RESIDENTS of a cul-de-sac are furious — after their calls for a “crime hotspot” alleyway to be closed off were rejected.

Their petition, which requested that the alleyway in Spinning Meadow, Halliwell, was gated off to stop crime and anti-social behaviour, was turned down because the alley was not the direct cause the crimes.

Bolton Council’s decision was taken despite Greater Manchester Police saying they would have no objection to the alleyway from the private housing estate being gated off.

The petition, which contained 40 signatures, was organised after a wave of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Police said that at least four recent crimes may have been prevented if the alley had been gated.

Janette Rix, of Spinning Meadow, was a victim of burglary a few years ago.

Mrs Rix, aged 51, said: “We get bursts of vandalism in this area. People have had their houses broken into before and had things stolen.

“We are very irritated that the council has not approved this petition. We feel we could have been treated better in this situation.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s an absolute nightmare living here — the criminal activity in this area has been going on for about a year.

“We don’t feel like we’re being taken seriously and we want better security in this area.”

Cllr Nick Peel, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, said there was not enough justification for the alley to be closed.

He said Halliwell’s three ward councillors had rejected the petition.

He added: “This petition was rejected as the arguments for it were not conclusive.

“The three ward councillors were formally against the closure, on the basis that it would cause additional problems for people living in the locality, such as lack of access to amenities.”