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

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

“Since March, calls have gone up 50%. Often, I’m coping with about three or 4 rodent jobs a day this time of 12 months. After which I’ve acquired my insect jobs on high.

“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 mean time.”

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 town.

“The scent from right here is simply diabolical,” Timms says. “After I’m rummaging via it, searching for nests, I’m really heaving.”

Jessica Murray, the Guardian’s social affairs correspondent, and Hannah talk about 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.

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