A RUDHEATH resident has queried why he should pay his council tax after a council refused to collect rubbish left lying in a street.

The man, who lives in Alan Street, contacted the Guardian to say he was upset when Vale Royal Borough Council said the removal of the rubbish was not its responsibility.

Neighbours found the bin bags left in the path between the back gates of Alan Street and the railway tracks.

The resident said: "Let me be clear as a local resident that this is not a complaint referring to the hard work done every other Thursday by refuse collection workers.

"The abandoned bin bags have been dumped by a resident, or residents, who were too lazy to catch the binmen or put their rubbish in a wheelie bin.

"I informed the council the bags could attract unwanted smells and the possibility of rodents, such as field mice or even worse, rats.

"Should we as council tax paying residents be expected to remove unattended bin bags left in muddy walkways?"

A young woman with a toddler also voiced her concernst to the council.

A spokesperson for Vale Royal Borough Council said that the alleyway is unadopted and the council had no legal duty to clean it.

"Now this matter has been brought to our attention, however, an enforcement officer will visit the site in order to gain further information about who has dumped this waste.

"We would ask for the support of the local residents to try to identify the individual who has illegally placed their rubbish here so we can pursue the matter."