Calls for action as long-running rat infestation persists after a year

A frustrated mother is pushing the council to address a rat problem in Windsor that has been going on for over a year.

In June last year, Elaine Clark – who comes to Windsor to visit her son – was revolted to discover an ‘enormous’ nest of rats in Acre Passage, a cul-de-sac to the rear of Peascod Street.

She located the problem to some large industrial bins at the top of the passage, which she said are often overflowing.

Given the proximity of restaurants and cafés, young children and vulnerable people (because of disabled parking bays nearby), the preponderance of rats concerned her.

Elaine and her son began taking pictures and contacting RBWM about the issue – but despite being told there was an investigation, things seemed to be getting worse.

At the time, Elaine said she was told by an RBWM officer that the council had worked with businesses to improve waste storage and was also working to put more bait down.

Elaine was unconvinced that merely putting down more bait would be enough to solve the problem, given the extent of it.

She had spotted about 10 rats under the large industrial bins at once, she said.

Now, a year on, the problem remains unresolved, though there have been some attempts, Elaine says.

Greenery was also removed to make way for construction, which Elaine says helped but nonetheless all the interventions ‘have clearly not solved the problem.’

The area is ‘completely overrun’ with rats at night, she said, within about 200 yards of the Castle, in an area where elderly people wait for taxis and young families are often there with pushchairs.

“Sunday morning, I passed this thing [a rat] just lying there dead,” Elaine said.

“People always say you're only ever about six feet away from a rat but I don't think you want to be six inches away.”

The council ‘are just not taking it seriously enough’, Elaine feels.

“I know the council can't help where the rat dies, but you've got little kids playing around on their bikes in that area and it’s just so unsafe,” she said.

“I don't know what it takes to get them [RBWM] to actually do something permanent. [The area] needs more waste disposal for the shops.”

Elaine added: “I'm pretty hacked off with it. The council tax in Windsor is absolutely horrendous and it’s just not good enough in my view.

“We're talking about the centre of Windsor, not the backstreets of a country village. It is a major public health hazard. I think it's unacceptable.”

A council spokesperson, said: “We have taken pest control action, following residents reporting rats at Acre Passage, and have been working with local businesses to encourage improved waste management to deter them returning. We also plan to remove the surrounding vegetation and collapse of burrows shortly.”