“I have concerns of the Mayor’s show coming up and we want the place spick and span and not have rats everywhere.”
A Lisburn councillor has raised concerns of rats disrupting a community event this weekend.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the annual family event centred in Wallace Park this Saturday, May 9.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s environment committee this week heard public safety concerns over rodents seen on site, but Mayor Amanda Grehan says she has “full faith” in pest control.
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In chambers, SDLP councillor Pat Catney said: “It has been brought to my attention today that there are rats at the vicinity of the railway banks at Wallace Park.
“There are funfair rides already being put in place in the park for the Mayor’s Carnival Parade this weekend. Could we have a look at this?”
A council officer confirmed they had noted the elected member’s concerns.
Speaking to the the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Catney said: “I have a had a number of constituents who reported rats around the railway embankment area saying the rats just stopped and stared at them without fear.
“I have concerns of the Mayor’s show coming up and we want the place spick and span and not have rats everywhere.
“In light of what we are hearing on the news about the virus on the cruise ship in the Atlantic, we need to be careful.
“The bottom line is this is a public health issue and it needs flagging up. A child could pick up a football with rat’s pee on it, so it is a real danger.”
Cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which set sail from Argentina a month ago, is now sailing towards the Canary Islands after being anchored for three days near Cape Verde over a rare virus outbreak linked to rodents.
According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) the risk of transmission to the wider public of the ‘Hantavirus’ is low.
UK passengers make up the highest nationality on board.
Councillor Catney added: “It might be eradicated by the weekend, but it needs to be done.
“I’m not in the Lagan Valley chamber to be popular, I’m there to raise concerns on behalf the people of the district and that is what I am doing.”
The council website describes the event as the “city’s largest community street arts party” with the parade beginning at the Lagan Valley Island civic centre from 1pm.
It further states, Wallace Park will closed at 9pm on Thursday 7 May and will not reopen to the public until 12noon on Saturday 9 May when the Family Fun Day event begins. There will be no access to the park for the public during this time.
The LDRS contacted Mayor Grehan, who said: “As soon the complaint of rats came in our officers were on this and they are doing a great job and doing the best they can.
“I want everyone to come along to the Mayor’s Carnival and have a fabulous day. Our pest control are well on top of it. I have full faith in our officers to to do a fantastic job.”
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