A TENANT has opened up about his two-year struggle to get rid of a colony of rats that invaded his backyard.
John Rough, 40, said dozens of rodents startle locals by prowling gardens and open spaces at all times of the day.
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John Rough has been trying to get rid of rats in his garden for two yearsCredit: Tom Farmer
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Rodents roam the gardens and open spacesCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
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John said the rat problem “exploded” during the lockdown.Credit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
And he was startled when one jumped at him as he was opening a rubbish bin outside his home in Scotstoun, Glasgow.
But John had no help eliminating them – because the council leaders and Network Rail both refuse to take responsibility for an old railway line nearby where the long-tailed creatures make their nests.
The father-of-two said: “Before Covid we would sometimes see a rat or two at night.
“But during lockdown the situation exploded and now there are too many of them.
“They walk through the gardens every hour of the day like they own the place. I tell people we live in rat town.”
John bought traps, checked bins regularly and asked the authorities for help – to no avail.
He said: “The rats get in by climbing over the fence that separates my garden from a bike path that used to be an old railway.
“I regularly see community workers coming there to mow the grass, but I’ve been told it’s not their territory.
“But someone has to take responsibility and help us.”
John recalled the terrifying moment when a rat attacked him while opening the heavy plastic lid of a garbage can.
He said: “These little buggers put a hole in it and go in and out as they please.
“I asked for my bins to be changed six months ago, but nothing has happened so far.
“Rats carry diseases, so it’s not safe to let them run around in the garden like that.”
Glasgow City Council confirmed it was “aware of cleanup and health issues” in John’s Street.
A spokesman said: “Our pest control team have been working in various backyards there.
“Unfortunately, we discovered that a member of the public was distributing wildlife food, which is encouraging to the rats.
“We will continue to check the bins and work with local residents as needed.”
He added: “Records show that the council is not responsible for the maintenance of the cycle path.”
Network Rail said the land was sold to the Council by the British Railways Board in 1988.
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