The manager of Jora Junction says rats from fly-tipped waste behind his shop are destroying his stock
The manager of a high-end Asian clothes store has been forced to throw more than £1,000-worth of stock after rats attracted by fly-tippers chewed through the clothes.
Salman Khawaja, from Jora Junction on Stratford Road in Sparkhill, said rodents attracted by filth abandoned at the back of his shop had destroyed beautiful suits in his stock room.
He claimed litter louts had been dumping rubbish filled bags next to commercial bins on Alfred Street for years, causing a stench and infestation.
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Mr Khawaja, 42, said despite having precautions in place, the rats had managed to get through the shutters.
He was forced to throw away garments he intended to sell after discovering holes in fabrics and rat droppings in packaging.
Salman Khawaja, who owns Jora Junction dress shop, says rats from fly-tipping have made their way into his stockroom and chewed through three suits – and also while the dresses have been hung up on the shop floor
(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
He said: “When a customer asks for a suit, we go to the stock room and pick it out.
“When we took it out of the packaging, there was rat waste and we saw the holes.
“We have thrown away four to six suits. One was worth £300.”
The only public car park for the area is on Alfred Street and Mr Kwaja said customers were put off by the disgusting sight and smell.
He said the city council had installed a camera and questioned locals about their waste provisions but the situation was “not improving.”
Rubbish on Alfred Street in Sparkhill(Image: Reporter)
Mr Khawaja said: “When people come from other cities to shop on Stratford Road, they park at Alfred Street and they see rubbish and rats.
“I’ve heard girls screaming when they see rats, it smells.
“Two days ago there was a rat hit by a car.
“It was really, really big and disgusting.”
Mr Khawaja pays £700 a month in business rates and £48 monthly for an organised bin collection which is kept at the back of his shop.
Salman with a damaged dress still inside its protective cover(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
He said: “The council has cleared it lots of times, I take pictures.
“I’ve been in touch with the council but people keep dumping.”
With visitors remarking on the rubbish, Mr Khawaja said it was a stain on the reputation of the area.
He said: “I pay £700 business rates, what are we getting back from the council ?”
The council said: “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; this is in addition to the work our neighbourhood crews undertake to clean up across the city.
“Everyone needs to play their part in maintaining a clean environment. 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 and we are looking to increase our duty of care inspections.”