RESIDENTS in Wrexham have been left "angry" and "frustrated" following an ongoing issue with rats the size of "small dogs" in the city. 

For the past seven months, Cllr Jon Jolley of the Smithfield Ward in Wrexham has been reporting incidents of rats, without any response from the local authority.

He believes the residents are fed up with the issue, and that they shouldn't be forced to live in a "dangerous or dirty" environment. 

Cllr Jolley has had complaints and reports from residents on Bertie Road, Benjamin Road, Pont Wen and Colwyn Road most recently, with previous issues appearing along Rivulet Road and Smithfield Road. 

Cllr Jolley said:"It has been an issue in the ward for a long time but I have been reporting it to several departments for the last six or seven months with different departments."

He added: "I have reported several incidents of rats throughout the ward and I've asked the health and housing department on several occasions in July, September, November and December.

"I am yet to have a single response from them regarding rat issues anywhere in my ward. It's not fair to the residents of Smithfield that they have to deal with this issue regularly and the council seems to be doing little to help them.

"Some residents have had feedback from them but as far as is fed back to me, the issues are dealt with on an individual basis, and not as the underlying issue which is happening throughout large areas in the ward.

"People are frustrated, they are contacting me asking what will be done and I can only ask individuals to complain directly to health and housing as they seem to actually respond to individual complaints but there is an obvious issue with infestations everywhere and it's getting out of hand.

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"Residents are understandably angry and want answers from me and the council, not only that they don't want to feel like they are living in a dangerous or dirty environment.

"When you have people saying the rats are as big as small dogs and that they are fighting with their pets you know it's got out of hand."

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “Residents are encouraged to contact the Environmental Health and Housing Standards team direct on 01978 298989 to register a complaint regarding rodents or accumulations of waste on private land.

"For rodent issues on public land/roadways and fly tipping issues on public land and roadways the same contact us number can be used and these complaints will be logged for the Enforcement Services Team at Abbey Road.”