Over Hulton residents up in arms after clothes bin placed in village

“They look awful, real eyesores,” said John Bullen, member of the Over Hulton Community Group.

The bins appeared on a grass verge on Newbrook Road, opposite the shopping precinct.

Corrie Shelley, a fellow member of the community group, said: “We’ve been planting flower bulbs for years to brighten up the area, and our efforts are much appreciated by the locals. The bulbs we planted on the grass verge will have no chance of flowering if the bin that’s been dumped on top of them remains.

“There’s also concern that the bins could attract vermin. Already, a black bin bag has been dumped by the side of one of the containers.”

She added: “We have no problem with legitimate charities collecting clothes for a good cause, provided the collection containers are in the right location, but that’s not happened in this case."

Mr Bullen said the appearance of the collection bin came as a surprise.

He said:“Clothing collection boxes suddenly appeared this week in two locations in our village. Both had been placed directly on top of our community planting projects where daffodils and crocus come out in spring.

Where the clothes bin is now

"We also have big plans to really enhance this planting come this autumn."

Over Hulton Community Group have worked with local businesses to brighten up the area, with volunteers working with Amazon gathering to plant 100-metre lengths of the main road, which stretches between the Four Lane Ends junction and the Watergate Lane roundabout for approximately a kilometre, last November.

John Bullen and Mick Risley in the village

Amazon workers stepped in to donate 7,000 bulbs and help with the planting as part of the company's work to help the community.

No one from the company behind the bins was available for comment.

Residents say they have also contacted Bolton Council to see if there is anything that can be done.