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THE MONTGOMERY STREET BUSINESS CENTRE SEES PILES OF RUBBISH ACCUMULATING LEAVING ONE TRADER FEELING 'PHYSICALLY SICK' 05:30, 03 Jun 2025 Birmingham City Council has admitted an

'inadequate' service at a Birmingham business centre that is repeatedly overwhelmed with piles of rubbish. The Montgomery Street Business Centre in Sparkbrook is the site from

which a number of small independent Birmingham companies operate, but they've been left with mountains of rubbish in recent months. Chocolatier Neil Hughes of Kneals Chocolates says

that the rubbish problem pre-dates the bin strikes, including frequent fly-tipping incidents due to a poorly-functioning security gate that leaves the site open to dumping from outside

parties. READ MORE: BIRMINGHAM CHOCOLATIER SAYS 'I'M EMBARRASSED' AS RUBBISH PILES UP AT 'PIG STY' SITE SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRUM FOOD CLUB FOR A WEEKLY FOOD AND DRINK

NEWSLETTER, IN YOUR INBOX, EVERY THURSDAY. IT'S FREE. Neil told BirminghamLive that he feels the council have allowed the centre it owns to become a 'pig sty' since it was put

up for auction in 2022 and that the worry has left him feeling 'physically sick'. Article continues below The council has responded to say that it is 'determined to resolve

the current issues' in a statement. A spokesperson at Birmingham City Council told BirminghamLive: "Our service charges are calculated upon costs received, meaning that we only

charge what it costs to deliver the services, repairs, and maintenance needed by Montgomery Street Business Centre. "No profit is gained by the council. "We have been in consistent

contact with the tenants at the Business Centre to fix the issues they are facing, including the ongoing problem of the security gate. We are determined to resolve the current issues."

Birmingham bin workers have been on strike since March due to 'pay and conditions' and the council blames this for the recent rubbish problem in Sparkbrook. The statement

continues: "We acknowledge that the waste collection service has been inadequate. 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. "During the last three weeks the council has not been able to collect waste due to Unite the Union picketers

and protestors blocking our refuse trucks from leaving our depots. "However, since the indefinite injunction has been in place, our crews have now been able to leave and we are

prioritising clearing up the Montgomery Street Business Centre. "We thank the tenants for their continued understanding and patience so far and would like to reassure them that they are

only charged for the collections that are made, as is standard for all commercial businesses in Birmingham." The council has also lambasted fly-tippers that have contributed to the

mess at the business park. It said: "We are also aware of the fly-tipping occurring at Montgomery Street Business Centre. Fly-tipping harms where we all have to live and work and is

carried out by environmental criminals that have no regard for our neighbourhoods or their well-being. "When fly-tipping occurs, we act as quickly as possible. Our crews clear hundreds

of fly-tipping reports each week, but everyone needs to play their part in maintaining a clean environment. Article continues below "We have plenty of lawful options for people to

responsibly dispose of waste or unwanted items. "We are committed to prosecuting fly-tippers whenever possible, and we encourage residents to provide reports and evidence for us to do

so."