COUNCILLORS in Colne have clashed over the state of Pendle’s network of unadopted back streets.

Critics say Lancashire County Council should be taken to task over the condition of rear alleys and byways across the borough.

Coun Tony Greaves admitted the idea that the county authority could adopt all undesignated roads was “pie in the sky”.

But he said that when Pendle Council had responsibility for highways, emergency repairs would be carried out when dangers were identified.

“If a hole appears in a back street which is clearly a danger then this council would have done something about it,” he added, at a Colne and District committee meeting.

But borough and county councillor Mike Calvert said: “The majority of complaints I get about unadopted streets are about the damage done by Pendle Council refuse wagons.

“If the biggest users of these back streets are Pendle Council then they should do these repairs.”