'Massive rats' spotted in dumped rubbish behind Sutton flats

A Chad reader who wishes to remain anonymous sent in these pictures of rats in the car park behind flats on High Street, opposite the Sutton Community Academy school.

They said: “There are hundreds of rats where rubbish is being dumped behinds the flats. It’s not a good look for shoppers or school-goers, it’s definitely a put off for me! Rubbish is thrown around, the area is used by addicts.

"There are so many, they must be breeding. They come out later in the day, the pictures show them playing with birds and enjoying food scraps. I know business owners who park there who have seen them.”

Assistant manager of the YMCA shop Vicky Stanley said: “It is horrible, some of the rats are massive, there are literally hundreds, I see them scurrying back and forth from the bins to a grassy area.

"There must be a nest, you see them with food in their mouths. People are throwing food waste and flytip. I’ve seen people throwing rubbish over the wall. If it carries on like this I will have to go. I can’t stand mice, never mind rats. I saw seven the other day. Something needs to be done about it by the council.”

Ashfield’s MP Lee Anderson has received numerous complaints about rats and is calling for “urgent council action.”

He said: “I’ve been inundated about rats in this part of Sutton and Garden Lane. I have asked Ashfield District Council to take this situation more seriously.

"Environmental Health need to act urgently, people have mentioned seeing rats the size as sheep! The fly tipping needs clearing, the culprits need to be found and prosecuted.”

Cllr Helen Ann Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Ashfield District Council, said: “Sutton is currently one of our priority areas, we have recently established a Sutton Town Centre Operation to tackle ASB (anti-social behaviour), nuisance and waste issues.

“This multi-agency taskforce has led to the demolishment of buildings behind Costa Coffee, which were attracting anti-social behaviour and waste. In the two months that the operation has been active we have issued 47 Fixed Penalty Notices, Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices for ASB and waste.

“Our Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Environment Team work tirelessly to ensure that any reports of fly tipping are investigated within a timely manner, however we have received no previous reports of fly tipping in this area. This area of Sutton is private land, the council has limited powers for removal of fly tipping but we can investigate to pursue a prosecution.

“We recognise waste build up contributes to attracting vermin and work with residents to help them dispose of their waste in a responsible and sustainable way. We will not tolerate illegal dumping of waste. The onus is on businesses and residents to dispose of it appropriately. We will not hesitate to take enforcement action. We are committed to ensuring our town centres are clean and safe places.

"The council has a pest control service which provides treatments to council property and land, is available to businesses and residents for a charge. We also carry out preventative treatment on parks and open spaces.”