Shocked Labour loses control of Blackburn with Darwen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

cj, Darwen says...
8:06am Fri 4 May 07

ok For Darwen party, Lets see if YOU do as you promised.

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Jon M, Tockholes says...
8:23am Fri 4 May 07

Don't expect miracles overnight, but I suspect with the For Darwen Party now holding the casting vote this will be great for the town. No more railroading of naff Blackburn policies onto the poor second cousin Darwen. Finally someone to stand up for the town. Come on Tony and For Darwen

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Dirty Tricks, Darwen says...
8:25am Fri 4 May 07

I hear the Lib Dem candidate sent out leaflets contanining blatant lies about the For Darwen candidates on the morning of the election. I hope the electoral commission forces a by-election on this seat. Typical corrupt last ditch attempts to save their seat.

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jj, blackburn says...
8:38am Fri 4 May 07

you got what you deserved, its not a labour council its a dictatorship. labour lost my vote and that of many others. Kay, Hollern, khan, and the rest of them can now start taking notice of the electorate.

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Rach, Darwen - Earcroft says...
9:19am Fri 4 May 07

For Darwen Party. Well done and thank you for standing up for our little town.

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J, says...
9:46am Fri 4 May 07

Interesting times ahead.

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tony, says...
10:04am Fri 4 May 07

It's about time Darwen's voice was heard again. It has a proud history in its own right, but these days it is always down played, even in this report. Darwen's council up to 1974 wasn't 'rural', for heavens sake. Blackburn had an Urban District Council up to their but it was Darwen Borough Council until absorbtion by 'big brother' down the road.

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sal, says...
10:20am Fri 4 May 07

Bummer as Fred Gollop lost. Glad none of the far-right parties got in. Also happy that Labour is out of control, if only holleran had lost her seat - it would have been sweet.

But still. there are far too many councillors and in general once they get established they are like land barons - do what they want how they want.

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Suzster, says...
10:31am Fri 4 May 07

I personally think that Councils would be far better ran without any Councillors at all. They simply dont have the all round personal ability to make informed decisions. Officers are often stifled by some of the ludicrous decisions made by Councillors and then spend valuable time mopping up after them.

Dont get me wrong, there are some very good ones but to be in position based on uninformed votes, rather than their personal ability to carry out the task at hand is crazy!!! Why on earth do we need them? If I was in control of a multi million pound business empire, the last people I would want driving my policy are people foisted upon me, whether I like it or not!

Council officers, you have my sympathy!!!!

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ash, Blackburn says...
10:33am Fri 4 May 07

I hope the new candidates are strong enough to voice the peoples concern and not get undermined by Holern, Khan etc and really shock Labour. I'm glad the decision lies with Darwen after what Jack Straw commented on last night on the election special.

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H, Darwen says...
10:34am Fri 4 May 07

Good on you Tony and the rest of the For Darwen Party You have my support in all that you do for this sorry town that Blackburn will soon be leaving behind Stick to your guns and your promises and soon we will have a town to be proud of away from the Labour dictatorship that has destroyed it for so many years

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H, Darwen says...
10:35am Fri 4 May 07

Good on you Tony and the rest of the For Darwen Party You have my support in all that you do for this sorry town that Blackburn will soon be leaving behind Stick to your guns and your promises and soon we will have a town to be proud of away from the Labour dictatorship that has destroyed it for so many years

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Linda, DARWEN with blackburn as underdogs for a change says...
10:40am Fri 4 May 07

Well Done Tony

Onwards & Upwards for Darwen.

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graham, darwen says...
10:43am Fri 4 May 07

Will this mean we'll get the town centre sorted properly now??!!

and who is going to be in control then, whoever offers for darwen the best terms?

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Cllr M Johnson. FOR DARWEN PARTY, Darwen says...
11:00am Fri 4 May 07

Firstly we would like to thank all the Darwen People for the support we have had over the last Four weeks. Last night was the best night Darwen has seen in years, Blackburn now knows that the people of Darwen are no longer prepaired to sit back and be dictated to by any national party. We fought for our town and you supported us, now it is our turn to fight and support the people of Darwen. For Darwen will fight for the rights of Darwen people first, no more forcing things on our town against the wishes of the people. It is now up to you the people of Darwen to tell us what you want. Thank you for all you have done.

