AN AGGRIEVED resident has chosen not to take legal action against Bolton Council over litter in Seven Acres Country Park.

Christopher Banks, from Breightmet, wrote to the council on August 9 giving notice of his intention to seek a litter abatement order from Bolton Magistrates Court.

Read more about that here.

But when he visited the local nature reserve on Monday morning, he found that the council had removed a substantial amount of fly-tipping

He said: “They have at least shown the intention to finally tackle the problem so there won't be a need for a court summons.”

Last week, Mr Banks said that if no action was taken, he would ask the court to issue an order requiring the council to comply with its legal duty to keep its land clear of litter and refuse.

Anyone can ask the courts to issue a local authority with a litter abatement order under Section 91 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, but the authority must be given at least five days’ written notice of their intention to do so.

Mr Banks, aged 36, said that he first complained to the council about litter at Seven Acres and Monks Lane on February 22, but despite promises, no action was taken.

He alleges that Bolton At Home residents in Waggon Road and Thicketford Road are responsible for the fly-tipping in the area and blames the housing association for the problem.

Mr Banks, a Bolton At Home resident himself, said: “This issue is entirely the fault of Bolton At Home.

“The taxpayer should not be burdened with the financial cost from Bolton At Home tenants using publicly-owned land as landfill because the housing association isn't taking enforcement action against its tenants.”

Mr Banks has been chairman of Bolton North East Wildlife Trail since 2015 and previously managed Seven Acres Country Park as a volunteer leader which involved clearing fly-tipping and litter.

He visited Seven Acres earlier this month with local volunteers as part of Breightmet Litter Pickers and removed more than 40 bags of fly-tipping which “barely scratched the surface”, he said.

When he returned on Monday, he said that he found newly dumped fly-tipping despite the “vast majority” of rubbish being cleared.

Mr Banks added: “All that Bolton At Home needs to do is engage with their tenants, resolve the matter and if people are struggling.”

He suggested that the housing association provides regular skips to prevent fly-tipping.

A spokesman for Bolton At Home said: “Our enforcement team work in partnership with the council to issue fixed penalty notices, warnings, or pursue prosecutions.

“Bolton At Home does not have powers to prosecute but can use its tenancy agreements to take enforcement action against those responsible.”

A council spokesperson said: “The council endeavours to clean the borough as far as practically possible given the resources available.”

Anyone wishing to report fly-tipping to Bolton At Home should contact 01204 328000.