A BACK alley in an area branded ‘a slum’ by a local councillor could be set for alley gates.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has unveiled plans to install gates behind numbers 1 to 47 Preston Street and 4 to 50 Snape Street in Darwen.

In February, Sudell councillor Roy Davies said the area had been turned into a ‘slum’ by some people living in the area who continued to fly-tip in the alleys.

The previous year, Coun Davies labelled the next alley along, between Preston Street and Lloyd Street, the ‘dirtiest in the borough’, and the alley has since been gated.

Councillors have hailed the plans to extend the programme of gating alleys in the area as a step in the right direction.

Coun Davies said: “It may not stop fly-tipping in that street but at least we will know then if it is the people who live there dumping rubbish.

“They do have their drawbacks, such as people being forced to walk their dogs in the front street, but I think gates are a good thing.”

Coun Paul Browne, who lives in nearby Greenway Street, said: “It is about time they did that one. We can find out who the real culprits are now.

“That alley keeps getting dumped in. I went for a paper on Saturday morning and it was full of all sorts of rubbish.

“I just don’t understand the mentality of these people who want to dump rubbish on their own doorsteps.”

A design and access statement submitted with the plans said: “The access to the alleyway for vehicles, cycles and pedestrians will be via the gate which is only accessible by a key issued to residents, owner-occupiers and Blackburn with Darwen Council staff, their representatives and utilities.”

Residents in the area are invited to comment on the proposal.