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Fridge-freezers, shopping trolleys and mattresses are littered across Oscott Road in Perry Barr – even the post box is out of order.
Perhaps, not what you would expect on a cul-de-sac that directly faces what will be the glamorous multi-million pound Commonwealth Games village.
Despite massive regeneration of Perry Barr – including a rail station, a new school, and removal of the A34 flyover – locals fear their street has been neglected.
“We need to get out of here, it’s too rough,” says one distressed resident. “We’ve been broken [into] seven times. Robbed our food, microwave, kettle, everything. That’s how desperate we are.”
The world’s eyes will soon fall on Perry Barr, an area that will hold an eternal legacy for the city.
And these residents will be right in the middle of it – though frustrations are brewing for people here, and time is running out.
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Patricia Mulvey, 80, has lived on Oscott Road for 38 years and takes to using her own broom to clean up the sidewalks – something her mobility is now restricting. She describes how “the best road ever” has transcended into a “slum.”
“It was such a beautiful road. I’ve known this road as a child because my grandparents lived near. I never knew I was going to live down here but it’s gone horrible.”
“Friends that come say: ‘what has happened to your road?’
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
“Even taxi [drivers] come and say ‘my God what a disgrace.’ It’s terrible. Disgusting. The road is full of rubbish. It’s always dirty. People [are] just dumping.”
Residents are furious, they told BirminghamLive they feel their street has been ignored by the council and local politicians.
Bouts of violent and sexual crimes have been issues for the area. In the last six months there have been ten investigations launched, according to figures on police.co.uk.
Patricia claims former dangerous prisoners live in the area and she is ‘frightened to go out sometimes’.
She said: “My husband is 87, he can’t defend himself? We can hardly walk.
“It’s just horrible. My family want me to move.”
Carole Goodman, 78, has lived on Oscott road for almost 30 years. Despite the rising piles of rubbish, discarded mattresses and a sealed-off postbox, she feels safe on the street.
The love of her “little house” deters her from moving anywhere new, she says.
Carole said: “I grew up here. It’s my family home.
“We have a lot of bail houses down here. They don’t respect the area at all.”
‘They deserve a second chance but they should look after the area’
“It’s just an ongoing thing, they just throw all their litter. There is a lot of alcoholics unfortunately. You feel for them.”
“We’ve called the council and they’ve said there’s nothing they can do.”
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Ajmal Nazir, 42, a caretaker and school facilities manager has only lived on the street for a matter of months.
He said: “I’ve only been living here for three months, we haven’t had any issues.
“There was once a lot of rubbish, they cleaned it. [But] somebody put a lot of rubbish again as if they were waiting for it to go so they can refill the place.”
Despite the ongoing concerns along the street, Ajmal believes the redevelopment coming to the wider Perry Barr area will be “excellent.”
“I personally think this is a good thing. This place will be very desirable. If I can buy somewhere around here now it will be excellent. I know it doesn’t look good at the moment, but it will be gentrified.”
‘The bins are tipped over all the time, the streets stinks’
Martyn Smith, 30, has lived on Oscott Road for eight months. He is currently volunteering whilst on probation after serving a four year prison sentence.
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
He describes how “trolleys are being left out with rubbish” and there is “rubbish left on the side of the streets”.
“This is a very crime based area, as there have been cars stolen and one of the houses on this road robbed seven times, it’s a joke,” Martyn says.
“This area isn’t going to change, its going to stay the same. They should knock all the houses down. Perry Barr is just not the same anymore.”
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Liberal Democrat leader Jon Hunt states troubles on Oscott road has “been a problem for a while.”
“Its been left to a disgrace,” he says. “It’s been getting worse and the council have seemed to abandoned it. It’s been difficult. I have had to go to the top to get some action, they need to clean it regularly. There’s no need to blame the residents, everyone deserves a clean street.”
According to Royal Mail spokesperson: “The postbox on Oscott Road in Birmingham is temporarily out of service due to the regeneration work taking place in the area. While the work is being carried out, access to the postbox will be restricted for safety reasons.”
Cllr John O’Shea, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Parks at Birmingham City Council, said: “Whether it is one bag of rubbish, mattresses or the contents of a house clearance, any fly tipping in this city is completely unacceptable and a criminal offence.
“When cases are reported, we investigate – and when credible evidence is available, we prosecute.”
According to Birmingham City Council “the council can only prosecute when credible evidence, that meets the criminal burden of proof, is available. Anyone with information on any cases of fly tipping is to contact the council at www.birmingham.gov.uk/flytipping.”
