Vermin invade Bearsden and Milngavie schools
INCREASING numbers of mice are being reported in local schools. There have also been incidents of rats in some district schools — but there's no need to bring in the Pied Piper just yet.
An investigation has shown that pest control teams have been kept busy because of the rising numbers of vermin seen on campuses.
Milngavie MSP Des McNulty uncovered the outbreaks after using the Freedom of Information Act to force East Dunbartonshire Council to reveal the number of call-outs made over the past two years.
Both primary and secondary schools in Milngavie and Bearsden recorded incidents of mice, but call-outs for rats were restricted to the Strathkelvin area of the district.
In Bearsden, incidents at Baljaffray Primary were in the kitchen, store room and classrooms, in Bearsden Primary mice were in the janitor's office and gymhall, at Colquhoun Park in the store cupboard, at Castlehill generally in the school and at Mosshead in a classroom.
Three incidents at Boclair Academy were in the home economics department, portable cabins and more recently the technology department.
Reports of mice from Milngavie Primary were in the basement, staffroom and head teacher's office.
Mr McNulty said: "The pest control call-outs for mice in our schools is clearly concerning, particularly in kitchens and store cupboards where children's food would be stored.
"I would expect the council to take appropriate action to deal with any infestations."
A spokesman for East Dunbartonshire Council said: "We take reports of any types of infestations in any of our establishments very seriously.
"When an incident in a school is reported to the Environmental Health Service the council's pest control officers will then visit the location and take the appropriate action.
"This is followed up regularly until the problem has been eradicated. Advice is always given to the onsite manager on how to prevent any further infestation, which may include proofing work to prevent pest entry.
"The exception within schools being school kitchens which have preventative inspections, and treatment as necessary, by private pest control contractors as part of their food safety management systems."
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Weather for Milngavie
Sunday 12 February 2012
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