RIDDING homes of wasps is to get cheaper while cockroaches and fleas are to be costlier under council proposals.

West Dunbartonshire Council wants to change their price list for pest control to ensure it’s largely a cost neutral service.

The new cheaper wasp service would apply from next summer on a trial basis in the hopes it make the council more competitive.

Council bosses want to cut the wasp charge from £45 to £25 to make it more competitive against other businesses. There will need to be an extra 70 callouts for wasps to make up the shortfall.

A drop of more than 2,000 council houses since 1996 means the council will also raise the internal pest control services unit charge from £3.57 to £5.57. The charge would also go up for registered social landlords to the same level.

Callouts for cockroaches, bed bugs and fleas have all gone up in the past few years and also require more staff time and materials to treat infestations.

The council wants to raise the prices from £45 to £95 for cockroach and flea treatments.

The corporate services committee meets on November 29.