Insects on the premises?

A letter from South Norfolk Council - to Shelfanger Parish Council

(original document atached)

Statutory Insect Nuisance Investigations

Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 & Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Investigations in Regard to Alleged and/or Statutory Insect Nuisance

South Norfolk Council is writing to all industries that could find themselves by their very activity subject to insect problems.

Our experience has shown us that several premises are not aware that, in 2005 the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 made insects a subject that local authorities had a statutory duty to investigate, when in receipt of a complaint.

In the last few years South Norfolk Council has been in receipt of several alleged insect nuisance complaints and therefore investigations have been undertaken. In the first instance we do of course visit any complainant(s), in order to witness that the insect numbers they are experiencing, would be regarded as unreasonable taking into account the time of the year, climatic conditions etc.

When an officer is satisfied that the number of insects at the complainant’s home is excessively high, the next step would be to establish the type of insect involved, as this is often indicative of a potential source. Please be advised that certain insects are attracted to certain environments. Once we have an understanding of the type of insect involved we will continue our investigation by trying to establish a source.

It is at this point that Officer’s may pay you a visit in order to discuss your experience of insect numbers on your site. The officer may also wish to discuss what if any or indeed if required mitigation are you taking in order to control any insect problems.

We would advise that any insect control measures that you are implementing are carefully recorded in order that you can demonstrate “best practicable means”, which would be regarded as acceptable evidence to any officer who is investigating any complaints perhaps local to your area. You may also like to review the following Defra document, which can be found on the Internet using the following address:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/legislation/cnea/statnuisan...

On behalf of South Norfolk Council we thank you for
reading this information note.

Mrs Kate Piotrowski
Environmental Protection Officer