Mother and daughter 'treated like animals' over fly plague at Sheffield tower block

Ayca Taylor and her daughter say the infestation of insects at Robertshaw tower on Netherthorpe Road has now got so bad they get hundreds of flies in their eighth-floor flat every day.

The flies are thought to be coming from the block’s bins, which were meant to have been put out of action at the beginning of the pandemic when residents were told not to use their flats’ refuse chutes.

However, many people have continued to dispose of their rubbish in this way, leaving the communal bins overflowing and attracting pests like rats and flies in their droves.

She said: “You can see from the pictures what a disgusting situation we are in. They are treating people like animals.

“My daughter found a fly in her mouth the other day. She can’t do her homework as she is chasing flies all the time and I can’t teach.

“It has never been a problem until coronavirus. But I now have flies everywhere in my flat, in every room, cupboards and even in my fridge.”

Ayca says she kills about 100 flies a day, including at least 20 or 30 before she even has breakfast.

And she added that the skips that are meant to replace the bins for the duration of the pandemic were also a problem.

“The skips haven't been emptied three times a week as promised,” she added.

“I have spoken to the council many times about this problem but people are not doing their jobs.”

Janet Sharpe, director of housing and neighbourhood services, said: “Waste chutes are located in each tenant’s property, but during the COVID-19 outbreak, we put new measures in place to avoid entering numerous properties if there was just one blockage.

"The chutes are still open, but we asked residents to either use the skips we provided or to use the waste collection service available from outside their property at an agreed time.

“Skips are monitored daily and emptied frequently. In warm weather we have changed them when they were only half full. The skip company drives around daily to check the skips and to see if they need changing. Our staff also check the bin rooms daily to make sure that bins are being emptied and that there are no additional problems.

"We have written to all residents reminding them about the current arrangements for waste disposal and how to get in touch with us if they have any concerns.”