THE "Gateway to Bolton" is lined with litter according to a businessman who has called on the Council to clean up its act.

John Anderton, a director of Merlin Engineering Co, has written to the Council's Chief Executive, Bernard Knight, complaining about the amount of litter on the embankments of St Peter's Way.

He says the scruffy dual carriageway presents a poor image to visitors to the town and the state of the verges is often remarked upon by customers from across the globe who come to his firm on Dunscar Industrial Estate, Blackburn Road.

He said: "This road is the main gateway to Bolton and it is not a very good advertisement for the Borough. In fact it is an eyesore.

"After speaking to various people at the Town Hall I believe there is a problem concerning health and safety and the verges are only cleaned four times a year.

"This is obviously not enough. Perhaps a lane could be closed down early on a Sunday morning. Surely there is a simple solution."

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said St Peter's Way is due to be looked at over the weekend of March 21 as part of a programmed clean-up and maintenance schedule.

He said: "Each year the council spends more than a million pounds on street cleaning and at the same time runs an on-going campaign urging people to put their litter in a bin or to take it home.

"We have four regularly spaced clean up sessions a year between March and November to take advantage of the lighter evenings. Areas are closed off to traffic to make sure people are working in safety and a mini army tackles litter and maintenance along St Peter's Way.

"Gullies are cleaned out, the road surface repaired and cleaned and the street lights and barriers receive attention. Obviously, if there was a problem in between these times it would be tackled. We are in fact looking at the schedule over the winter period."

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