Residents near Springburn Sports Centre are fed up as vermin invade their homes and bins, raising serious health concerns in the area
Glasgow: Folks living on Kay Street are really fed up. They say the vermin have gotten so bold that they’re invading backyards and tearing into bins for food.
According to GMB Union leaders, this area has turned into a breeding ground for these pests. Workers are facing rats jumping out of bins and scurrying around homes every day.
Pictures shared with the Glasgow Times show just how bad it’s gotten. You can see these critters climbing in and out of bins just a stone’s throw from the sports centre and nearby flats.
Chris Mitchell, who represents Glasgow’s cleansing workers, warns that if the council doesn’t step up, this street could become a no-go zone for his team.
He mentioned that workers are dealing with huge rats that even try to bite them while they’re emptying bins. One worker got seriously ill after an attack. It’s just not right, and it’s not just Kay Street; the problem is spreading across the city.
Chris stressed that the council needs to face the reality of the massive vermin issue in Glasgow. He believes it’s time for more environmental health teams to tackle this problem head-on.
People are tired of putting up with this, and it’s understandable. Workers have even ended up in the hospital after being bitten. Glasgow really needs a big clean-up, and the council can’t keep ignoring it.
Reports of rat sightings in Glasgow have skyrocketed, with official numbers showing a tripling of incidents over the last decade.
Last year alone, Glasgow City Council recorded nearly 10,000 incidents, with almost a fifth happening inside homes and flats.
Mr. Mitchell pointed out that due to cuts in cleansing services and a rise in litter and fly-tipping, they’re now facing an epidemic. He’s been warning the Scottish Government and local authorities about this crisis for years, but no one listened.
One resident, who’s lived in Kay Street for over a decade, even found dead rats in his wheelie bin. He believes the grass verge near the sports centre is where the rats are nesting, and they’re just coming to the bins for food.
He’s noticed them running around and said people are just sick of it. It seems like pest control can’t keep up because of where the rats are nesting. He’s worried it’s only a matter of time before a child gets bitten.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said they have a health and safety process for crews that encounter infestations. They also mentioned they haven’t received any reports of rodent infestations from their staff regarding these premises.
They assured that the health and safety of their staff is a top priority and that they have established procedures to protect them from risks related to rodent infestations. However, they don’t provide pest control services for commercial properties.
