'UK's most neglected street with post-apocalyptic scenes like The Last of Us'
Residents have shared their despair over what it is like to live by one of the 'most neglected' streets in Britain - with what looks like post-apocalyptic scenes from hit drama The Last of Us.
Shocking photos taken of Crawford Street, in Saltley, Birmingham, show the area is plagued with rubbish while the charred remains of burnt-out cars is not uncommon.
Residents living there describe the road, riddled with 'crater-like' potholes, as more like a 'scene from The Last of Us'.
Crawford Street in Birmingham is a hotspot for fly-tipping (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)They claim it has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair by Birmingham City Council to the point it now resembles a 'Third World slum' - but the council says it is 'working hard' to improve the condition of the city's roads.
Community activists have branded the area as the worst in Birmingham but neighbours believe it could be 'Britain's most neglected street'.
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Wahid Khan 33, lives on the next street along and says the road is a hotspot for fly-tipping, drug-taking and other criminal behaviour.
The dad-of-one said: "Honestly, you would not believe this place. It reminds me of the post-apocalyptic scenes from The Last of Us.
"There's burnt-out cars everywhere, litter as far as you can see - massive fly-tipped items constantly dumped, graffiti, the lot.
"It's makes this city look exactly like its stereotype it has been trying so hard to shake. Yet here we on in modern Britain living next to a Third World slum.
"I saw it described as the most neglected street in the city but I'd go one step further than that and say it's the most neglected street anywhere in the country.
"All you have to do is walk down it and you'll see why. It's disgraceful really. The council have had years to act and it just gets repeatedly overlooked."
Burnt-out cars line the road (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)Photographs show the drastic state of the lane which is lined with mountains of household waste, wrecked shells of cars and 10ft wide water-filled potholes.
On the side of one house is spray-painted the image of a knife with the words: "Kill a snake, enemies get shot up fool."
Another local, who did not want to be named, said: "The worst part is that next door they are working on the swanky new HS2 train line and road sweepers go along there but not here.
"The place is disgusting and I'm embarrassed to say it's near my home. It's a no go area at night. The police are nowhere to be seen either.
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"People are openly doing drugs, drinking along the street - it's become a magnet for fly-tipping. Crooks act like they are untouchable."
The cracked and crumbling street is home to just one solitary house but a number of businesses are based along the 0.2 mile stretch.
A nearby business owner, who would only give his name as Mr Hussain, 45, who runs an auto parts firm said: "The council have neglected the road so badly.
"I've been here 25 years and its always been bad" (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)"It influences people to cause criminal activity such as fly tipping, take drugs and we've had five cars burnt out here in the last month alone.
"We get 18 tonne trucks here, it's a busy road and yet nothing gets done."
Another car parts business owner, who would only give his first name, Tahir, aged 40, added: "I've been here 25 years and its always been bad.
"I've seen people having sex inside cars, people doing balloons and the council has neglected this road completely.
"They used to have cameras around here but I guess it cost them too much money so the problems have only got worse."
Complaints have been made to Birmingham City Council since 2018 about the street's conditions but locals say nothing has changed so far.
Community activist Gerry Moynihan, 50, said he first contacted the local authority five years ago about the condition of the road.
Locals say it's like a scene from The Last of Us (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)He said: "Since then, the minor potholes have turned into major ones and the pavement has disappeared as it is covered in fly tipping.
"The council have been neglecting the street since 2018. It is often used by residents as a short cut into the city centre.
"I think the council believe it will cost a lot of money to fix and so they are just ignoring the problem.
"I would estimate it would cost the council around £600,000 to fix the street up as it is an old Victorian road and would need completely rebuilding.
"The potholes are hardly potholes but more like craters. They are a foot deep, 10-foot wide and are crater-like especially when they are filled with water.
"It becomes a mud bath as you go along the road and there is so much fly tipping.
"I think the people who live nearby have become immune to reporting it because nothing is being done.
Locals say they have complained about the conditions (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)"I have complained for years about it but the council seemed to ignore it.
"It's sad because it is supposed to be an area of regeneration, but nothing is being done."
Recently, nearby land was bought by HS2 and the road conditions are said to have become worse as heavy-duty vehicles use the street to access the HS2 site.
Gerry added: "I think the council sometimes think HS2 will do something about it but that won't be finished until 2037 and we cannot wait until then for a solution.
"The area is known for fires to break out and when these cars are set on fire it causes pollution and these areas suffer.
"There are primary schools nearby and when one of those scrap yards goes up in flames, the pollution and health hazards it causes to the people living nearby is awful.
"There is also a waste transfer unit at the end of the road and the stench and dust this causes in the summer is another severe health hazard.
The road is a hotspot for fly-tipping, says one local (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)"All the issues need sorting, and the council are doing nothing and neglecting it. Is this the Birmingham we really want the world to see?"
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "We are working hard to improve the condition of the city's roads and carry our regular inspections.
"We aim to clear fly-tipping within two working days but white goods can take up to 14 days. If we have evidence we will prosecute."
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