‘The posh areas get cleared’: bin strikes illustrate Birmingham’s wealth gap

Peter Thomas, who lives in the inner- city district of Ladywood, says ‘posh’ areas are getting cleared while his neighbourhood is ‘just left’. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

“It’s very frustrating that the posh areas get cleared and we’re just left, very frustrating but we expect it,” said Peter Thomas, outside his home in Ladywood, against a backdrop of overflowing bins.

Across neighbouring postcodes in Birmingham, the gap between wealthy and deprived parts of the city has been noticeable for residents ever since the bin strikes began last month.