'Rats infested rubbish piled so high they hid the bins' at a block of Reading flats after multiple failed collections, a resident claims.
A 45-year-old man and his wife, 38, living in Newark Street were ‘horrified’ by the smell and sight of the two bins service nine flats.
Reading Borough Council said the bins were emptied on October 31, but on November 14 waste collectors could not access the site due to a parked vehicle blocking the entrance.
“It’s smelly, I’ve seen rats running around. The thing is horrible. It’s piled up so you can’t see the bins anymore. They are all covered up with bags of rubbish now,” said the man on November 20.
READ MORE: GP surgery gives Reading patient a USED stool sample kit
“We do not know where to put the rubbish now. There are rats, you see them moving around. It’s a bit scary.”
He continued: “It’s not a personal problem. It is a problem for the whole street, for the whole block of flats.”
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed the bins had been piling up for three months, but Reading Borough Council said they were not collected for three weeks ending November 22.
A waste collection scheduled for November 21 had to be rescheduled for the next day due to the amount of waste that had accumulated, a spokesperson for the council said.
They added: “Whilst we endeavour to provide consistency of waste collection service, we are occasionally prevented from doing so due to the presence of parked vehicles that block access.
READ MORE: Mum's desperation as weeks of missed bin collections attracts rats
“Unfortunately, access to this site is often blocked by parked vehicles. The property manager, immediate and neighbouring residents can all help enormously in ensuring access is available by parking considerately.
The spokesperson continued: “We apologise for any inconvenience the necessary rescheduling of waste collections may have caused residents and are working collaboratively with the property manager to explore, agree and implement measures that will permit a greater consistency of waste collection in the future.”
The bins were cleared on November 22.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel