A global firm was forced to put down the shutters at its Nottingham headquarters due to the presence of rats outside a nearby student block. Purico, which is based in Union Road in the city centre, shut its front entrance during the afternoon on Friday, October 14.
In a message to staff seen by Nottinghamshire Live, bosses said: "There seems to be a serious vermin infestation at the building opposite our office. Therefore, for a temporary period could staff use ‘Huntingdon Street or the Rear Car Park Lift’ to access or leave the building."
Property manager John Taylor said the rats had showed up due to rubbish piling up in bins outside the St Marks Street student accommodation that sits opposite the office. He said some of the 10 staff members were "scared stiff" to leave the building.
Read more: 2 men died in 'same event' as M1 crash closed road for hours
"It's quite clear that arrangements are inadequate, I've complained every fortnight for the last year since it opened about a huge pile of rubbish in the street," Mr Taylor said. "It's not big enough for the number of students. The bins were emptied today but this lunchtime there were four rats playing on top of the bins, we had to shut our front door.
"This is unacceptable, this is Nottingham city centre, it's a joke." Mr Taylor feels the bins are not emptied enough and added: "There are not enough bins. I've got members of staff who are scared stiff, they leave and wonder if they'll tread on a rat or get bitten by a rat."
A spokesperson for Uni 2 Rent, which runs St Marks Street, said other businesses had been contributing to the build up of waste. "All the bins have been emptied. Because other businesses in the surrounding area use the bins it tends to pile up," they said.
"We have had waste removal come out several times, pest control are coming. The rats are coming from food businesses nearby. We are doing the best we can at the moment." Nottingham City Council were approached for comment.
Purico is one of Nottingham's biggest and most successful companies, operating across the globe in a number of sectors including automotive, paper and the hotel and leisure sector.
Read next:
Aerial skating rink set to be centrepiece of Nottingham's Winter Wonderland
Nottingham's historic manmade tunnel to re-open to visitors after restoration project
Emmerdale's Danny Miller clears up NTAs swipe to Stephen Mulhem
People across Nottinghamshire aged 50 can book their Covid boosters
Fresh plans to transform 'horrific 60s lump' after demolition plan
