Wales is bracing itself for increased rodent infestations and the public health consequences of glue boards being banned in the Principality from Tuesday, October 17.
The British Pest Control Association had lobbied the Welsh Government and had encouraged a ban for amateur use, while promoting glue boards as a last resort solution for professional pest controllers.
Gareth Davies, owner of Cardiff-based Pest & Property Solutions, said this was the wrong decision from the Welsh Government.
“I think it’s a knee-jerk reaction, because it wants to be the first to ban to glue boards,” Mr Davies said. “I agreed with restricting them for professional use only, even if those individuals who are pest controllers have to go on a separate course to certify them competent in using glue boards, because they are a last resort, but we have nothing now.”
Mr Davies said he has plenty of case studies that he offered to the Welsh Government, but they wouldn’t talk to him on why they shouldn’t ban them.
“The council does not bait the sewers in Cardiff any longer and I know how bad it is underneath the city,” he said. “Sewer baiting was stopped by the council, I guess due to funding, so thank you Welsh Government on that one.
“We are trying to do this job with pretty much both hands behind our backs in the centre of a city where rats numbers are the worst I’ve seen in 34 years.”
Mr Davies pointed out that refuse collections in Cardiff are moving to every three weeks.
“It’s going to absolutely spiral out of control,” he said. “Glue boards have been taken away from professional pest controllers who need them the most.”
A second Welsh pest controller, who asked not to be named, said banning glue boards for amateurs and taking it off the shelves of retailers was the perfect thing to do.
“But then to ban it, carte blanche, so they can’t be used by professionals who are fully trained on how and when to use them, is a bit bonkers,” said the pest control business owner.