A GROUP of Kearsley neighbours are up in arms after council bin crews refused to drive down their back street.

Environmental services managers decided to stop wheelie bin collections from the rear of Station Road after a lorry became stuck in a rut in the unadopted street.

They sent letters to about 50 terraced houses informing householders that in future they would have to drag their bins to the front or side of their houses to ensure they were emptied.

But the move angered residents and local councillor Sharon Keatings, who all believe Bolton Council should take more responsibility for the state of the back street.

Station Road resident Stephen Tonge said: "There are people who live in the row who are disabled or elderly. It is impossible for them to get their wheelie bins to the front."

Mr Tonge claims that although it is unadopted, half the back street is owned by Bolton Council. He said: "Ironically the part of the back street that is causing the problem is the council's responsibility. It is the refuse wagon that has created the problem in the first place by making the ruts."

The residents' case has been taken up by Cllr Keatings, who has warned that the heavy bin lorry using the front street instead, which is also rough surfaced and unadopted, could cause a repeat of the problem unless the road is properly surfaced.

But a Bolton Council spokesman said: "Our drivers have experienced difficulties manoeuvering the vehicles in the alleyway and to try to solve the problem we have asked the residents to put their bins at the front of their properties.

"If older people have difficulties with this we will see how we can help.

"A number of residents in Station Road are already covered under our sticker system which means we will pick up their bin from a different point to avoid any difficulties they may encounter in getting the bin to the front of their property."

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