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tony preston, darwen says...
11:05am Fri 4 May 07

Perfect result. 2 for darwen wins with 2 more labour losses.... it couldn't have been planned better. Now it could be Darwen with blackburn council, but the hard work starts now .

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karen, earcroft says...
11:12am Fri 4 May 07

In reply to Suzster; I think you`ll be happy to know that both the new For Darwen councillors own and run their own companies and have for many years.

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Concerned of Darwen, Darwen says...
12:00pm Fri 4 May 07

For Darwen party, is that England First or BNP. The policies are very similar and the people seem linked together somehow to?!!

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DannyP, Blackburn says...
12:03pm Fri 4 May 07

Why don't we just hand Darwen back to Darwen.Just focus on our OWN towns and not look over each others shoulders to make sure ones not gettin more pennies than they should be eh? Or is it that Darwen can't survive on their own like the Natioal elections so they just get thrown with Rossendale.

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Darwener, Darwen says...
12:31pm Fri 4 May 07

Only time will tell if things will change for Darwen. I'm not saying Tony wont do well for Darwen but things have been mentioned before in the past not only by labour but also conservatives and Lib Dem's and they have turned the other way and the things we was promised didn't turn up.

I must say that even though Darwen should have equal rights as Blackburn while under the same council but What about the...

* New Health Centre?
* The New Leisure Centre?
* The New Houses which have been built in the area?
* The New Look Town Centre?

We need ro thank Labour for those.

Even though some people are against the Closures of these buildings and of knocking them down but we have to build for the future.

How many of us without transport had to Travel to hospital to see a specialist? I have seen a number of specialists who have actually been seen at the New Health Centre which has saved me a great deal of money and time as what it would of cost to travel to the hospital to see the specialists.

As for the new Leisure Centre, this will be accessable for the diabled and for the parents with push chairs. Many times I wanted to take my children swimming but couldnt due to having a push chair and having to lift the parm up the huge flight of stairs inside the building. The old leisure centre was accessable to gain enterance but once you was inside the building you couldnt get any further than the reception area. If anything like lifts was available this wasnt made clear to people like myself as I visited the Centre myself a number of times and no sign was seen. Lets face it how many people who used the Leisure Centre had to use steps? As for the swimming pool for what it costs for the repair to the leaking pool they may as well built a new leisure centre with access for diabled.

Also new jomes in the area, lib dems made it clear they didn't want two gates to be demolished, but look at the beautiful houses with have been built in there place (which now a lib dem councillor has admitted to them looking nice). So maybe lib dems should look to the furture before speaking.

So lets hope Tony and the For Darwen Partey can head Darwen in an even better direction.

Only time will tell if things will change for Darwen. I'm not saying Tony wont do well for Darwen but things have been mentioned before in the past not only by labour but also conservatives and Lib Dem's and they have turned the other way and the things we was promised didn't turn up. I must say that even though Darwen should have equal rights as Blackburn while under the same council but What about the... * New Health Centre? * The New Leisure Centre? * The New Houses which have been built in the area? * The New Look Town Centre? We need ro thank Labour for those. Even though some people are against the Closures of these buildings and of knocking them down but we have to build for the future. How many of us without transport had to Travel to hospital to see a specialist? I have seen a number of specialists who have actually been seen at the New Health Centre which has saved me a great deal of money and time as what it would of cost to travel to the hospital to see the specialists. As for the new Leisure Centre, this will be accessable for the diabled and for the parents with push chairs. Many times I wanted to take my children swimming but couldnt due to having a push chair and having to lift the parm up the huge flight of stairs inside the building. The old leisure centre was accessable to gain enterance but once you was inside the building you couldnt get any further than the reception area. If anything like lifts was available this wasnt made clear to people like myself as I visited the Centre myself a number of times and no sign was seen. Lets face it how many people who used the Leisure Centre had to use steps? As for the swimming pool for what it costs for the repair to the leaking pool they may as well built a new leisure centre with access for diabled. Also new jomes in the area, lib dems made it clear they didn't want two gates to be demolished, but look at the beautiful houses with have been built in there place (which now a lib dem councillor has admitted to them looking nice). So maybe lib dems should look to the furture before speaking. So lets hope Tony and the For Darwen Partey can head Darwen in an even better direction.

