"It's a nightmare for people like me." Bin strikes making it difficult to walk on pavement, says blind woman

A woman in Birmingham's telling us the bin strikes are making it harder for her guide dog to navigate safely through piles of rubbish bags left on the pavements.

It's as the second week of all-out strike action comes to a close.

It's over a dispute between Unite the Union and Birmingham City Council over pay and conditions.

We've been speaking to Michelle Marshall who lives in Sheldon.

She's blind and tells us uncollected rubbish is proving difficult for her guide dog:

"The streets are just getting more and more of an obstacle to navigate.

"Black bags are getting burst open so the dog's having to take me around the rubbish that's spilled out - as well as the bins that are lying there because they haven't been emptied," she says.

"It's just getting worse."

Michelle says despite her doing being very well trained, the rubbish still creates a distraction.

"As much training as they're given, she's still a dog, and it's still rubbish - and they like to smell rubbish don't they.

"So her attention's been pulled away at times if bags have been opened."

Michelle says the problem has impacted her quality of life.

"I've been going out with family members but that defeats the point.

"The guide dog is supposed to give me independence but that's now being taken away from me again."

Birmingham City Council have said:

"Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service.

"Our door is still open, and we would encourage Unite to come back to the table.

“We thank residents for their continued understanding and patience so far and will continue to provide up-to-date information about our plans during the industrial action.”

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