Closed
Rats
Sent to National Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 7294651.
Sorry not sure how else to report this The A2 Lay-by behind my house is causing HORRENDOUS issues with the rats. They’re right behind the house and my car is now being damaged. I’ve had to call pest control again and tonight spent £300 because of the lay-by behind my house, like it’s directly behind, causing the rats to raid the rubbish. The truckers urinate here, the lay-by needs to be closed . I have small children and for 5 years this issue has been going. I really need to speak to someone about this. The rats are running across the garden, the driveway, inside my car now causing damages. Rat droppings and rubbish is being dragged into the gardens, behind the sheds, all from the lay-by. How is this even legal to have it right behind homes despite years of complaints? We have so many homes now getting together to kick up a fuss, as after speaking to the neighbours, this issue has been reported endlessly. Please can someone help.
Updates
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Thank you for your report regarding the litter discarded by road users at the A2 layby behind the Limes Place housing estate, and the associated issue of rats in the area. We’re truly sorry to hear about the persistent problems you’ve been facing, and we fully understand your concerns about how litter at this location may contribute to the presence of rats. Please know that we take these issues seriously, as they significantly impact the well-being of residents and the environment. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the responsibility for litter clearance varies across different road types. While National Highways oversees litter clearance on motorways, the responsibility for 'A' roads, including this section of the A2, lies with the local authority. To support their efforts, we offer local authorities the opportunity to use road closures we’ve got in place whenever possible. When coordination with our traffic management isn’t feasible, the council is required to arrange suitable traffic management to ensure the safety of their cleaning operations. Our team conducts regular inspections along the A2 to identify safety issues and has observed that the local authority frequently empties bins at this location. However, recognising the public health concerns this situation poses, we’ve reached out to Canterbury City Council to request more consistent and effective litter clearance measures in this area where possible. For future concerns about litter, we’d encourage you to contact Canterbury City Council directly about this matter. Furthermore, our team will conduct an investigation within the next few weeks to check for signs of nests within our boundaries. If any nests are found, we’ll arrange for specialist contractors to undertake appropriate remedial actions. In the meantime, you may find the British Pest Control Association’s website helpful for additional guidance and resources. This information can be found at https://bpca.org.uk/ a-z-of-pest-advice/ rat-control-how-to-get-rid-of-and-prevent-rats-bpca-a-z-of-pests/ 188991. We appreciate how frustrating the ongoing disruption caused by road users at the layby must be for residents. As laybys serve an essential function by providing road users with safe rest opportunities, particularly on major routes like this one leading to Dover. Unfortunately, at this time, any closure of the layby is not a viable option. As an operational entity, National Highways does not possess enforcement powers to address anti-social behaviour on our network; such responsibilities fall under the remit of the police. Should you witness or wish to report any anti-social behaviour at this location, we’d encourage you to contact Kent police at www.kent.police.uk or call 101 for non-emergency enquiries. Thank you for bringing these matters to our attention. We remain committed to working collaboratively with local partners to address the challenges in this area, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. If you require any further information, please contact us via our Customer Contact Centre. We’re available 24 hours a day by phone: 0300 123 5000 or by email: info@nationalhighways.co.uk. Alternatively, you can visit our website at www.nationalhighways.co.uk. Kind regards, National Highways
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.