Call for controversial 'rat tax' to be scrapped

BINS STRIKE HEIGHTENED FEARS OVER VERMIN IN PILED-UP RUBBISH

- ALEXANDER BROCK Local Democracy Reporter

BIRMINGHAM City Council has been urged to permanently scrap its controversial 'rat tax' charge after making a 'welcome' change during the bins strike.

The crisis-hit authority's unprecedented budget last year included plans to introduce new pest control charges for 'rat in garden and rat in house treatments' - a service which was previously free.

It has since controversially risen to £24 and then £26.40 during the past year and a half.

The move proved deeply divisive, with one Conservative councillor at the time warning of a “golden decade for rats”.

Fears over rodents have now gripped the city amid the ongoing bins strike, which left enormous mountains of rubbish just metres away from people's homes in certain parts of Birmingham.