A Farnworth resident feels like the council have 'let the community down' after town hall chiefs said they cannot fix a large pothole around a sinking manhole.

Chelsea Ainsworth, a resident who lives on Plodder Lane, says she is worried about a pothole which the council stated they wouldn't fix as it is on an unadopted road - meaning she would have to hire a private contractor to carry out the work.

Chelsea said: "I live on Plodder Lane, the row of terrace houses after the dell and in between the little shop of Watson Road.

"There is a huge pothole around a sinking man hole next to the side street of the dell.

"I have been in touch with Bolton Council who have stated it is an unadopted road therefore I would need to hire a private contractor to carry out the work.

"I'm confused as I live half way up the street so it is not outside my property and I don’t believe this is my responsibility.

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"The surface is corroded around the manhole and I personally feel that the council should maintain that road for health and safety reasons.

"The public use that road to walk down or drive down.

"Even bin men drive down to empty the bins, we also have the weed van what sprays the weeds once in a bloom and that’s council.

"Does our council tax contribute to maintaining roads? I think it’s appalling how us as home owners have to maintain a back street that anybody can use.

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"People are already struggling with the rise of bills, food, petrol and therefore can’t afford to maintain a backstreet.

"I am only doing this for health and safety reasons.

"I feel that they’ve let the community down.

"I have previously volunteered to help litter pick the streets whilst working through Covid-19 at the Royal Bolton Hospital which again council should be doing.

"Overall I feel disappointed at the fact that they can’t help to maintain our streets to keep the public and their cars safe."

Chelsea is not the only resident concerned about the large pothole.

Other residents have also spoken about living on unadopted street - stating  the council 'won't even remove fly tipped materials' and they said 'the least the council can do for us is remove flytipping and repair holes'.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: "An unadopted road is one which Bolton Council has no duty to maintain but which the public have a right to use.

"Usually the owners of properties fronting an unadopted road own the road up to the centre line and have responsibility for maintaining it to a satisfactory condition.

"The public has a right to pass and re-pass along unadopted highways, either on foot or dependent on suitability, in a vehicle motorised or otherwise."

For more information on unadopted roads, go to https://www.bolton.gov.uk/roads-pavements/highway-status-road-adoption

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