“You’re not getting little rats anymore,” one resident told NBC News. “They’re getting cat-size.”

So bad is the situation that local lawmakers declared a “major incident” this month in the city, where some residents say their quality of life is worse than in developing countries and hold it up as an example of “Broken Britain” — which is how some describe the perceived widespread social decay of the U.K. and the breakdown of public services in the country.

“You’re not getting little rats anymore,” Charlie Wilson, 31, said as she sat on her front porch. “They’re getting cat-size.” She added that the smell — which has only gotten worse as spring temperatures have risen — was making her sick.

  • federal reverse@feddit.orgMEnglish
    8·
    8 days ago

    Some frustrated Birmingham residents have taken the problem into their own hands by driving to the Tyseley waste facility, where the strikes are ongoing, or other waste pits near the area to dispose of their garbage.

    But Abdul Sami, 37, said that doing so requires residents to book a slot online and that so many had come up with the same plan that now hardly any slots are available to the public.

    • lazynooblet@lazysoci.alEnglish
      4·
      8 days ago

      That’s unfortunate. My issue was pre COVID. They introduced booking requirements during COVID and kept the policy in place. Lame.

    • pulsey@feddit.orgEnglish
      2·
      8 days ago

      I wouldnt be surprised if someone is getting all the slots and then sells them.