CAMPAIGNERS for cleaner streets have praised a new anti-litter project which is set to hit Darwen's streets this summer.

Local councillors Karimeh Foster and Derek Brindle have both pushed the council for action in deteriorating areas and appealed to residents to be more vigilant in cleaning up their neighbourhoods.

Now campaigner Roy Davies, who has had several discussions with the council officers about the uncleanliness of his neighbourhood, the Olive Lane area, has been told help is on the way.

Mr Davies has received a letter from council leader Sir Bill Taylor, who says that since he had his discussions with the cleansing and amenities team, cleansing had been increased on back streets and it is the council's intention to employ a road sweeper with a handcart in that area.

He said: "The question as to whether we can prosecute for fly-tipping really rests with whether it is truly fly-tipping.

"The problem in the rear of Olive Lane is that the residents are putting their refuse out at inappropriate times and in inappropriate containers.

"They expect the refuse to be collected and are thus not abandoning it. Fly-tipping really is where someone deposits waste as a final disposal.

"The practice of inappropriate disposal of domestic waste is being addressed by the council, however, it is neither reasonable nor practical to change people's habits purely by enforcement. The way that we have dealt with similar areas is to create a Clean Start Area so that the co-operation of the neighbourhood is obtained in providing a holistic clean-up of the area."

He explained that after consultation with residents in Blackburn it was decided that some of the best ways to ensure that household waste was disposed of properly was to provide community skips to remove the backlog of rubbish.

The council also aims to educate and inform of the various ways of disposal and recycling.

And it will also serve statutory notices instructing people to have refuse ready for collection in wheelie bins on the day of collection and prosecute if necessary.

Coun Taylor said: "We have three Clean Start Areas with a further one scheduled to start in April/May.

"We intend to commence a Clean Start Area in Darwen in the summer, however the precise area has not yet been decided. Olive Lane will be considered."

Mr Davies, 57, said: "This is a very positive approach by the council. It has been used in three different areas in Blackburn so it's only fair that Darwen gets the benefit of it too.

"If we can get this started in Olive Lane it will hopefully expand and we can try and get everyone working towards Darwen being a cleaner place."