Residents of Cygnet Court in Smethwick are expressing growing concern after a recurring problem involving soiled nappies being thrown into a tree outside the block has led to a surge in rodents. Carlie-Ann Hare, a private homeowner who has lived in her flat for four years, first noticed the issue in mid-July when nappies began accumulating in the branches of a tree near her window.
Ms Hare reports that despite repeated complaints, Midland Heart Housing Association has yet to effectively address the fly-tipping. She highlights that the warm summer weather is exacerbating the unpleasant smell emanating from the discarded nappies.
“For the last three weeks, someone has been throwing their child’s soiled nappies, not in bags, out the window from their balcony,” she explained. “They’re landing in the tree just outside my living room window. It’s driving me insane. The building isn’t a high-rise, so using the bins downstairs-even from the top floor-isn’t difficult, especially since there’s a lift available.”
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The presence of rubbish has attracted rats and mice, which Ms Hare has personally witnessed climbing the tree to reach the nappies. “I’ve never seen mice or rats around here before,” she said. “It’s a serious health hazard and poses risks not only to residents but also to pets like my cat.”
Last night the problem escalated when a mouse reportedly entered Ms Hare’s flat through a misaligned drainage pipe. Luckily, her cat managed to chase it away. Residents in Cygnet Court pay a monthly fee of £177 for ground rent and maintenance, leading Ms Hare to question why immediate action has not been taken to resolve the issue.
“I would expect that fee to cover prompt cleaning and maintenance,” she commented. “My repeated requests to clear up the nappies have been ignored, and now we’re facing a rat infestation. I’m really at a loss. The neighbours are generally good, and we’ve never had problems before.”
In response, the housing association has stated that it will distribute a letter to all residents urging them not to fly-tip. However, residents remain concerned that more decisive measures are needed to tackle the problem.
“It’s a serious health hazard and poses risks not only to residents but also to pets like my cat.”
Community members affected by this or similar issues are encouraged to reach out and share their experiences via email to [email protected].