Complaints over rat problem in Whitehouse Park

Councillor Bob Kidd raised the issue at a meeting of Newtownabbey Borough Council.

He said that a plague of rats had come into the area following the disruption of land by the construction of the M5 motorway.

He said that the rats should be destroyed by council workmen, and the bill for the work should be forwarded to the Department of the Environment.

Councillor Kidd also claimed that some residents had counted at least 20 rats in and around their property since work on the motorway began.

Newtownabbey Town Clerk, Mr Roland Blennerhassett said: “This is the first I have heard of any such problem and I feel that the council would be well advised to ask for a report from the chief public health inspector on this issue.”

He continued: “If there are rats in the area, it is the residents’ responsibilty to destroy them.”

Councillor Kidd proposed the motion that the council staff should kill the infestation, but no other councillors seconded the motion at the meeting.