Rats seen 'sitting on windowsills' as heavy rainfall blamed for rodent infestation at Blackpool housing estate

Residents on a new housing estate in Blackpool are battling against "a plague of rats of  almost biblical proportions" with poor drainage conditions being partly blamed for the infestation.

People living at Woodlark Chase on Warren Drive in Norbreck have witnessed rats nesting in their garden sheds, chewing through car wiring and even sitting on windowsills. It is believed recent heavy rainfall has led to the rodents seeking drier land and food, emerging from their usual habitats to appear in nearby gardens. Now pest controllers from Blackpool Council have stepped in to fight back against the rat invasion.

Woodlark Chase resident Jordan Robbins said: "Rats have been seen sitting on windowsills and on bin covers. We have rabbit hutches in our garden and it's a concern if the rats get near them. It's very unnerving to think about where they might be hiding or if they are going to scuttle past your feet when you go out into the garden. It makes me shudder as the rats are huge. Also there are the concerns about the health issues it could bring. Some people have also shared pictures of rat droppings."

Norbreck ward councillor Julie Sloman believes part of the blame lies with an attenuation basin built as part of the drainage scheme at the development.

Blackpool Council's planning committee refused permission for the 86 home scheme to be built  after residents and councillors warned it would increase the flood risk in the area. But the decision was over-ruled by a planning inspector following an appeal by developer Lovell Homes and approval was granted in May 2019.

 Coun Sloman told a meeting of the full council on Wednesday January 31 the application had been allowed "despite numerous objections " and residents had now "been infested by what I can only describe as a plague of rats of  almost biblical proportions." Blackpool Council's environmental health team has now stepped in to help solve the problem. 

She added: "Issues with the construction and management of the development has caused some misery for the householders and residents, the latest being the rat issue." She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she believed drainage measures agreed as part of the planning permission, and including the attenuation basin, had not been carried out properly by Lovell Homes.

A council spokesperson said: “In January,  we were contacted by residents of the Woodlark Chase who were concerned about various sightings of rats in the area. We attended the site the following day to assess the situation. Our investigations found that rats had been coming into the residential area from a nearby watercourse. The water was at a higher level than normal due to the recent heavy rainfall.

“The necessary steps have now been taken rectify the problem. All residents have received a letter explaining the steps that we are taking and we have also held an onsite meeting where residents could raise any further concerns.”

A spokesperson from Lovell Homes said: "We are aware of, and have acted in response to, the pest control issues reported at Woodlark Chase. An environment officer has visited and confirmed that an offsite ditch, not owned by Lovell or related to the development, was impacted by heavy rainfall with the resulting flooding leading to rat habitats being pushed onto the Woodlark Chase development.

"Lovell completed and left the site in December 2022 with the management company that is responsible for the development now continuing to work closely with the council to take further coordinated actions to eradicate the issue.”