Council Called Upon To Help With Fox 'Hot Spots'

Reducing empty properties in the area will rid roads of dens

Ealing Council has been called upon to help to reduce the number of empty properties in the area and so help reduce the increasing numbers of foxes.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors have launched a campaign to help sort out the problem of foxes nesting in abandoned homes especially in and around Berrymede Road.

The Council cannot kill foxes as they are not legally classed as pests, but there are many things the Council can do to help residents.

Councillor Harvey Rose said: “One way is for the Council to force the owners of abandoned homes to get them cleaned up and back into order so people can use them.

"Please email us at southfield@ealinglibdems.org.uk so we can send you a petition which we will hand in to the Council in a few weeks’ time.”

In common with other London Councils, Ealing does not offer a service to residents for the management or treatment of urban foxes, but do provide advice to residents about measures that can be taken to reduce the risks posed by foxes. Many local authorities do not trap or destroy foxes. This is because direct control is not effective. Research has shown that trapping and killing foxes (or relocating them to rural areas) has little, if any, effect in reducing their numbers. When a fox is removed another fox will quickly take over the vacant territory.

A spokesman for Ealing Council said, "Although we do not offer treatment for foxes, we do send out `Fox Pack` information as required and/or direct people to the Council’s web page, which contains very good detail on foxes and how to 'deter' them.

"One of the key elements of managing urban foxes is to remove food sources, and it is for this reason the waste containment and management is important. Southfield Ward does boast the best street cleansing performance with 97% of all scheduled cleansing carried out to grade A standard since January of this year.

"Ensuring the vacant land does not present a problem to neighbours and communities Regulatory Services Officer, Envirocrime Prevention Officers and Empty Homes Enforcement Officers work together to identify and manage problem premises/land."

The Berrymede Road site was identified in the recent empty property audit of the borough. The landowner has been notified of the Council's interest to see this land returned for residential use and for the management of pests on this site.

The Council said it will pursue its enforcement policy to ensure that this land is managed in a way that does not have a negative impact on residents or businesses, and to achieve this land being returned for residential use.

October 27, 2010