PLANS to buy a litter suction machine to help clean up a housing estate have been shelved by councillors over health and safety concerns.

There was a proposal by St Peter’s Parish Council to look at quotes for a suction-operated litter collection machine costing between £235 and £269.

When councillors last met in July, they had asked for more details about where the machine and petrol would be stored, and who would operate the device.

But following the summer break there were no answers to those questions and councillors decided to put off any decision, and Coun Paul Thorlby had concerns regarding the health and safety issue.

“We need a formal health and safety policy,” he said.

“Where do we store the petrol? What about training the operator?”

Ross McFarlane, council chairman, added that until these questions were answered “we’ll struggle to get this item on the council agenda again.”

Coun Thorlby added: “As a private individual you can pick it up and use it.

“As a council, anything goes wrong and we’ll be sued.”