A Birmingham resident has declared 'enough is enough' after her street in Handsworth was transformed into a 'dumping ground' for refuse amid the ongoing bin strikes.
Pavement Covered in Filth and Mice Spotted
The situation on Wattville Road reached a critical point, with heaps of black bin bags completely blocking access to the pavement. The local resident, a registered nurse currently unable to work due to health issues and awaiting a knee replacement, said the sight of mice was 'the final straw'.
She told BirminghamLive that the persistent problem was severely affecting her mental health. "I am suffering from severe low moods because of my health issues but seeing mice running in my property is the final straw," she explained.
Resident at 'End of Her Tether' After 32 Years
The woman, who has lived in her home for 32 years, blamed the accumulation on the empty property next door, which she said was being used as an unofficial tip. She expressed fury that parents with young children were forced to walk in the road to avoid the mess.
"Parents passing with children have to use the road as the pavement is covered with filth," she said. Questioning the length of the industrial action, she added, "As a nurse, I would never let my patients down for the sake of a few more pounds; enough is enough."
Council Responds and Clears the Waste
Following contact from BirminghamLive, Birmingham City Council confirmed that the waste on Wattville Road had been cleared. Councillor Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, stated the council was "deeply concerned" by the resident's distress.
He emphasised that the council's contingency plans for the strike action are designed to provide a weekly kerbside collection to every household. He also issued a reminder to residents to only present waste outside their own homes, not empty properties, and confirmed that the Waste Enforcement Unit can investigate such incidents.
The council's response highlights the ongoing tension between essential service provision and industrial action, as the city grapples with the widespread impact of the refuse collection strike.
