Rats, garbage and rising taxes: why Birmingham stinks proper now – podcast

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Rats, garbage and rising taxes: why Birmingham stinks proper now – podcast

“It’s been completely unbelievable,” William Timms, a pest controller, tells Hannah Moore.

“Since March, calls have gone up 50%. Normally, I’m coping with about three or 4 rodent jobs a day this time of yr. After which I’ve acquired my insect jobs on prime.

“However I’ve needed to put my insect jobs on the again burner, as a result of I’m simply being inundated with rat calls. I’m doing about 9 or 10 a day in the meanwhile.”

Birmingham’s garbage collectors have been on an all-out strike since early March. Piles of black bin baggage and objects of litter line roads throughout the town.

“The scent from right here is simply diabolical,” Timms says. “Once I’m rummaging by way of it, searching for nests, I’m truly heaving.”

Jessica Murray, the Guardian’s social affairs correspondent, and Hannah focus on the monetary disaster at Birmingham council, the roles underneath risk, and the impression on individuals within the metropolis. Hannah additionally visits the picket line to satisfy the employees on the centre of the dispute.

Assist the Guardian right this moment: theguardian.com/todayinfocuspod

{Photograph}: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Photos

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