Rubbish dump alleyway ‘private land’ as council investigates

An alleyway behind Whalley Old Road in Little Harwood is littered with rubbish.

Bin bags and household building materials are strewn across the area, blocking garages and thrown behind people’s gardens.

The situation came to light after a resident who lives on the street said he felt ‘helpless’ after months of complaining.

Little Harwood and Whitebirk's Cllr Mustafa Desai said: “The area in which the fly-tipping has taken place does not belong to the council, therefore direct intervention is not possible.

"However, officers are pursuing this with a view to resolving the issue.

“It is deeply saddening to see regular occurrences of fly-tipping across the ward.

"We have a recycling centre that is very accessible and free of charge that should be utilised.”

The area is only accessible through an alleyway from a side street

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the land was deemed private but it was looking at avenues to find who was responsible.

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the current issue regarding waste which has been deposited to the rear of Whalley Old Road.

“The land in question is privately owned and we are in the process of trying to ascertain land ownership details.

"We do sympathise with the local residents and if they have any information which may help us with our investigation then they can report it in confidence to the council."

The area is accessible through an alleyway from a side street. It has been suggested alley gates would deter anyone else barring residents from having access to the area.

Nearby several alleyways have gates installed.

One householder, whose house backs up on the section of the alleyway, had said: “People are throwing more rubbish than I’ve ever seen in my life.

“It has been going on for months now. I can’t even have a barbecue or look out my window.

"It is horrible. It is pure toxic waste and rat-infested.

“It is not a good sight to look out of the window.”