged and to be honest im not sure whether she was. When she was finally evicted it took 10 lorry loads of rubbish to clear the mess! I wonder who paid for this as well, probably the tax payer yet again!
Posted by: pa, grays on 1:55pm Wed 2 Apr 08
Why is it that the council can afford to give £81,000 to a voluntary racial unity task force, which Thurrock residents have always been in need of, but they can't afford the money for this service?
Why is it that the council can afford to give £81,000 to a voluntary racial unity task force, which Thurrock residents have always been in need of, but they can't afford the money for this service?
Posted by: The Truth Seeker, Seeking Truth Everywhere on 10:34am Thu 3 Apr 08
[quote][bold]pa[/bold] wrote:
Why is it that the council can afford to give £81,000 to a voluntary racial unity task force, which Thurrock residents have always been in need of, but they can't afford the money for this service?[/quote] Because Pest Control isnt a service the Government tell councils they should provide. (and why pay £40 per hour to get rid of mice when a mouse trap is £1.99!)
Social cohesion and community harmony are services and targets the Governemtn tell councils they must provide.
pa wrote:
Why is it that the council can afford to give £81,000 to a voluntary racial unity task force, which Thurrock residents have always been in need of, but they can't afford the money for this service?
Because Pest Control isnt a service the Government tell councils they should provide. (and why pay £40 per hour to get rid of mice when a mouse trap is £1.99!)
Social cohesion and community harmony are services and targets the Governemtn tell councils they must provide.
Posted by: pa, grays on 11:42am Thu 3 Apr 08
The Truth Seeker: Absolute rubbish. grants given to voluntary organisations are down to the councils discretion. They have no statutory obligation to make them.
Tell me why the most important group among the voluntary sector has all of a sudden a group solely interested in issues surrounding race.
What about debt, poverty, poor Housing, lack of housing, hospices, mental health, social care? It can't be because of the thousands of people from ethnic minorities that have recently turned up in Thurrock because you've denied this has happened in past posts that you have made.
Are you a real seeker of truth or someone trapped by an old fashioned socialist dogma that compells you to forget common sense and defend something that you know the vast majority of Thurrock residents would put way down on their list of priorities.
Not sure what truth you're seeking but it's out there somewhere.
The Truth Seeker: Absolute rubbish. grants given to voluntary organisations are down to the councils discretion. They have no statutory obligation to make them.
Tell me why the most important group among the voluntary sector has all of a sudden a group solely interested in issues surrounding race.
What about debt, poverty, poor Housing, lack of housing, hospices, mental health, social care? It can't be because of the thousands of people from ethnic minorities that have recently turned up in Thurrock because you've denied this has happened in past posts that you have made.
Are you a real seeker of truth or someone trapped by an old fashioned socialist dogma that compells you to forget common sense and defend something that you know the vast majority of Thurrock residents would put way down on their list of priorities.
Not sure what truth you're seeking but it's out there somewhere.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
