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| Birmingham bin strike: 'Cat-sized rats are attacking our cars' | Birmingham bin strike: 'Cat-sized rats are attacking our cars' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| One resident told the BBC he had trapped 17 rats in two months | One resident told the BBC he had trapped 17 rats in two months |
| Large rats that are plaguing part of Birmingham have left residents with repair bills after chewing through car cables and nesting in bonnets. | Large rats that are plaguing part of Birmingham have left residents with repair bills after chewing through car cables and nesting in bonnets. |
| People living on Drews Lane in Washwood Heath said rodent problems were exacerbated by the city's ongoing strike by bin collectors and nearby HS2 construction work. | People living on Drews Lane in Washwood Heath said rodent problems were exacerbated by the city's ongoing strike by bin collectors and nearby HS2 construction work. |
| One resident told the BBC he had trapped 17 rats in two months while others have found infestations in wheelie bins. | One resident told the BBC he had trapped 17 rats in two months while others have found infestations in wheelie bins. |
| Labour-run Birmingham City Council, which brought in a £24 charge for rat control visits last year, acknowledged missed collections had caused issues. | Labour-run Birmingham City Council, which brought in a £24 charge for rat control visits last year, acknowledged missed collections had caused issues. |
| HS2 said the health and safety of its workforce and the public was its "number one priority". | HS2 said the health and safety of its workforce and the public was its "number one priority". |
| Kim Blakeman said some of the rats were the size of small cats | |
| Opposition parties have described the £24 charge as a "rat tax" but the authority said it was cheaper than neighbouring authorities. | Opposition parties have described the £24 charge as a "rat tax" but the authority said it was cheaper than neighbouring authorities. |
| "The rats are huge - they are like small cats and their tails are really chunky," said Kim Blakeman, who has lived on Drews Lane for 16 years. | "The rats are huge - they are like small cats and their tails are really chunky," said Kim Blakeman, who has lived on Drews Lane for 16 years. |
| "They are in and out of our recycling bins and since HS2 has started across the road we've had more of an influx. | "They are in and out of our recycling bins and since HS2 has started across the road we've had more of an influx. |
| "The council don't bother litter picking our road anymore. People fly-tip and it's a perfect nesting site and the rats come and feed in our bins." | "The council don't bother litter picking our road anymore. People fly-tip and it's a perfect nesting site and the rats come and feed in our bins." |
| Teacher Mariya Malik contacted the BBC after a relative's car was damaged by rats chewing cables for a third time. | Teacher Mariya Malik contacted the BBC after a relative's car was damaged by rats chewing cables for a third time. |
| "The car wouldn't start and that cost us around £120. It's not a fortune but £120 when it's not your fault - it's quite upsetting," she said. | "The car wouldn't start and that cost us around £120. It's not a fortune but £120 when it's not your fault - it's quite upsetting," she said. |
| "When you sit in your car in the morning there is just so much anxiety, is it going to start or have the rats attacked again? Fly-tipping isn't helping, the bin strike hasn't helped." | "When you sit in your car in the morning there is just so much anxiety, is it going to start or have the rats attacked again? Fly-tipping isn't helping, the bin strike hasn't helped." |
| Ms Malik's neighbour Ali said he had found a "rat's nest" on his car's battery. | Ms Malik's neighbour Ali said he had found a "rat's nest" on his car's battery. |
| The ongoing bin strike in Birmingham means collections have been missed | |
| Birmingham City Council acknowledged strike action had caused missed bin collections and said it would try to ensure every household got a collection once a week. | Birmingham City Council acknowledged strike action had caused missed bin collections and said it would try to ensure every household got a collection once a week. |
| "We would like to thank residents for their understanding and patience during this period of industrial action. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," it said. | "We would like to thank residents for their understanding and patience during this period of industrial action. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," it said. |
| Addressing the charge for pest control, the council said the fee was lower than some neighbouring councils whilst residents were free to purchase control measures themselves. | Addressing the charge for pest control, the council said the fee was lower than some neighbouring councils whilst residents were free to purchase control measures themselves. |
| HS2, which is building a control centre on Drews Lane, told the BBC: "The health and safety of our workforce and the public is HS2's number one priority. | HS2, which is building a control centre on Drews Lane, told the BBC: "The health and safety of our workforce and the public is HS2's number one priority. |
| "Enclosed waste skips are used for bagged waste and are emptied regularly, with weekly site inspections carried out to check waste management," a spokesperson added. | "Enclosed waste skips are used for bagged waste and are emptied regularly, with weekly site inspections carried out to check waste management," a spokesperson added. |
| Planning approval for the Washwood Heath Depot was granted in 2023, with the site set to eventually become the main control hub for the whole HS2 network. | Planning approval for the Washwood Heath Depot was granted in 2023, with the site set to eventually become the main control hub for the whole HS2 network. |
| It will also serve as the main maintenance and storage facility for HS2's train fleet. | It will also serve as the main maintenance and storage facility for HS2's train fleet. |
| Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |