Southwark estate still ‘alive’ with mice and rats months after residents raised the alarm

A Southwark estate is still suffering from an infestation of mice and rats, residents say, months after the problem was first reported.

Southwark Council is trying to tackle the issue, which we first reported on in May, and has sent out pest control teams to the Dodson and Amigo estate near Blackfriars Road on several occasions, as well as a more comprehensive treatment in July. Another is scheduled for this month.

Residents in at least two of the blocks on the estate are still finding mice and rats on their property, as well as in the communal grassy areas. Images recently shared with the News show a rat caught in a trap, as well as what appears to be a disembowelled rat on the estate’s lawn.

Jacquie Gilmartin, who lives on the estate, said: “All the blocks need to be done. It’s not going away. Why are we still finding mice and rats in our homes? People are still finding them.

“One person caught a rat in their kitchen. I still get mice. There are people in my block who are running alive with them. People say they’ve found one – you never have one, if you’ve got one you’ve got more.”

Residents have said that there may be people on the estate who are too ashamed to report the problem themselves, and who also may be vulnerable, and have called on the council to intervene and stamp out the problem once and for good.

Cllr Darren Merrill, Cabinet Member for a safer, cleaner borough, said: “We began a full block treatment of Amigo House and Dodson Street in July and it will be done again starting in September, including the surrounding blocks. We will write to confirm the schedule of works by letter to residents.”