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Alleyway may need £40,000 facelift

23/ 3/2006

UNADOPTED land may soon be getting a much-needed face lift after environmental management and councillors agreed to help.

The alleyway between Green Street and Pilkington Street, Middleton Junction has been left neglected over the past few years causing mounds of heavy soil and vegetation to build up.

Now residents have pleaded for help to sort out the eyesore.

James Williams, from Contour Homes, asked counclliors at last week's township meeting for their support.

He said: "The alley has got to such a stage now that it will cost around £40,000 to put it back to a reasonable condition. Obviously we don't have that kind of money.

"The problem is that the land is unadopted so its not up to the council to pay for the work. But I would like to know if there is any way they could help us to get it cleaned up."

It was decided that work will be carried out to see if there is any surface below the soil. If there is, then the cost of restoring the area will be greatly reduced.

Chris Flintoff, parks and open spaces officer, said: "It is not the responsibility of the council but there has been support from elected members.

"The problem is not to do with fly tipping, but has been caused by an accumulation of heavy soil over the past 10 to 15 years which is now three to four feet deep."

Environmental management has agreed to dig a number of trial holes down the alley over the next few days.

Mr Flintoff said: "If there is a surface underneath then all that is needed is a machine to scrape away the soil. Then we can cobble the area. This would cost only around £8,000 to £10,000 which is lot better than £40,000.

"The biggest cost is waste disposal which is now around £40 a tonne."

Councillor Dave Murphy agreed to get involved. He said: "The problem is being addressed and the trial holes will reveal what needs to be done."

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