A PRIVATE meeting is being held by Bolton Council about the future of the home-made mineshaft in Fred Dibnahs back garden.

Council officers will meet behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss the controversial mineshaft, which drew complaints from neighbours in The Haulgh when the original plans were submitted early last year.

The press and public will not be allowed to attend the meeting due to "legal reasons."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "We have taken notice of what residents have to say but we cannot comment on anything yet."

A Radcliffe Road resident and neighbour of Mr Dibnah, who asked not to be named, said: "Why does there have to be a wall of secrecy around a hole? Why should we be treated like idiots who cannot be allowed to know what is happening?"

The construction of the mineshaft along with a winding house and winch drew complaints from some neighbours last year.

Following the death of the famous steeplejack in December those neighbours have been asking town planners to fill in the hole.

The council received complaints from eight of Mr Dibnah's neighbours in 2004 complaining that the mineshaft would destabalise surrounding land, was not suitable or in-keeping with the residential area, would cause an increase in public attention, an increase in traffic and cause parking problems.

But 154 residents and neighbours disagreed and signed a petition supporting Fred Dibnah's mineshaft plans. Letters of support were also received from Bolton Civic Trust and the Mines Rescue Service, among others.

Brian Tetlow, chairman of the Bolton Civic Trust, said today: "It would be a great pity for it to disappear entirely. This is part of the heritage of Fred Dibnah and I cannot see why it should be an issue."

Mr Tetlow said the shaft had been expertly made and that many people in Bolton would like it to be retained.

Fred Dibnah's widow Sheila said she would like their historic home in The Haulgh to become the Fred Dibnah Experience, complete with working steam engines and mineshaft.

She said she does not want to upset the neighbours but added that it would be a permanent tribute to her husband.