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Health fears raised as contaminated packages held back and operations disrupted
A MAJOR delivery depot in Newport has been hit by a rat infestation, prompting urgent action from Royal Mail to deep clean parcels before they can be delivered.
Operations at the Parcelforce Worldwide site in the Maesglas area have been temporarily relocated after concerns were raised that some packages had been contaminated by rodent activity. The depot, operated by Royal Mail, is understood to have held back affected parcels for “examination and deep cleaning” by specialist contractors.
The company described the issue as “localised” and said it had been dealt with swiftly through intensive cleaning measures and pest control intervention. Customers are expected to receive their parcels once they are deemed safe.
However, claims from an anonymous source paint a more troubling picture. Speaking to BBC Wales, the source alleged the infestation has been ongoing for several months, with rats “frequently seen across the site”.
They further claimed parcels had been exposed to rat urine and droppings, with some packages reportedly chewed. Concerns were also raised about vehicle safety, with one delivery van allegedly taken off the road after rats damaged its fuel injector lines.
According to the source, an attending mechanic identified the issue as rodent-related, remarking on the presence of rats within the vehicle. Despite this, it is alleged some affected vehicles continued to be used.
Royal Mail strongly refuted suggestions that insufficient action had been taken. A spokesperson said extensive measures had been implemented, including baiting, trapping, and structural proofing to prevent further access by pests.
“We are actively managing a pest issue at our Newport depot and have taken immediate steps to address it,” the spokesperson said. “While there has been evidence of rodent activity in parts of the site, this has been largely localised.”
They added that operations had been moved within the depot to minimise disruption while remediation work continues.
The incident raises wider public health concerns, as rats are known carriers of diseases that can be transmitted to humans through urine, droppings, and parasites such as fleas and ticks.
Elsewhere in Newport, residents have also reported an increase in rat sightings, with some described as “the size of a rabbit”, linked to ongoing fly-tipping problems in parts of the city.
The situation at the depot remains under close management as efforts continue to fully resolve the infestation.
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