Residents' plea to councils to deal with fly-tipping off 'dangerous' Thornton road

Families living in Saltash Road and Crystal Road in Thornton say they have been fighting for four years to get councils to tackle the problem.

They say fly-tippers use an alleyway near their houses to dump truck-loads of rubbish, which they say includes potentially deadly asbestos.

Lancashire County Councillor Andrea Kay said the residents are worried that because roads in the area are unadopted, neither Wyre Council or Lancashire County Council are willing to resolve the problem.

This week the roads have been sold at auction by the Duchy of Lancaster and Coun Kay is appealing to whoever bought it to get in touch to help solve the problems.

She said “We think they were sold for just £11 plus £500 costs. We would love the new owner to come forward and help us.

“What we need is bollards installing in the alleyway to stop trucks driving down and tipping and for the owner to get a digger in to flatten out the road to deal with the dangerous potholes there.

“The residents have offered to pay for stone to be put down to make the road better and they have also volunteered to help clean the area up if Wyre council could just send a waggon. When Cleveleys is opened up again as the lockdown eases, the bollards there could be moved to block off this alley.”

Andy West who lives in Saltash Road, said the road and the rubbish is dangerous for the many children living in the area.

He said: “The roads are shocking, the potholes are deep and dangerous and there area kids all around here.

"We have been trying to get the councils to do something but no-one seems to want to know. There is asbestos dumped behind the houses in the alley.

"Now the roads have been put up for auction we just don't know what will happen. I have even offered to put down stone on the road, but we would need someone with a digger to level it out first.”

Wyre council said that as they were not the highways authority and could not adopt the road but had been looking into the issues.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said that whoever the owners were would have to approach them to talk about offering them for adoption. They added that fly-tipping was the responsibility of the district council but if it occurred on private land that could present a difficulty in removing it.

Blackpool Gazette: Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here