Council leader Mohammed Khan pays tributes to all those who make Blackburn with Darwen a better place to live and work

"ONE of the biggest privileges I have had as leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has been to meet people who, day in and day out, make this borough a better place to live, work and visit.

I have been honoured and humbled to meet many residents and businesses who make a huge difference.

Residents like Nathan Pugh. Nathan is a primary school pupil who goes out litter picking regularly near his home. He also educates his fellow students about why littering is bad.

Or teenager Emily Hirst who is trying to brighten up the Pleasington Cemetery Book of Remembrance.

Businesses like McDonald’s whose staff give up time to help spruce up areas.

There are groups like Witton parkrun.

Michelle Searby and her fellow volunteers have set up a park run in Witton which attracts dozens of people each week.

Or the young people from the One Voice WEGs and 2020 Vision groups who do regular clean ups.

Or groups like the Save our Stables group who are working together in a bid to transform the 17th Century coach house and stables at Turton Tower.

There are dozens more examples I can give.

There is an army of volunteers in Blackburn with Darwen who give up their own free time to improve the borough.

I strongly believe the council has an important role to play to support residents, businesses and groups who want to make a difference.

That is why we are passionate about Your Call. Your Call is fundamentally about the council pledging to work with anyone with an idea to make the borough better.

And it has been phenomenally successful. More than 20,000 people have taken part in activities badged up as Your Call.

We must continue to build on what we have achieved.

So I reassert my pledge to residents, businesses and other organisations – if you come up with an idea, we won’t give you 99 reasons why it can’t be done.

We will listen to you, support you and work together to turn that idea into a reality."