Elderly couple revealed they were surrounded by giant rats for 10 years – although the council claims there is no “evidence of intrusion”
An elderly couple told them how they were forced to live with a slammed garden for ten years.
Valerie Sheppard, 83, and her husband, Colin, 90, spent more than a decade trying to defend against rodent property.
However, their claims to the council have slammed the lack of action by local authorities and claimed that the problem has made them “ill”.
The couple installed four CCTV cameras, called on more pest control experts to remember, and sent countless emails to the Test Valley Borough Council for help.
The problems began in 2014, they explained, when rodents began to emerge from a broken car and garage next to their home.
Mrs. Shepard said: “We first realized there was a problem in 2014 when we saw a mouse sitting in the middle of our back garden – there for a long time, I was able to get the camera and take pictures and then take pictures.
“The Test Valley Brow Council finally came out in 2016, got on the garage and told us – the rats were gone.”
In the nine years since, the couple said they were “pushed from the pillar” in an attempt to get Test Valley Borough Council to take some action against their neighbors.
They explained the problem that originally started in 2014, when rodents began to emerge from a broken car and garage next to their home.
They explained the problem that originally started in 2014, when rodents began to emerge from a broken car and garage next to their home. Picture: The mouse found in the couple’s garden
The couple installed four CCTV cameras, called on pest control experts to more and sent countless emails to the Test Valley Borough Council, asking for help
In the nine years since, the couple said they were “pushed from the pillar” in an attempt to get Test Valley Borough Council to take some action against neighbors
Valerie Sheppard, 83, and her husband, Colin, 90, are
The nine-year-old grandmother continued: “My husband, Colin, is 90, and has suffered from heart and lung problems – the only fun he has had is taking care of the garden, but I’m worried about his health.
“It all went on for 11 years – we can’t continue like this.
“We are in wisdom” – the two of us have lived here for 26 years and are here for Colin’s health, and now I’m worried that the garden will make us sick.
“The Council failed us – they tried to shift the blame to others, not dealing with mice.”
A council spokesman said: “We regret Ms. Shepard was not satisfied with our response.
“Since 2016, we have done our best to respond to allegations of rat infestation in the field many times.
“Although there was some evidence of rat activity during this period, this itself is not evidence of the presence of nearby areas.
‘The rats are active in and around towns and villages.
“We will continue to investigate any allegations.”
