A Glasgow councillor has warned that bin collectors are being “pushed to their limits” after footage emerged from GMB Union of a bin set in Govanhill riddled with a rat infestation.

Councillor Paul Carey has slammed Glasgow City Council for cutting the workforce “to the bone.”

He told The Glasgow Times: “Over the past three years, the waste crisis in the city is down to twofold: it’s down to the resources being cut to the bone and it’s also down to the fact that people need to take responsibility to make sure rubbish is kept in the bin.

“The workforce is now having to do the same amount of work that they had to do three or four years ago only now with less workers in the workforce.

“They are being pushed to their limits. It’s now at breaking point and this is solely down to cuts upon cuts.”

The bin set that featured in the footage provided to The Glasgow Times from GMB Union showed multiple rats weaving through heaps of debris and left-over food from broken bin bags on the floor.

READ MORE: Watch: Govanhill rat-infested bin set sparks worries over public health and safety

This specific bin set on Bowman Street had been reported to Glasgow City Council in November last year, however it wasn’t cleared until January 2020. In a statement, Glasgow City Council admitted the conditions were “unacceptable”.

Residents on Bowman Street told the Glasgow Times that due to “inconsistent” bin collections they have been forced to put their waste in their gardens and on the floors of bin sets, the result of which is rat infestation.

Mr Sadfar Ali, who has lived on the street for more than 15 years said: “Because of inconsistent collections, we don’t have much other choice than to put our waste either on the floor of bin sets in backcourts or in our gardens. This is not how any of us want to live!”

Another resident, who wished not to be named, told the Glasgow Times that he and his family no longer use the communal garden area due its condition.

He said: “I have a son and in the summer, if we want to go out into the garden or have a barbeque, it’s just off the cards – the condition of it is just too bad.

 “A simple task like taking the bins out become a nightmare. Especially when the bin set is an absolute tip because the bin men won’t take the bags from the floor because all of the bins are appropriately full.”

Councillor Paul Carey underlined that the waste “crisis” is recognised across the whole city and not just the Southside.

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He added: “It’s a crisis and everyone in the city can see it, regardless of what party you’re from.”

“The unions have time and time again pointed out the lack of resources and they need the resources to tackle this issue.”

“I am born and bred in this city and this is the worst I’ve seen in my time as a councillor. It’s not just the rubbish piling up in the backcourts it’s the state of the rubbish everywhere you come.”

Glasgow City Council have apologised for the inconsistency of bin services on Bowman Street, putting it down to backcourt lanes being blocked.

A spokesperson said: “We fully understand the frustration that a missed bin collection can cause and we apologise for any subsequent inconvenience.

“We run a weekly collection of general waste from Bowman Street, but unfortunately our cleansing crews face regular difficulty with access to the bin courts along this street.

“Cars parked on or at the entrance to back lanes frequently prevent our vehicles from reaching bin courts and will disrupt the collection of waste.

“Where residents have sought to dispose of their waste in the appropriate manner we will always remove that waste.

“But where recycling bins have been contaminated with general waste or poorly kept bin courts attract vermin, residents may experience a delay to that waste being collected while these additional matters are dealt with.

“We have been engaging with residents in Bowman St and will keep working with them to ensure they receive an efficient and effective cleansing service.

“As part of the action plan for cleansing in Govanhill, there is a call for everyone to play their part in ensuring a clean and tidy community.

“Not parking across lanes that provide access to bin courts would also count as someone playing their part in creating a clean and tidy community.”