Allotment Pest Control Policy
Allotment Pest Control Policy
Scotter Parish Council – Scotterthorpe & Cemetery Allotment Sites
________________________________________
1. Purpose
This policy sets out how the Council and allotment tenants will work together to prevent and control pests—primarily rats and mice—on allotment sites.
Its goals are to:
• Maintain a safe, clean, and healthy environment.
• Minimise risks to public health and wildlife.
• Ensure compliance with UK stewardship and biocide regulations.
________________________________________
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
• The Council and its authorised contractors.
• All allotment tenants.
• All allotment buildings, structures, and communal areas.
________________________________________
3. Definitions
For the purpose of this policy, "pests" include:
• Rodents: rats, mice.
________________________________________
4. Responsibilities
4.1 Responsibilities of the Council
• Maintain allotment sites to discourage pests.
• Respond to serious or widespread infestations.
• Engage professional, trained pest control contractors where needed.
• Ensure any use of rodenticide follows UK stewardship rules and is used only as a last resort.
4.2 Responsibilities of Tenants
Tenants must:
• Keep plots clean, tidy, and free from materials that harbour pests.
• Remove food sources (no household waste or food scraps on site).
• Store seeds, bulbs, hen food etc. in rodent proof containers.
• Inspect plots regularly and report concerns promptly to the Clerk.
________________________________________
5. Prohibited Practices
• No tenant may use rodent poison or traps without written permission from the Council.
• No food waste is to be composted (e.g., meat, dairy, cooked food).
• No feeding of birds or wildlife on allotments.
• Tenants must not carry out any pest control activity that could endanger wildlife or cause unnecessary suffering—this is a criminal offence. [hse.gov.uk]
________________________________________
6. Approved Control Measures
6.1 Prevention First (Required)
Tenants must follow these preventative actions to discourage rats:
• Turn compost at least twice yearly; keep bins pest proof.
• Harvest produce promptly; do not leave windfalls or discarded food.
• Keep plots free of clutter; remove debris and unused timbers.
• Block holes around sheds; ensure structures are on hard standing.
6.2 Non chemical Measures
• Approved traps (only with written permission).
• Physical proofing: wire mesh under compost bins, rodent proof storage.
6.3 Chemical Control (Rodenticides)
Rodenticides may be used only:
• As a last resort after non chemical methods fail.
• By trained professionals holding recognised qualifications.
• Using only products authorised under UK Rodenticide Stewardship and .
• With site specific risk assessments and recorded logs.
Tenants are not permitted to buy, store, or apply rodenticide.
________________________________________
7. Reporting
Tenants must report:
• Sightings of rats or nests.
• Structural issues (e.g., holes under sheds).
• Overflowing compost bins or waste accumulations on neighbouring plots.
Report to:
Parish Clerk – Clerk@scotter-pc.gov.uk
________________________________________
8. Enforcement
If a tenant fails to follow this policy:
1. The Council will issue a written warning and guidance.
2. If no improvement is made, the Council may remedy the situation and charge the tenant for costs.
3. Continued non compliance may lead to termination of tenancy (standard practice in allotment rules).
________________________________________
9. Review of Policy
This policy will be reviewed every three years, or sooner if legislation changes or new risks arise.