Birmingham’s bin strike is damaging the city’s reputation across the country, it’s been claimed.
And the sight of bin bags piled up in the streets could hurt the city’s bid to become the new home of Channel 4.
Solihull MP Julian Knight (Con) said the bin strike was hurting the wider region too.
He said: “When you search for Birmingham on Google now, the first thing you get is the bin strike. That’s not good for the whole of the West Midlands.”
Birmingham is bidding to become the new home of Channel 4, after the Government said it could order the broadcaster to move its headquarters out of London.
But bags and overstuffed wheelie bins have been piling up on the streets since the city’s binmen began industrial action on June 30.
Mr Knight said: “I’m pitching strongly for our region to get Channel 4.
"And there are several other companies as well, who I can’t name, who are looking at potentially relocating in our region.
“And I have to say, for the first time in the past few days there has been some negative comeback, over the bin strike,
“The are worried about the ability of Birmingham Council to manage itself.
“My fears and concerns are that what they are reading and seeing is a bin strike in Birmingham, and a local authority unable to provide the most basic civic services.
“And that is potentially damaging.”
From July 28 refuse workers have been on strike from the start of shift from 6am-8am and at lunchtime between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
But they are now staggering the three hour walkout throughout the day, and Council bosses believe this will effectively mean that even fewer bins will be emptied.
