There could be a ‘massive expansion’ of rats, mice and seagulls in Edinburgh if the city’s garbage strike is not resolved soon.
Mountains of waste have built up in recent days in the Scottish capital.
The rubbish, and the accompanying odor, has hampered the ongoing Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with thousands of people descending on the cobbled streets of the city.
Terry Levinthal, the director of the Cockburn Association, told the BBC there could be a ‘massive spread’ of pests such as rats if a solution is not found.
Pests such as seagulls, pigeons and mice can also become an increasing concern.
Mr Levinthal said: ‘As a result we will see that in a few weeks there will be a massive expansion of the pest population because there is just so much food being offered.’
The strike has been prompted by disagreements over local government wages between Scotland’s Labour-run Edinburgh City Council and cleaning staff.
Workers walked out last week to coincide with the summer festivals taking place in the city.
They have inspired waste workers in 13 other local authorities, including Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.
Schools in some areas could be closed next month if staff there join in.
Scottish Deputy Prime Minister John Swinney has said the situation is “very worrying” for public health.
Unions want the Scottish government to step in and find more money to settle the wage dispute.
Asked about the impact of the Edinburgh strike, Mr Swinney said today: ‘I think the condition of the city of Edinburgh has just been very worrying on many levels, not least with regard to public health.
“So I recognize the importance of the issue and that’s why I want the union action resolved, and so I’d rather it didn’t spread to other parts of the country.”
He added that the Scottish government had already provided £140m to councils – with this money helping to fund the 5% improved offer.
Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar has faced a quirk today. He was responding to accusations of the Edinburgh Council failing to criticize the rubbish dumps after suggesting that the anger during Glasgow’s garbage strike last year be directed at the council.
Asked by the PA whether that was a valid accusation, Mr Sarwar said: ‘Governments are missing in action, but I am not in government. I would like to be in government.
“I would get people around the table, I would get Cosla around the table. I would get the unions round the table and I would work day and night to get an answer to this dispute, not the hesitation, delay and misinformation we’ve seen from the SNP.”
Wendy Dunsmore, of Unite, said Scottish ministers should offset the £1,925 pay rise given to local government employees in the rest of the UK.
With the 5% on offer, workers in Scotland will receive an average of £900 more per year, she said, as she insisted the unions were “here for the long haul”.
Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already made it clear that the Scottish government does not have a ‘bottomless pit of money’ to resolve the dispute.
But Ms Dunsmore urged ministers to find more money as she called on the Scottish government to at least match the £1,925 wage offer made to council workers in the rest of the UK.
Any increase must give ‘appropriate recognition that there is a crisis for low-paid workers’”, urged Ms Dunsmore.
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