Life on estate 'overrun with rats' where residents 'feel like prisoners at home'

09 August 2023 , 05:43

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Paul Murgatroyd, one of the long standing residents of the South Manchester estate (Image: Manchester Evening News)

In one "forgotten" estate, residents warn it has become overrun with rats and mice, leaving them feeling like "prisoners in their own home".

People living on Avian Drive and Bethnall Estate, in Fallowfield, south Manchester, claim mice have infested their homes, rats roam atop their gardens, and pests die and decay in their gardens and leave c*** in their sheds. Things have gotten so bad, they warn, that one resident claims it’s "unbearable" and whilst for some the problem stops at the doorstep, for others it crawls inside their homes.

One resident has had mice in their loft, walls, and cupboards. They even woke up with one dead next to the bed. The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Mice run freely in the house and you can hear them scratching in the walls. They run in-between your feet and it’s an ongoing issue many neighbours have experienced. It’s horrible."

Some residents claimed the rat burrows were beneath overgrown bushes in the area (Manchester Evening News)

Ann Geraghty, 55, another resident, has watched the area decline and fears "this norm" won’t ever end. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: "The estate is infested with rats, you see them every day - it’s become unbearable. I had a dead one in my back garden, pest control couldn’t believe the size of the thing. It was huge.

"I also had my niece and nephew round in the garden when one walked over the fence, it shouldn’t be the norm. It’s like we just expect it. I feel like I can’t let the kids out. We're living in a nightmare here.

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The long-standing resident of 18 years said the land in between Yew Tree Road and Avian Drive, and green space nearby is the vermin's “breeding ground”. Ann claims residents have pleaded with One Manchester to get rid of the overgrown bushes and uproot the rat burrows after it was recently contested the housing association owns the patches of land.

One resident said she no longer feels like she can have her niece and nephew outside (Manchester Evening News)

"We questioned for years the upkeep of the estate and now it’s unbelievable with rats. It’s as though they [One Manchester] concentrated on green space but it wasn’t maintained and has become overgrown with rubbish and nests. It really is awful all around the estate. We were told changes would be made but the grass was cut once and we’ve never heard since, it’s a constant lip service when raising issues."

One Manchester said they are "very sorry for delays on works to the land" and have since been on-site with contractors and are working with pest control to resolve further issues quickly. Manchester council added that they are "aware of the pest issue complaints" and have been working closely with One Manchester Housing Association.

Resident Paul Murgatroyd, 65, claims the rat issue has been ongoing, but intensified in recent months after Manchester City Council built a community garden nearby. He said the garden - which was the primary spot for fly-tipping and rubbish- has not gotten rid of the pests but instead moved them closer to residents' homes.

Mr Murgatroyd warns a new community garden has only worsened the problem (Manchester Evening News)

"Rather than cure the problem of the rats, the council has brought them to our doorstep. People are dumping rubbish outside our homes and in the jungle-like alleys next to the community garden instead. There’s no urgency to help us, we have become a forgotten estate. You feel a prisoner in your own home and in the area.".

Paul added: "If I could afford to, I'd be out of here straight away, but for myself and some others it’s not an option. My only option is to fight to get it back to what it was."

While Elaine Archer, who has lived in the area since 2013, has received three pest-subsidised treatments this year already. She said: "Houses here are having pest treatments every other week but it’s not solving the issue because they’re not getting in the burrows - they’re everywhere.

"This year alone I’ve had three rat treatments with one dead and floating in a plant pot with its teeth looking up at me. It looks at you from the fence and I’ve had to clear our diarrhoea and cr** they leave in the shed.

"I’m a carer and gardening brought me refuge but I can’t do it anymore. I know this issue has taken a hit on other residents' mental health. It’s sad we have to beg and beg and still nothing is being done."

A spokesperson for One Manchester said: “We’re very sorry for delays on works to the land and issues it’s caused neighbouring properties. We recognise these delays have been unacceptable and we’re working hard to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

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"We’re on-site now with our contractors, in order to complete the clearing of the land this week. We’re also working with pest control to resolve further issues as quickly as possible. We’ll continue to monitor the situation until fully resolved and again would like to extend our apologies to those affected in the area."

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: "We are aware of the pest issue complaints in this area and have been working closely with One Manchester Housing Association, who are responsible for the estate and the surrounding communal areas, to resolve the pest issues that have arisen.

"We implemented targeted measures and treatments in the last few months to tackle the issue and One Manchester tenants are also able to access the pest control services offered by the council at no direct cost to themselves. We'd like to remind everyone to be vigilant about their waste and waste removal, as incorrect waste management is one of the factors that can lead to pest problems."

Maisie Lawton