News: URBAN ENTITY - Rodents control measurements report

REPORT TO PROPERTY OWNERS ON RODENT CONTROL MEASURES AT CONDADO DE ALHAMA

Dear Property Owners,

In response to concerns raised by residents regarding the presence of rodents in certain areas of Condado de Alhama, the Urban Entity considers it necessary to provide information on the current situation, the actions taken, and the measures being prepared to protect public health throughout the resort.

We are committed to addressing this issue responsibly. To that end, we have requested that the Town Council carry out inspections and take the appropriate measures. According to the municipal inspection, there is currently no official evidence of a widespread rat infestation. However, construction works and earth-moving activities may have displaced existing rodents into residential areas. Deficiencies have also been identified in the existing monitoring and control mechanisms.

Consequently, the Urban Entity is investigating additional measures, requesting quotations from specialist companies, and seeking clarification on the respective responsibilities of the Town Council and other involved parties. The objective is to achieve an effective and sustainable solution through a coordinated approach.

Our priority is to respond accurately to any issue that may affect residents. To achieve this, we rely on technical criteria, cooperation with the competent authorities, and reports from specialist organisations.

Background of the Pest Control Service

It is important to clarify an issue that has caused uncertainty among property owners.

Since the commencement of the contract with STV, the contractual provisions included specific clauses relating to pest control, particularly rodent control. Following numerous amendments, the contract underwent substantial revision in 2019. As a result of that revision, the specific rat control programme and the maintenance of refuse container areas were removed from the contract.

Despite the absence of a specific contractual obligation, STV voluntarily continued to carry out certain basic rodent monitoring and control activities. This helped maintain a minimum level of monitoring and control over the years.

However, the current circumstances within the resort, characterised by new developments, earth-moving activities, and the construction of additional housing, demonstrate the need to review and strengthen this system in accordance with current technical guidance and the present situation.

Actions Undertaken by the Urban Entity

From the outset, the Urban Entity has taken various actions to clarify the situation and implement appropriate preventive measures.

These actions include:

1. Review of the STV contract. As STV had previously undertaken rodent control activities, we examined whether any contractual obligations had been breached or whether services had been withdrawn without notice. Following this review, it was concluded that STV cannot be required to expand its rodent control services, as such activities fall outside the scope of its current contract.

2. Coordination with the Level 1 Community to promote a coordinated approach when dealing with the competent authorities.

3. Active participation in actions undertaken with Alhama de Murcia Town Council.

4. Formal requests for technical inspections, submitted jointly with the Level 1 Community, to identify possible sources of rodent activity and determine their origin.

5. Requests for the monitoring of ongoing construction works and earth-moving activities currently taking place on various plots within the resort.

6. Clarification of responsibilities and competences relating to the sewerage network and rodent control.

7. Request for technical assistance from the Bajo Guadalentín Regional Agricultural Office to assess possible external factors associated with the surrounding agricultural areas.

In addition to the formal requests, the President of the Urban Entity has held several meetings with members of the Urban Entity and the Municipal Councillor responsible for Urban Planning.

During these meetings, residents' concerns were explained and coordinated action by the competent authorities was requested.

Throughout these discussions, it was maintained that Condado de Alhama should receive a level of attention and pest control provision comparable to that provided in other areas of the municipality.

Following these meetings, the Councillor provided the contact details of Rafaela Belmonte Nortes, S.L., one of the companies contracted by the Town Council to provide pest control services. The contact details of the specialist technician were also supplied. This technician subsequently participated in the inspection together with the Municipal Environmental Technician.

The various municipal departments also provided the President with the following information:

• The municipality carries out rodent control operations primarily in public gardens and within the municipal sewerage network of Alhama de Murcia and its surrounding districts.

• No rodent control treatments are undertaken in potable water facilities.

• According to information provided by the Water Management Department, the sewerage networks within Condado de Alhama are considered private infrastructure. Public infrastructure is limited to the network serving the outer ring road.

• It was also indicated that all inspection covers and underground chambers within Condado de Alhama are considered private infrastructure, except those forming part of the potable water network. This applies irrespective of whether they bear the municipal logo.

During these discussions, the Town Council maintained its position that the sewerage networks within Condado de Alhama constitute private infrastructure. Consequently, in the municipality's view, the associated maintenance and rodent control activities do not fall within its responsibilities.

The Urban Entity has considered it necessary to request additional written technical clarification in order to establish precisely which infrastructure falls under the responsibility of the municipality and which under the responsibility of the Urban Entity. This will help avoid conflicting interpretations and ensure that responsibilities are properly assigned.

The Urban Entity has consistently emphasised to the municipality that, regardless of the ongoing discussions concerning certain internal infrastructure, municipal rodent control measures should continue and, where necessary, be strengthened in relation to the infrastructure that the municipality itself recognises as public. This applies particularly to the network along the outer ring road and other facilities explicitly under municipal responsibility.

