NEW fees to tackle infestations of rats and mice in homes is a borough have been approved despite Labour concerns about the cost to householders.

Hyndburn Council will now introduce charge £30 for pest control treatments for rodents in domestic premises from November 1.

The new fee aims to cut the current five week waiting time caused by missed appointments.

The charge was approved by the borough’s cabinet despite concerns from Cllr Munsif Dad over its impact on residents already stretched household budgets.

He told the meeting on Wednesday: "There is a problem.

"But is this the right time to bring this in during a cost of living crisis?

"We don't agree with this."

Borough leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said the current service was not adequate and that private landlords were persuading residents to call the council out rather than tackling the state of their properties by dealing with the rats themselves.

He said that 40 per cent of booked visits never resulted in action, often because residents were not at home when arranged.

Cllr Peter Britcliffe said: "It is amazing how many rats there are in Accrington but I have never relieved that rats should be on the rates.

"Perhaps some of the saving could be used to put rat poison down the drains."

A report by environment boss Cllr Steven Smithson proposed the reduction in the subsidy to pest control treatments for rodents relating to domestic properties through a £30 appointment fee’ from November 1.

It would cover four visits to eradicate the rats and ensure the treatment has worked.