Rubbish leads to rats in the kitchen

They can be injurious to human health and all efforts must continue to control their population.

Rats kept as pets are in a controlled environment, the ones which live in sewers are not.

For the second time, I have had a rat as an unwelcome visitor to my home. The first time, I laughed when I saw a rat in my garden sitting on the bird-table eating the food left out for the birds as it looked so very comfortable.

However, the laughter did not last long as, after all, he was vermin and had, therefore, to be duly dispatched by the pest control officer. The birds are now no longer fed, on his advice.

Now rat number two has entered my kitchen and l am very concerned. Is there really no connection between our unsanitary method of household rubbish collection and the increase in the rat population?

Why is waste allowed to be left on the pavement in plastic bags where it can be torn open by vermin and scavengers, such as rats, seagulls and foxes, not to mention cats and dogs as well?

This is not permitted in other counties so why here?

Certainly in Surrey, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Leicestershire, all households are allocated proper wheelie bins by the council.

In areas where the housing is of multi-occupancy - blocks of flats or houses with various flatlets - larger containers are provided. Both of these container types are solid, have lids and are safe from animals.

In various countries on the Continent, certainly in the cities, where housing is predominately of multi-occupancy, all rubbish is collected in these large containers.

Not only that but they are emptied every day except Sunday and Bank Holidays. Just think of that, six days a week instead of once a week or even once a fortnight as they tried to con us into recently.

I am tempted to have a one-woman protest and leave my rubbish out in a bin. Adur District Council, you have been warned.

-Mrs Adam, Cross Road, Southwick