The Presidency has repeatedly stressed that effective rodent control requires a coordinated approach involving all relevant authorities and stakeholders. Prevention necessarily entails addressing all infrastructure that may contribute to the movement or spread of rodents, regardless of how maintenance responsibilities are ultimately allocated.

Municipal Inspection and Municipal Findings

At the request of both the Level 1 Community and the Urban Entity, Alhama de Murcia Town Council arranged an inspection of the resort by a Municipal Environmental Technician and representatives of the specialist company responsible for municipal pest control services.

Inspection Findings

According to the Town Council's notification:

1. No rodents were observed during the inspection, and no sufficient direct evidence was found to confirm a widespread infestation.
2. It was acknowledged that areas where earth-moving works had taken place may previously have provided habitats for rodent populations and other small mammals typically associated with such environments.
3. Construction works and earth-moving activities were considered factors compatible with the displacement of existing rodents into residential areas.
4. Deficiencies were identified in the placement, maintenance, and monitoring of certain existing rodent control stations.
5. It was also found that several pest control companies and systems operate without a unified management strategy.

Municipal Technical Recommendations

The municipal report recommends the following:

1. Intensify measures aimed at controlling rodent populations.
2. Install additional monitoring and control points.
3. Extend the integrated pest management programme to cover the entire resort.
4. Implement specific control measures in areas adjacent to construction works and earth-moving activities.
5. Conduct regular inspections and ensure that they are properly documented.
6. Coordinate activities between the Urban Entity, pest control companies, and construction firms.
7. Complement pest control measures with improved cleaning, the removal of potential harbourage sites, and the management of food sources.

The municipality further concludes that disturbance of natural habitats caused by construction works may have contributed to the displacement of existing rodents. At the same time, it notes that other factors must also be addressed, including the availability of food sources and the deficiencies identified within the current control programme.

Request for Assistance from Other Public Authorities

At the same time, the Urban Entity has requested assistance from the Bajo Guadalentín Regional Agricultural Office to investigate the possible influence of external factors associated with the agricultural land surrounding the resort.

The request relates to an assessment of:

1. Possible external sources of rodents originating from neighbouring agricultural land.
2. The impact of earth-moving works or activities carried out on agricultural plots.
3. Additional preventive measures.
4. Coordination between public authorities to prevent the situation from worsening should external sources be identified.

To date, no response or report has been received from this office.

Measures Currently Under Consideration and Development

In light of the technical recommendations received and the concerns raised by property owners, the Urban Entity is developing a series of measures aimed at strengthening rodent prevention and control throughout the resort.

These measures include:

1. A comprehensive review of the existing rodent control programme.
2. An assessment of the feasibility of installing additional monitoring and control points.
3. Improvements to incident reporting and monitoring systems.
4. Consultation and coordination with construction companies and developers operating on plots where works are taking place.
5. Ongoing monitoring of municipal administrative procedures.
6. Cooperation with the competent authorities to establish the origin of any rodent activity and determine the associated responsibilities.

In addition, a technical and financial proposal submitted by Biocides, a specialist pest control company, was discussed during a recent working meeting of the Urban Entity. The purpose was to evaluate potential measures to strengthen rodent control within the resort.

During the same meeting, it was also agreed to request technical information and a proposal from Rafaela Belmonte Nortes, S.L., the company recommended by the municipality and currently providing pest control services for the municipality.

This will enable the Urban Entity to compare different technical and financial options before making any decision. The objective is to identify the most effective, proportionate, and appropriate solution in the interests of all property owners.

The Urban Entity will also continue urging the municipality to maintain and strengthen rodent control measures within the infrastructure serving the outer ring road and other public facilities for which the Town Council is responsible. Effective rodent control requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach involving all relevant parties.

Current Situation and Message to Property Owners

The technical information currently available indicates that there is no official report concluding that Condado de Alhama is experiencing a widespread rodent infestation. No rodents or sufficient evidence to support such a conclusion were found during the municipal inspection.

Nevertheless, the Urban Entity has formally raised residents' concerns and reported incidents to the competent authorities. The Urban Entity considers that any matter which may affect public health and hygiene must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

For this reason, initiatives have been launched with the municipality, the regional agricultural office, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen preventive measures, improve monitoring systems, and ensure a coordinated approach.

We wish to reassure all property owners that the Urban Entity has taken action and that work is continuing to implement the improvements recommended by specialists.

Our priority remains the protection of residents, the maintenance of appropriate health and hygiene standards, and the implementation of measures based on technical expertise, transparency, and responsibility, with the objective of preventing any deterioration of the situation.

The Urban Entity will continue to keep property owners informed of significant developments, the findings of ongoing technical investigations, and any decisions taken to further protect the welfare and interests of all residents.

Yours faithfully,

Ana Isabel Santos Beltrán - President

Sophie Benoit – Vice President Condado de Alhama Urban Entity