Key Points
- Escalating Anti-Social Behaviour: Families living along Back Chorley Old Road in Bolton report severe crime, including fly-tipping, public urination, and open drug dealing on a daily basis.
- Arson Incidents: Local residents recorded three separate fire outbreaks on the backstreet in less than a fortnight, occurring on 14th July, 19th July, and 28th July.
- Community Demand: Local households have banded together to request that the rear alleyway be permanently gated off to prevent trespassers from entering, even offering to raise funds themselves to assist implementation.
- Political Support: Queens Park and Central Ward Councillor Zan Arif visited the site and pledged full support, urging Council Leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman to intervene and prioritize the alleyway's restoration.
- Council Response: Bolton Council Leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman confirmed he is open to gating the alley, subject to formal procedure, and has requested a joint review with the council's community safety and environmental enforcement teams.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 18, 2026 — Frightened families residing along a crime-ridden residential backstreet in Bolton have united to demand the installation of security gates after being subjected to escalating anti-social behaviour, persistent fly-tipping, drug abuse, and repeated arson attacks. The troubled passage, Back Chorley Old Road, located just off Mortfield Lane, has turned into an hotspot for criminal activity, leaving parents fearful of allowing their children to play outdoors.
As reported by Chief Reporter Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, the blighted rear alleyway has been strewn with abandoned furniture, piles of household rubbish, and burnt-out wheelie bins. CCTV footage captured in the area highlights suspected drug deals being conducted in broad daylight, alongside individuals dumping bulk waste and lying intoxicated in the street. In response to the growing crisis, residents are urging local authorities to approve an alley gating scheme to seal off the alleyway from unauthorized intruders.
What Are Residents Experiencing on Back Chorley Old Road?
The deterioration of Back Chorley Old Road has severely impacted the day-to-day quality of life for local householders, who describe feeling trapped in an unlivable environment. As documented by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, residents reported experiencing three distinct fire incidents within two weeks, occurring specifically on 14th July, 19th July, and 28th July.
Expressing deep frustration over the exposure of young children to open criminal activity, local resident Aida Amirat told Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News:
"The kind of people who are doing this must be sick in the head. If someone's kids are seeing this kind of thing, if they see drug deals being done on a daily basis, they are going to think it's normal. People are not supposed to live like this! Is it too much to ask for a child to play safe?"
Another local resident, Sheyla Klajic, explained the exhaustion of repeatedly contacting local authorities without seeing tangible improvements. As quoted by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Sheyla Klajic, who works two jobs, stated:
"That's what we've always been told to do, but how many reports do we have to make? We've been reporting it and reporting it and reporting it, and nothing gets done."
The impact extends to local businesses and parents who fear for public hygiene and basic decency. As reported by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, local post office operator Ahmed Patel confirmed he had witnessed repeated instances of anti-social behaviour and expressed disappointment over the apparent lack of enforcement. Furthermore, an unnamed mother residing in the area shared that she remains extremely reluctant to let her young daughter play outside after observing intruders openly urinating in the backstreet.
Why Are Families Demanding an Alley Gating Scheme?
To eliminate constant trespassing and stop illegal activity, residents have proposed installing secure, lockable gates at the entry points of the backstreet. According to Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, several affected families have expressed willingness to raise funds independently to help cover the costs of erecting the gates if municipal funding proves to be a barrier.
Alley gating has previously served as an effective deterrent in similar high-crime zones across the borough. As noted in the reporting by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, residents in Astley Bridge successfully joined forces in 2021 to gate off Back Bar Lane, while proposals for lockable gates were also introduced for a problematic footpath in Halliwell during the same year.
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How Are Local Ward Councillors Intervening?
The ongoing situation has drawn direct intervention from local political representatives. As reported by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Councillor Zan Arif, representing the Queens Park and Central ward, convened an immediate emergency meeting with affected residents after being alerted to the conditions on Back Chorley Old Road.
Describing the severity of the situation, Cllr Zan Arif told Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News:
"When I saw the issues they were facing, I knew straight away that something had to be done. This was not an ordinary case. Fires, drug abuse, fly tipping and all kinds of things are not something anyone should have to face, let alone families with young children. It most certainly should not be happening in their back yards!"
Cllr Arif emphasized that taxpayers deserve a safe environment without having to spend their personal time managing public nuisances. As quoted by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Cllr Zan Arifadded:
"These are hardworking people who pay their council tax and contribute to society, they should not have to spend their free time simply trying to make their own area liveable. The residents here have my full support, and we will continue to press for a real and lasting solution. They have in the past raised their concerns to the council and councillors, but sometimes a singular voice can be drowned out when prioritisation occurs in the council."
In an effort to accelerate municipal action, Cllr Arif has sought top-level council support. As reported by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Cllr Zan Arif stated:
"We have also sought the support of Akhtar Zaman, who we hope can give the area some love and attention as leader of the council. I think sometimes Akhtar Zaman's a little bit busy with all the things he does, but if we can get him to onboard, I'm sure we can give the residents what they want, he has good influence and experience, which we hope we can rely on."
What Is Bolton Council’s Official Stance on the Proposal?
Bolton Council leadership has acknowledged the severity of the reports and indicated a willingness to consider structural interventions, including alley gating, provided statutory consultation procedures are followed.
As reported by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Council Leader Councillor Akhtar Zaman responded to the calls by stating:
"If that's the preferred solution then I am OK with that, but there is a process to go through. I have asked our community safety team for a meeting, so I am going to meet with them to discuss the issues and address what the best way forward is."
Cllr Zaman clarified that resolving the plight of Back Chorley Old Road will require a dual-track approach focusing on both public safety and waste management. As detailed by Joe Harrigan of The Bolton News, Cllr Akhtar Zaman further explained:
"I will be speaking with environmental services to look at cleaning up the area, about environmental enforcement and about evidence of fly tipping. I will be speaking with the council's community safety team and will hopefully find a solution to ensure that residents' concerns are addressed."
As multi-departmental evaluations get underway, local families on Back Chorley Old Road remain watchful, hoping that administrative commitments will rapidly translate into physical security barriers and restored peace in their neighborhood.