Consistently ranked as one of the best cities to visit, work and live in the UK – and listed as the UK’s most family-friendly city – Bath is not only the jewel in the crown of Somerset, but a true national treasure.
Attracting over 4 million visitors each year, people travel from all over the globe to marvel at Bath’s gorgeous Georgian architecture, explore the city’s theatres, museums and cultural venues and of course experience the wonderfully-preserved Roman baths.
With its famous food market at Green Park Station and picturesque streets lined with restaurants, bars, tea rooms and takeaways, Bath is also a haven for foodies. However, with so many food outlets, there is an abundance of food waste for pest species to exploit. Spilt takeaways, dropped litter and unsecured refuse bags awaiting collection are all fantastic food sources for rats and mice.
The city’s tight-knit Georgian terraced buildings also provide plenty of places for rats and mice to hide and make it easy for them to move swiftly between properties. From Bathampton to Twerton, all small business owners in Bath need to do everything they can to ensure that their premises are absolutely pest-free at all times. Rats and mice spread disease, contaminate food, cause untold damage to buildings and can ruin reputations overnight. It’s imperative therefore, that all SMEs in the city take action to protect their staff, customers and livelihoods with Bath pest control contracts delivered by local professionals who understand the threats that local businesses face.
Rodent Problems in Bath
Urban tourism areas are breeding grounds for rodents and Bath is no exception. All businesses that serve or sell food in the city have a duty of care to ensure that they are maintaining a clean and hygienic environment that is free of disease-spreading pest species.
In addition to matters of public health and safety, business owners also have their reputations to worry about. In the age of social media, if just one customer spots even a single rat or mouse, the news will find its way online in a matter of minutes and spread faster than the plague.
This is why commercial pest control contracts are so important for Bath business owners. Such an event can be almost impossible to recover from. The internet doesn’t forget and once a business has been associated with a pest problem, the news will continue to appear in search results, even many years after the issue is dealt with.
By partnering with pest control professionals, SMEs in Bath can ensure that they do not have to face a reputation-ruining infestation. As well as effective pest removal, pest control contracts are designed to prevent infestations from establishing themselves in the first place. The best control measures a business can take are preventative as opposed to reactive, which is precisely why pest control contracts are so valuable.
For example, news of a Bath takeaway restaurant receiving a rating of one (out of five) for food hygiene in January last year following a “serious rat infestation” is still prominent in Google search results. Following an unannounced visit to the premises, a senior environmental health officer found that the infestation was colonising the bin store and external drains of the property.
Even though there was no actual evidence of rodents inside the restaurant, the officer wrote in the report that “the drain was defective and serving as a point where rats are gaining access to the yard.” The report also noted that overall standards of cleanliness were not good and employees’ hygiene awareness was inadequate.
“Food businesses must take all reasonable precautions to prevent pests, namely rats, mice, cockroaches and flying insects, gaining entry into food storage and reparation areas. This is to prevent the contamination of foodstuffs,” the report read.“All areas where food is prepared and stored must be clean and capable of being kept clean. This is so that pests are not attracted into your premises and the risk of food being contaminated by dirt is controlled.”
Bath Pest Control Contracts
All SMEs operating in Bath are required to deploy effective pest control strategies that prevent the introduction of pests to a commercial premises. This is particularly crucial for food service businesses. Rats and mice spread foodborne diseases – such as salmonella and E. coli – via their fur, feet, droppings, urine and saliva, making adequate pest control a matter of public health.
Regulatory authorities have the power to close down a business’ operations temporarily or even permanently, if pests are discovered or food safety requirements are not being met. In addition, pest infestations will not escape the attention of the local press, meaning they are just as much a business risk as they are a health risk.
Bath is a glorious, gorgeous city, attracting millions of visitors each year who support a wealth of local food and other businesses. All need to take proactive measures to ensure early detection, prevention and control of pests on their premises. They can do so by securing a Bath pest control contract with Baroque Pest Services part of Safeguard Pest Control.
With over 30 years’ experience designing and implementing pest control solutions for businesses in Bath, Baroque Pest Services is the number one choice for business owners looking for a fast and effective service that delivers peace of mind.
We serve all kinds of industries including: Bars, Pubs, Cafés, Restaurants, Hotels and B&Bs, as well as Nursing Homes, Factories, Warehouses and Organic Farms.
Our service begins with a free survey and risk assessment of your commercial premises. We will then tailor a pest control contract that suits your business needs precisely.
Contact your local pest control specialist today for free quotation.