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Rach, Darwen says...
1:03pm Fri 4 May 07

'In reply to Concerned of Darwen & Darwener' I believe you may be concerned for Darwen as so are the people in the For Darwen Party or they wouldnt have got themselves involved. I strongly believe that the For Darwen Party will make Darwen a great town once again.

For the new town centre yes it might look nice but if you have actually spoke to any of the older residents of Darwen they find it very different to cross the road to the post office as the lights take to long and traffic is fast moving in that area.

It all looks nice but it isnt practical for pedestrians.

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Me, Darwen says...
1:12pm Fri 4 May 07

To concerned of Darwen, theres always one isnt there? BNP? England First? How dare you!!! For Darwen Party is exactly what it says on the tin, a party for the people of Darwen. Not following national partys, but acting in the sole interests of the Town. You werent out delivering leaflets yesterday morning by any chance with that very message on it??? For the saner ones amongst us check out fordarwen.org.uk

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KS, Shadsworth & Whitebirk, Blackburn says...
1:14pm Fri 4 May 07

First time in 36 years I haven't voted Labour. Remember when we all got a visit from our local councillor asking if they could rely on our vote again? Them days have long gone, I haven't seen a councillor for years, last one was Frank Gorton, who got round to seeing as many of his constituants as possible, plus he was accessible as well. MR Shorrock! if you had called you might have been able to answer a couple of my questions, thus retaining my vote, then again who are you? all I know of you is from a leaflet pushed through my door describing what a fantastic job you do for us. Well, for a start my first question would have been how the labour party in Blackburn & Darwen were supporting local buisiness's, because I see you couldn't even have your leaflets printed locally, Manchester, that's where. Too many of you have slipped into the comfort zone - Mr. Kay be warned, looks to me you've already got your carpet slippers on.

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Andy, says...
1:16pm Fri 4 May 07

At last,perhaps a bit of democracy might return to BWD. The elite 8 have far too long ran a "do as I say" dictatorship.
Its up to the tories, libs and For Darwen to oust the labour group, thats what the people want! Because if you side with them nobody will trust you in the future.
The first thing they should do is abolish postal voting (wonder why Labour encourage it look at who it benefits and who was caught fiddling it previously)and I am pretty sure in forthcoming elections the Labour vote would significantly reduce.

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MikeF, Blackburn says...
1:29pm Fri 4 May 07

got to agree with some of the above, this is a real chance to change things. Conservatives,Liberals and For Darwen need to form a pact and create an administration for the people of Blackburn with Darwen.
perhaps then we will see an end to the underhand land grab schemes that have been operating in the infirmary and Darwen areas.
oust the labour elite and for your own super eight and then we will see if Kay, Holleran and the other gravy train riders think its still a true democracy.

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Concerned of Darwen, Darwen says...
1:32pm Fri 4 May 07

Let me explain why i was querying the connections between For Darwen/England First and the BNP

Michael Johnson - ex England First now For Darwen councillor

Mark Cotterill - England First party nominating officer who according to their website is ex BNP - thats all I was suggesting!

I'm surprised that people's allegiances change so much!

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Adrian Walker, Darwen Redearth says...
1:49pm Fri 4 May 07

Power to the people of Darwen - well done the 'For Darwen' Party led by Tony Melia. The Labour Party have to be made aware they cannot compulsorily purchase Darwen homes on bogus grounds and not suffer the repercussions. In a democracy the will of the people should prevail. Also well done to Simon Huggill and your party, you have done great work for the people of Darwen and it is very much appreciated by all.

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Erskine Morris, Blackburn says...
2:06pm Fri 4 May 07

There's a simple question that For Darwen can answer, to clear up any insinuation of links with EFP/BNP...

Are you 'For' all the people of Darwen, whatever their creed and colour?

Or are you just 'For' Darwen's white, indigenous majority?

I hope it's the former and if so I wish you all the best. Small, local parties make more sense than London-led party machines.

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Martyn, Darwen says...
2:06pm Fri 4 May 07

i'm not into politics but i love change so i voted against labour and i want my bins back to weekly!

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B, Darwen says...
2:20pm Fri 4 May 07

Erskine Morris wrote:
There's a simple question that For Darwen can answer, to clear up any insinuation of links with EFP/BNP... Are you 'For' all the people of Darwen, whatever their creed and colour? Or are you just 'For' Darwen's white, indigenous majority? I hope it's the former and if so I wish you all the best. Small, local parties make more sense than London-led party machines.

