Ashfield MP calls on council to do more about 'rats the size of sheep' in Sutton

In November, the Chad reported that residents and shop keepers were plagued by ‘massive rats’ at the rear of flats on High Street and in the town centre of Sutton.

Since then, Ashfield’s MP Lee Anderson says he has received ‘numerous complaints,’ with some people commenting the rats were the ‘size of sheep.’

He has since written to the Chief Executive of Ashfield District Council (ADC), Carol Cooper Smith calling for action.

'Massive rats' spotted in dumped rubbish behind Sutton flats

Mr Anderson said rats were constantly sighted in the New Cross Area and residents had taken to social media calling for help over the problem. He is proposing a ‘deep clean’ for Ashfield, claiming that ‘dog fouling, littering and fly-tipping’ were the cause.

He said “I’ve been inundated with emails from constituents seeing rats, in many cases they have told Ashfield District Council. I’ve raised the issue multiple times, yet the situation is getting worse.

"The council needs to sort this out now. I have not received any rat complaints from constituents under the jurisdiction of Broxtowe Borough Council, it’s clearly a problem with Ashfield District Council. It needs to give Ashfield a good deep clean. I will accept no less from ADC for the betterment of my constituents.”

The council argued it had issued 70 enforcement notices in the past four months about waste causing vermin, had a purge on clean ups in hot-spots and employed more staff issuing fines.

Ward councillor for Sutton Central, Samantha Deakin said: “The Ashfield Independents only won control last year. In that time we have been the most proactive council ever. We have created our Big Spring Clean, Bag It and Skip into Summer events and Ashfield was the only council in the UK to increase waste collection services during lockdown.

"Our fantastic waste teams have been shortlisted for national awards for fantastic work. Our team is the only team who has ever taken this seriously. We have made great strides, working with the community, and will finish that job. Unlike the MP spending his time fighting us, we will continue spending our time fighting for local people".

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