St Andrew’s fly infestation causing misery for residents

There has been an issue for several months and a meeting of St Andrew’s residents was called this week to discuss the problem.

The meeting organisers have declined to comment, but one man in the audience was Director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation Tobin Cook.

He said action was being taken.

‘The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation is currently investigating complaints of fly nuisance localised in St Andrew’s,’ he said.

‘Multiple complaints have been received by the team and it is clear from the evidence provided by complainants and witnessed by officers that properties are being affected by large numbers of flies.

‘The flies are clearly impacting how residents are able to use their homes and officers are trying to determine the source of the infestation and what can be done to help.’

So far environmental health officers have mapped the complaints and visited multiple properties and areas of land to collect evidence to inform their action.

‘Most recently, samples of manure have been collected from multiple sources to assess whether they are providing nesting grounds for flies,’ Dr Cook said.

‘A UK entomology expert has been contacted, in addition to discussions with local insect experts, and there have been discussions with pest control experts.

The Committee for Health & Social Care has supported these actions and welcomes the input of external expertise as we strive to alleviate the impact of flies on these residents.’

Residents have been putting up fly paper and traps to try to deal with the issue near and inside their homes.