Bedbugs, rats, noisy neighbours and food-poisoning – new figures reveal the true picture – Gazette Live

Complaints about noise are more than twice the national average in Stockton.

The figure was revealed in a round up on environmental health performance last week.

The borough saw 13.7 noise complaints per 1,000 residents in 2018/19 - whereas the national average stands at 6.3 per 1000.

Environmental health chief Steve Donaghy said the authority did receive a high number of noise complaints.

However, he told the latest health and wellbeing board Stockton was a particularly urban borough with national figures including rural areas elsewhere in the countries such as the Cotswolds (November 27).

Mr Donaghy added: Noise is a well understood environmental and health stressor- so its something we continue to deal with."

The presentation prepared for the board showed noise complaints had held steady in recent years with a slight increase from 2017/18 to 2018/19.

Noise complaints (Stockton Council)

2015/16 - 1,032

2016/17 - 1,091

2017/18 - 1,026

2018/19 - 1,191

Meanwhile, experts also heard how the councils in-house pest control team was performing.

No fewer than 881 domestic rat treatments were carried out last year with 306 cases of mice also dealt with.

The team also tackled 38 bedbug infestations and 19 cockroach cases.

In October residents and staff at Winford House on The Causeway , in Billingham , complained of an infestation of bedbugs with owners Thirteen Group saying "two affected apartments, and the communal lounge, were fumigated and deep cleaned" when the issue came to light.

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Mr Donaghy explainedthe pest control squad was an important tool in the council's arsenal as rats and mice were often vehicles for E.coli and salmonella.

The environmental chief added: There are also associated illnesses with rats and mice with dysentery or Weils disease.

And with bed bugs and cockroaches, there are a lot of allergenic issues - cockroaches in particular lean very much towards triggering agents of asthma and various forms of detritus formation.

'Ahead of the curve'

There was also cause for cheer in how the authority was dealing with the 1,700 restaurants, eateries and food firms operating within its boundaries.

The meeting heard Stockton had a 95% compliance rate at its premises with a total of 412 suspected cases of food poisoning investigated and 654 food safety inspections carried out.

Mr Donaghy added: When compared nationally, 95% is an exceptionally high rate - and shows the dedication of the commercial food safety team.

Panellists were told dishwashers and chopping boards tended to be sources of most trouble.

Cllr Luke Frost, who helps run his familys firm Urban Foods Teesside, told the board Stockton had some of the most stringent safeguards in place to prevent outbreaks.

He added: Food hygiene is very simple - its about getting the basics right.

Mr Donaghy said Stocktons food hygiene compliance rate was way ahead of the curve.

There are always going to be incidents where someone makes a mistake, he added.

But were talking a minute percentage of 1,600 to 1,700 businesses we ever have to take action against.

If you compare that nationally, thats minimal.

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Bedbugs, rats, noisy neighbours and food-poisoning - new figures reveal the true picture - Gazette Live