Rubbish piles at 'crisis point' amid bin strikes

A Birmingham MP said rubbish piling up on the city's streets amid an ongoing bin strike had reached "crisis point".

In a letter to Birmingham City Council, Preet Gill said constituents had reported a increase in rats and cockroaches, and that she now feared a "public health emergency".

An indefinite all-out strike for bin workers in the city began on Tuesday involving about 350 members of the union Unite.

It follows a row over pay and conditions, particularly the loss of a job role.

The union claims some members could lose £8,000 from their salary, but the council said only a small number of workers stand to lose less than £6,000.

Labour MP Gill wrote: "Some roads in Edgbaston constituency are particularly badly affected where the volume of waste is obstructing passage along the pavements.

"Additionally, residents are reporting that the waste is driving a plague of rats and cockroaches."

She said with the warmer weather approaching, she feared the situation could get worse.

The all-out strikes officially started on Tuesday, however, collectors have been taking action on-and-off since January, following plans to downgrade some staff and reduce their pay.

In a statement, Birmingham City Council previously said the escalation would lead to "greater disruption to residents, despite the fair and reasonable offer that the council made to the union".

The letter said that the Labour-run council has "statutory duties" to protect the public from an environmental and public health perspective.

Gill said it must "take priority in this emergency situation".

She added: "I am formally requesting that you use the relevant statutory powers available to you to ensure that this emergency situation is addressed, ensuring that the streets are not running with vermin and the health of the population protected."

Gill told BBC Midlands Today the council had told her it would work with her to find a solution.

"It's really important that Unite and the council get back round the table because residents of Birmingham deserve so much better," she added.

"Hundreds of constituents are contacting me, sending me pictures, really worried, saying that there are areas where they've seen sights of rats, of cockroaches and of course foxes are coming out ripping those bags up.

"Of course as the weather starts getting warmer there's [an] awful stench and people are really worried about the public health element of this."

The issue was also raised during Prime Minister's Questions, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch attacking Labour, saying rubbish was "piling up" on the city's streets.

Birmingham City Council has been contacted for further comment.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.