A COUNCILLOR said authorities are striving to tackle problems on an estate where a fed-up constituent upset residents by branding it a “slum”,

One reader caused ripples after speaking out in The Bolton News on the accumulation of anti-social behaviour on the Oldhams Estate in Sharples – including fly-tipping, littering and nuisance off-road motorbike riders – and said he felt he wanted to leave the area.

Councillor Hilary Fairclough, a ward councillor for Astley Bridge, said: “I absolutely understand how he feels but some constituents came to me upset by the use of the word ‘slum’.

“We are working to do what we can. Some of the things that are happening are not necessarily happening ON the estate.”

Piles of waste have been dumped in Moss Lea but the lane is an unadopted road and it is therefore the landowner’s responsibility to keep clean rather than Bolton Council.

Mrs Fairclough said: “I have been dealing with this issue on and off for a little while. The council are very good if you persist and they often get Community Payback schemes to come and do it.

“Fly-tipping is a problem for everybody because they can’t be there 24 hours a day.

“We need people in the community that are prepared to report things on a regular basis.”

On the back of the heightened worry, Mrs Fairclough arranged a meeting yesterday between the council, Bolton At Home, Greater Manchester Police and other partners in a bid to reinvigorate efforts to tackle problems on the estate.

She said: “Everybody is obviously concerned and very keen to make sure that we try to put something right — but we have to be realistic.”

A Bolton at Home spokesman: “We’re committed to resolving all cases of antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping that involve our customers and estates. Such acts damage communities and stop us from creating neighbourhoods we can all be proud of.

“Report issues to us on 01204 328000.

“We’ll intervene as early as we can and take appropriate action against offenders. If you’re affected by off-road biking, please notify the police in the first instance.”