A nasty sting in the tale; NO ACTION ON WASPS.Byline: AMY A`my´ n. 1. A friend. HUNT NOTHING can be done to tackle a wasp infestation infestation /in·fes·ta·tion/ (-fes-ta´shun) parasitic attack or subsistence on the skin and/or its appendages, as by insects, mites, or ticks; sometimes used to denote parasitic invasion of the organs and tissues, as by helminths. , because of fears controllers would be trespassing. Charles Turner is at his wit's end after living with the problem for 10 weeks. The insects have created two nests above the door of the home next to his, on Gainsbrough Grove, Arthur's Hill, Newcastle. Thousands of the wasps have spent the summer buzzing around the front of former electrician Mr Turner's house, which he shares with his son Christopher, 22, who has an allergy to wasp stings, and his dog Max, which has been seriously injured by them. But the landlady of the property, which has been empty since the tenant moved out three months ago, has refused to give her permission for the nests to be removed. Even though Mr Turner has offered to pay the pounds 50 it would cost to remove the wasps himself, city council pest controllers are powerless to do anything without the landlady's permission. Because Mr Turner has no contact details for the owner he is unable to get in touch with her directly. Mr Turner, 52, said: "I have done everything I know to get the problem resolved. When I open my front door there are wasps there and when you walk past the house they are all over. It's a nightmare. "My son's severely allergic to wasp stings. He was stung two years ago and went into anaphylactic shock anaphylactic shock n. A severe, sometimes fatal allergic reaction characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure, urticaria, and breathing difficulties that is caused by exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug or bee venom, after preliminary . He's been going out of the house with his coat over his head and for the whole summer we've not been able to have the windows open. "My dog has been stung eight times and the last time he was stung he leapt up in the air, landed badly and smashed his cruciate ligament cruciate ligament ligamentum cruciatum genus Sports anatomy Either of 2 major ligaments which form a cross in the knee joint, ensuring proper movement; the anterior CL is more susceptible to injury and rupture than the posterior, which is deeper in the joint. in his knee. He's 11 and he needs an operation on it. "The council has said there's nothing in legislation that can force the landlady into treating the nest. Apparently she's said the property is empty so she won't get it treated. But to me it's a health hazard health hazard Occupational safety Any agent or activity posing a potential hazard to health. Cf Physical hazard. . "I've offered to pay - it would be a small price for peace of mind. But it would be classed as trespassing." A council spokesman said: "We sympathise with the dilemma this gentleman finds himself in. We have made strenuous efforts to contact the owner of the adjacent property to request the wasp nests are removed. "However, we are unable to do any immediate treatment without permission." Wingrove councillor Nigel Todd said: "It seems a strange loophole which has created a very dangerous situation. We would want landlords to be a bit more responsible in dealing with the safety of their properties." CAPTION(S): PLAGUED: Charles Turner with his dog Max outside their home in Arthur's Hill, Newcastle |
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