Ash Pits Cleared – Petition Soon Answered

November 1956

South Yorkshire Times November 10, 1956

Petition Soon Answered
Conisbrough Ash Pits Cleared

A petition to the divisional Medical Officer of Health from tenants of nine houses in Claremont Terrace, Conisbrough, claiming that their ash pits were breeding grounds for rats and mice because they had not been emptied for seven months (reported in our last issue) brought quick results.

On Monday morning a driver and five men from the refuse collection squad came to clear out the two ash pits which the nine houses share, by 10 a.m. the two pits were emptied, one rat and 14 mice had been caught.

Mrs Mary Baldry of five, Claremont Terrace, who previously claimed that ash pits were positive breeding grounds for rats and mice, organised the petition. She said on Monday, “It proved what I said and it shows what they can do if they are pushed.

The “exposure,” as she called the story, must have woken somebody up somewhere she said.

Mrs Maud Haigh of 1, Claremont Terrace, received an answer to the petition saying that the matter was being dealt with, but she said she was surprised to see the men coming so soon.