HOPES to include an historical area of Barnoldswick on a heritage trail are being dashed due to some residents not taking a pride in where they live, according to one town councillor.

Coun Marlene Hill-Crane, of Wellhouse Street, told the Herald she hoped to make the Craven ward, an area which was built up around the town's mill industry in the 1920s, a visitor attraction and even get it included on a proposed heritage trail through the town.

However, she said that due to the number of "grotspots", any bid to include the area was cur-rently impossible.

"The plight of this area is that it is full of rubbish left lying around by people. Who they are? No one knows, although some dog owners have been spied. What is known is that this is a continuing and hideous blight," added Coun Hill-Crane.

Coun Hill-Crane has compiled a list of "grotspots" including ones in Earl Street, Co-operative Street, Wellhouse Square, Wellhouse Street and East Hill Street.

She said: "Co-operative Street and the steps from Leo's car park hold litter, bottles pushed down the sides of garages, which also hold bags of rubbish, cushions and even broken coffee tables! The grass at the top of the steps is also full of litter and regularly used as a dog's toilet."

Coun Hill-Crane added that Earl Street's purpose-built rub-bish store that served back-to-back houses in the area that did not have backyards, had turned into a dumping ground for eve-rything it should not be used for.

She explained that rubbish was often left there not even tied up in black sacks leaving it an easy target for dogs and cats.

Coun Hill-Crane added: "It also holds, at any one time, car and bike parts, furniture, loose rubbish, and even bags and bags of rubble from house renovation. Anything in fact."

Coun Hill-Crane said she wanted to see more residents take pride in the area in which they lived. She pointed out that it would make a big difference if people would just followed simple steps such as putting all rubbish in a black bin bag, which should be knotted to prevent any over spill.

Coun Hill-Crane said council officers were often called out to clean-up areas, but these were just as bad as ever shortly after.

"Councillors of this ward have tried, and will continue to do so, to attempt to keep on top of this problem. It is an up-hill task, no sooner is one place cleared, it becomes a problem again. Some parts we have never been able to clear to any satisfaction!"

For example, the site at East Castle Street, brought to the attention of Pendle Council more than six months ago and subsequently tidied up, has reverted back to its old state. The site contains dilapidated old and disused outside toilets and bin stores, which are full of rubbish. The council is currently trying to find out who owns the buildings.

Coun Hill-Crane said: "Without the interest and efforts of all concerned, everything will remain the same. Can we not work for an area of which we can be proud of in 2003?"