AN area blighted by anti-social behaviour and rubbish is the latest in Darwen subject to an application to install alley gates.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has applied to have alleys in the area around Meadow Street gated.

If approved by the council planning department, gates would go up behind Woodville Terrace, Portland Street, Maria Street, and Alfred Street.

The application said: “The installation of alley gates is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour within Blackburn and Darwen.

“The layout is uniform across each area, with a two-metre gate suspended between two posts, with infill panels between the post and the adjacent walls, preventing access through, or round, the gate to the alley.”

Whitehall councillor Karimeh Foster said, along with her husband and fellow councillor David, she had concerns about the area.

She said: “I am pleased they are looking at gating the area. It gives people peace of mind.

“We had people contac-ting us saying they were annoyed with people dump- ing rubbish in the alley.

“It was an area that had been of concern to us for a while.”

Coun Foster said people in the area supported the installation of alley gates.She said: “The executive member, Coun Dave Harling, launched a consultation into it after we mentioned it to him.

“We have spoken to people in the area. They are all up for it. Hopefully now, people will look after the alleys.”

Coun Foster said the people of Whitehall had shown a lot of pride in the area.

She said: “We had the Whitehall in Bloom comp-etition recently which was wonderful. People showed they were proud of where they lived and it enhanced the area.

“Hopefully these gates will help us keep this area one of the nicest in the borough.”