A Dudley Council worker has described a 'rats nest' in rubbish that accumulated outside a community hub and health centre for two months, prompting fury from local leaders.
Rubbish pile-up at Ladies Walk Centre
Waste, including clinical waste, piled up outside the Ladies Walk Centre in Sedgley until council workers cleared it on May 18. The refuse originated from the centre and had been building up since Dudley Council announced plans to purchase the building.
Bethany Wilkins, a cleaner at the centre, expressed frustration: 'When people walk by, we're the ones putting rubbish out, so it's our face on it. People complain as if we can do something about it.'
She added: 'There is a clinic, we have a spot for foot treatments, fungal issues, blood spills, baby nappies – everything clinical. We had a proper rats nest; you could see them moving. It was getting horrendous.'
Council leader's response
Community campaigner and former Conservative candidate Bill Etheridge alerted council leaders. Council leader Patrick Harley responded: 'This is outrageous. I instructed council workmen to clear it as soon as we heard. We have removed it before and intend to charge those responsible. It is bad practice from so-called NHS professionals.'
Harley continued: 'Our workers will remove it, but we cannot keep clearing other people's rubbish. They will be charged and need to sort out their own waste contracts. I am disgusted.'
Whistleblowers come forward
Mr Etheridge said: 'The council warned the health centre to improve weeks ago, but nothing changed. I'm grateful to whistleblowers who reported this. Like everyone in Sedgley, my family uses this centre. Health providers have a duty to operate safely and sanitarily. This is an absolute disgrace.'
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs medical services at Ladies Walk, has been approached for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
