A COUNCILLOR is calling for bins to be returned to streets.

Cllr Paul Browne said the Duckworth Street area of Darwen has become a ‘dumping ground’ since litter bins were removed several months ago.

The Sudell ward councillor said: “It’s a disgrace.

“The council removed the the bins some months ago and since then it has become a dumping ground.

“I don’t blame the council, I blame the people who have taken the cans, the dog dirt and the rubbish and just dumped them there.

“I can’t believe it’s happening in my ward, it’s disgusting.

“I can’t understand why they would take it away in the first place.

“Before they removed the bins it was nothing like it is now so I’m hoping they will return the bins and send someone to tidy it up.”

Cllr Browne said a return to old fashioned methods of street cleaning could be the solution.

He said: “Street cleaners should have a brush and shovel with them then they could shovel it up and throw it away.

“When I first got on the council it was nothing like this.

“The council had men who went round with a brush and shovel keeping the streets clean, but those days are gone.

“They have more modern stuff these days but they can’t do anything about the state of the streets.”

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said the council have been working with the community to clean up the streets.

She said: “A litter bin was temporarily removed on Duckworth Street, Darwen, at the bottom of Heys Lane, due to the litter bin being abused with trade and domestic waste. This will be reinstalled shortly.

“The only litter bin which the street cleansing have in place within the Dove Lane area is located at the rear of Greenway St which is still in place and being used on a regular basis.

“The use of operatives with street orderly carts is no longer viable, and the street cleansing service is to a large degree, more mechanised.

“The council does work with the community with the Your Call community clean-up of areas, and we also have a number of registered community litter pickers who assist us in helping to keep on top of their local areas. We do encourage anyone who witnesses flytipping to report it.”