A RAT infestation has hit a housing estate close to the construction site for the new multi-million pound Dobwalls bypass. People living in council-owned houses in Twelvewoods Place, Dobwalls, are complaining that rats are causing chaos in the street – forcing an argument to break out between residents, the local authority and the Highways Agency. 'One house has had to have its main entrance re- concreted because it was riddled with holes,' said resident John Rigler. Emma Vine, a mum of two, telephoned her brother to bring his pet dog Rocky over to help solve the problem and it killed four rats. The residents all say they have had to fill in holes caused by the rats and they can't see an end to the problem.
Roadworks They claim that since roadworks for the Dobwalls bypass started two years ago the rats, having been disturbed from their natural habitat, have moved into their street. They called for Caradon District Council to take action but housing manager Russell Hayle said it was not the local authority's responsibility as it is not legally obliged to provide pest control cover. He added that because the rat problem was believed to be caused by the bypass construction it was the responsibility of Interserve, the company in charge. Interserve's pest control department went to the estate on Wednesday and put down bait boxes but the Highways Agency say the rat problem is not its fault. 'Interserve has been in contact with the residents but the issue of rats isn't connected to the bypass,' said a spokesman for the Highways Agency, who added that any displacements of rats from the construction site would have been caused by removal of top soil and work on hedgerows which hasn't taken place since February 2007. The spokesman added: 'One theory is that because we have had a couple of mild winters the rat population hasn't been killed off. It is a national issue rather than one connected just to Dobwalls.'