Dumped waste, old food and furniture are a few of the items regularly scattered behind shops in Halliwell Road. Vickie Scullard visited the area to investigate.

FLY-TIPPING has become so bad in Halliwell that one business owner is considering selling up.

For two years, a number of complaints from residents have surfaced about the level of mess just off Peak Street.

Bolton Council said it has been working to address fly-tipping in the area for some time and has issued a number of fixed penalties to people caught in the act.

But businesses and residents who live in the areas said this is not enough — and they believe CCTV cameras would help deter offenders.

Clifford Counsell, who owns North End Plumbing, said: “It’s all very well coming here now and then to pick up waste, but as soon as it’s gone more gets dumped. It needs to be stopped.

“It’s not just outside my shop — it’s right down the street.

“It’s a living hell. It seems like the whole of Bolton has come here to dump their stuff, there’s that much of it.

“I asked the council for a camera, but everything has been declined.”

The 75-year-old said he is at his wit’s end with the amount of furniture, glass, rubbish and carpets continuously dumped at the back of his shop.

“It’s being done very discretely when all the shops are shut. They just don’t care,” he said.

“We have had a hot summer, which doesn’t help — I’ve seen maggots, rats, the lot.

“I have worked in this area for 50 years. I used to push carts up Halliwell Road before I got my own shop in 1974. But it has never been like this — it’s like a Third World country.”

He added: “It’s pushing me to sell up my business, but I don’t think I’ll get what I want for it because of the state of the place. I’m livid.”

Elsie Halligan, aged 83, has lived in the area since 1953 and said the situation has got so bad she does not like her great-grandchildren visiting.

She said: “I’m scared they’ll hurt themselves on the shards of glass that are always scattered about the place. It’s awful.

“There is bedding, carpets, nappies — it’s getting worse and worse. I don’t think that the council can keep up with it.

“Plus the food is attracting rats — I saw one the size of a cat the other day. Something needs to be done.”

A council spokesman said four fixed penalty notices had been issued to people who have committed waste-related offences in and around Halliwell Road in the past 12 months.

A team from community payback has also cleaned up a small area of green land behind Mr Counsell’s property and the frequency of street cleaning has now been changed from an eight-week cycle to three weeks. Environmental enforcement officers are also carrying out regular patrols with PCSOs.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive cabinet member for environmental services, said mobile cameras have been used to catch fly-tippers before, and that the system could be used in Halliwell.

He said: “There are a number of people that have been issued with fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping offences, and I believe there is a prosecution pending.

“Mr Counsell makes a very valid point, which I have also been making for some time.

“It’s all very well for the council to clean up after people, but it’s a never-ending job and is only part of the issue. The bigger issue is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

“We do have a number of cameras across the borough. Mobile cameras are already allocated to areas for crime prevention or investigations. If one becomes available it could be used, but there isn’t one available at the moment.

“We would also ask the public to be vigilant and pass on any evidence and information to us and we will take it further.”

A council spokesman said: “We feel Mr Counsell’s frustration at people dumping rubbish in this area.

“We are doing a lot of work in this area with our partners to tackle fly-tipping.

“Our recycling officers also go out with Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority officers to try to educate residents and businesses about the importance of recycling.

“We will continue to doing everything we can to tackle the culprits.”

To report fly-tipping waste contact Bolton Council on 01204 336632.