View vermin fears (From Penarth Times)

View vermin fears

A CONCERNED Penarth resident is urging the Vale Council to hurry up with plans for Harbour View, claiming rats are breeding in vacant properties.

Richard Wigmore, of Northcliff, works as a gardener in a house near the estate, and says he has seen vermin swarming in empty properties.

This follows a story in last week's Times in which Prince Charles Court resident Don Goodrich, 68, demanded information on his uncertain future.

The Vale Council has earmarked the site for redevelopment, but the residents remaining there, including Mr Goodrich, say they have been "kept in the dark by the authority for five years" and haven't got a clue what is going to happen.

Mr Wigmore said: "It's an environmental hazard with young people going into the empty properties with mice, rats and other vermin. Sooner or later one of these youngsters is going to be bitten.

"I do gardens for people in the areas and there's a woman who lives near there. She's in such a short distance from the estate and I think why should both she, and the residents there, have to put up with this?

"I'd be suing the council if I was living there. People where I live are going to be affected as this vermin problem is going to get worse. House values are going to go down."

He said: "It's a lovely place Penarth. I don't want to see it go this way at all. People here should know what's going on."

The council maintains that "work is ongoing and progressing".

A spokesman said of the vermin claims: "Environmental health officers can go out to private properties and put bait down. We are discussions with our council housing department regarding the vacant properties.

"Any residents living nearby can phone the council if they have a problem."