RESIDENTS in a famous UK seaside town once home to TV stars say it has become a disgusting, rat-filled dump. The owners of six ramshackle seaside chalets in Porthcawl, South Wales , fed rats to help them get moved to better accommodation. The tenants knew that if they encouraged the rats it would speed up their chances of being given up-to-date social housing.
Their plan worked and now the small run-down bungalows have been boarded up and are part of a “disgusting” eyesore on the seafront of one of Britain’s most popular resorts. The chalets were at the rear of the Buccaneer Complex, just 30 yards from the beach and a two-minutes walk to the resort’s famous Coney Island funfair. Not long ago the complex had seaside shops selling beach balls, windbreaks and kites.
There was a popular pub - The Buccaneer - a pizza parlour, kebab takeaway, jewellers and surf shop. Read More But all have been shut down and boarded up in a move that locals and holidaymakers say visiting Porthcawl is "depressing". One local businessman said: “The residents of the chalets wanted out, even though they loved the location.
“There was a rat infestation but the tenants fed them knowing it would help their case if the place was crawling with vermin. “They were feeding the rats scraps. I saw it with my own eyes.
" Most read in UK News The residents were moved to temporary accommodation 20 miles away but all have moved back to council and housing association flats back in Porthcawl. Meanwhile bu.