Far be it for me to disparage this occasion, but one thing is glaringly obvious.

I am very concerned that FDC no longer run a pest control service.

Why is this?

Currently March has an increasingly serious rat infestation.

The creatures are causing alarm in many parts of the town.

People making enquiries at FDC are told the pest control service no longer exists. That borders on incredulity.

The council should realise that towns with fresh water rivers are bound to have rodent problems.

Every day rats can be seen scavenging at the water's edge of the River Nene.

They are capable of travelling surprising distances and increasing numbers of residents are discovering rat-runs across their back yards.

Pest control is an essential service.

I suggest Fenland District Council do have an obligation to ratepayers to offer the services of a pest control department, running in conjunction, if you like, with private pest control firms, and confront an infestation which is getting alarmingly out of hand.

Anyway, why should ratepayers have to seek help from private companies to tackle the problem?

This is a serious matter and I venture to add the council are acting irresponsibly in their apparent disregard of the matter. No awards for that.

Perhaps a relevant council official would care to reply to this complaint.

March deserves a much more responsible approach to the problem.

Trevor Bevis

St Peter's Road

March