Get the Bobbies on the bins

The Liberal Democrats are reiterating their call for West Midlands Police to assist working crews to leave the depot as garbage mounds begin to grow again. 

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Roger Harmer said: “At the end of March, a major incident was announced. Until the strike is over, there is no end to that incident. 

“Mountains of rotting rubbish are once again polluting the streets, and it won’t be long before the acrid pong becomes unavoidable. 

“I cannot understand why the police crews have been pulled back. It was entirely predictable that stepping back would mean a return to roads and routes being blockaded. 

“Chief Constable Craig Guildford must get his officers back onto the picket lines to ensure that strikers and workers are safe and that trucks can get out to rid the streets of mounting waste. 

“The strikers have a legitimate reason to protest, and they should be allowed to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Birmingham Labour’s catastrophic mismanagement and their fears around the driver grade and pay. 

“However, resident’s health and wellbeing should always be the priority, and rubbish clearance is a vital service that must continue, otherwise we face the potential of a serious public health emergency. 

“The police are the only ones with the powers to stop strikers from obstructing working crews. 

“So I ask Chief Constable Craig Guildford once again: Police the picket lines consistently until the strikes are resolved.”