I am aware of a fly problem in some parts of the north west of Frome. I raised this with Mendip District Council’s Environmental Health officers and this is their response:

‘Unfortunately the fly problem is most likely to be associated with the Frome sewage treatment works which does sometimes affect nearby properties despite Wessex Water investing a lot of resource to try to prevent or minimise it. The council have looked into this issue in some depth with Wessex Water and we continue to liaise with them to ensure that they are taking a best practice approach to minimising fly numbers. The council are satisfied that everything is being done that can be done at the existing works and unfortunately this means that with Frome being an old works with large filter beds and unfortunately without extensive investment it relies on the fly larvae to assist with the processing of waste. The cold spell earlier this year followed by damp and then warm weather appears to have culminated in a population explosion of certain flies.

Below are some tips which may help to reduce flies getting into residential property :

· Cover entry points: For example keep doors and windows closed where possible especially at night. Fit fly screens to doors and windows.

· In hours of darkness draw curtains/blinds to prevent flies being attracted by lights on in the house.

· Keep bins, sinks and food areas clean.

· Keep food covered.

· Fix leaky taps and blocked drains where water can gather.

· Some flies don’t ‘like’ variable airflows. An oscillating fan can help to make a room unattractive to flies.

· Electric fly killers (Electrocutors) will kill flies but they can also attract numbers into the property due to the light they emit.

· Surface fly killer may be applied to walls, window frames, door frames etc (follow all precautions stated on the product before using).

· If flies gain entry to room, aerosol fly sprays can be used to knock down flies. They only generally work for a short period of time. (Follow all precautions stated on the aerosol can before using).

Also the main elements of the fly management plan commitment from Wessex Water are as follows :

Wessex Water follow best practice to control fly numbers from their sites in line with available guidance. Wessex Water apply a number of methods to minimise the number of flies from site. Wessex Water have a Fly Management Plan in place and this is reviewed on a regular basis. Best practice to minimise fly populations at Frome STW has included the following:

· Dosing a larvicide (pesticide) to the filter beds to reduce fly larvae levels and subsequent adult fly populations.

· Regular fly larvae counting of the filter beds so the larvicide is dosed at the right time to be as effective as possible.

· Extensive trial work carried out to determine the frequency and dose rate that the larvicide is at its most effectiveness at reducing fly larvae levels and subsequent adult fly populations.

· Installing netting around filter beds and site boundary to prevent adult fly populations leaving site.

· Installing electrocutors on site to attract and reduce the number of adult fly populations.

· Using pesticide to reduce fly levels on netting around filter beds when high levels of flies are visually detected on site.

· Installing bird boxes around site to reduce fly numbers by encouraging their natural predators.

Wessex Water continue to follow best practice to minimise fly population levels and are in close liaison with the local Environmental Health Office.

Residents may also contact Wessex Water Customer Services (0345 600 4 6000) and ask for the Treatment Manager to contact them to discuss the matter. … I believe that there is an option to visit the works to see the fly reduction measures and the difficulties associated with fly control.’

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