I think you all need to think about what you are saying so what Michael Johnson used to be a member of England First, have you ever seen Michael Johnson he isnt actually white British.

For Darwen Party are doing it for Darwen and the people of Darwen no matter what colour or race.

Does it not show that if these people are ex members of EFP or BNP that they dont agree with their polices.

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Alexander Gordon, Darwen. Lancs. says...
2:32pm Fri 4 May 07

I would like to congratulate tony and the rest of For Darwen party for a very good results but I would not like to see them give up any of there policies to go into a coalition with Labour so they can still be in power no thank you. I still see Coun. Hollern still thinks she has a clear message that people want us to stay in control, to me that is wrong as the people of Darwen have had there say and DO NOT WANT the same old party in control now and they would be very up set if they are not heard now. I can't wait for the new council to take charged of the town hall.

Yours sincerely
Mr A D Gordon

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cj, Darwen says...
2:34pm Fri 4 May 07

I genuinly hope my vote and that of my wife was not wasted voting for the for darwen party. Having lived in the town for 31 years i am actually glad that the people of Darwen took the chance to do something even if the whole town didnt vote for them. Labour beware you were warned that one day this would happen. WELL IT HAS AND NOW WE HAVE A VOICE. Please dont let us down!!!

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cj, Darwen says...
2:34pm Fri 4 May 07

I genuinly hope my vote and that of my wife was not wasted voting for the for darwen party. Having lived in the town for 31 years i am actually glad that the people of Darwen took the chance to do something even if the whole town didnt vote for them. Labour beware you were warned that one day this would happen. WELL IT HAS AND NOW WE HAVE A VOICE. Please dont let us down!!!

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Rach, Darwen says...
2:49pm Fri 4 May 07

In reply to CJ - I believe my dad and the rest of the For Darwen Party will do a great job. Yours, your wifes and all the other two and half thousands peoples votes are not wasted.

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unbelievable, Darwen says...
3:10pm Fri 4 May 07

do the people of Darwen really feel that the for Darwen party will represent them? I find it hard to believe that people are considering this a victory, 3 councillors, out of 64, they'll make no difference whatsoever, no-one will work with them because of their shadowy past (and by that I do not talk of BNP etc, I talk of Melia, there is 'something of the night' about him, to paraphrase) I truely hope that the people of Darwen do not live to regret what I believe to be a terrible decision. They have just REDUCED their voice in the council!

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Paul, Darwen says...
3:21pm Fri 4 May 07

Erskine Morris wrote:
There\'s a simple question that For Darwen can answer, to clear up any insinuation of links with EFP/BNP... Are you \'For\' all the people of Darwen, whatever their creed and colour? Or are you just \'For\' Darwen\'s white, indigenous majority? I hope it\'s the former and if so I wish you all the best. Small, local parties make more sense than London-led party machines.

Tony's wife is 1/2 Indian. And some of his best freinds are from the Asian communities in B-burn.
hope that answers your question.

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Rach, Darwen says...
3:23pm Fri 4 May 07

In reply to unbelievable - Do you really feel that For Darwen Party will do nothing good for Darwen. Instead of posting negative comments why dont you just wait and see how much good these people can do. What would you like in Darwen?

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cllr michael Johnson, Darwen says...
3:24pm Fri 4 May 07

EFP/BNP what has that got to do with For Darwen. I am a Darrener, i supported Darwen independence in 84, i formed Darwen independents 2004 and fought the elections. Now i am with like minded people who support the town they care for. For Darwen is for the people of Darwen, our job is now to resolve the problems that Blackburn has left us with.

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:31pm Fri 4 May 07

my negative comments??!!! For Darwen has run its entire election policy on negative comments, for a party said to be proud of darwen, they certainly don't show it, one negative point after another, so pot, kettle and black come to mind, oh hang on, black, hmmm, maybe not! In response to Cllr Johnson, how can Blackburn have LEFT Darwen with problems, as far as I am aware, we are still a joint brough are we not, and secondly, how do you intend to 'resolve' these 'problems'. Being a councillor I am sure you are aware that you will need some support within the council, and, quel surprise, that support will NEED to come from some BLACKBURN coucillors. I personally can't wait to see the how For Darwen will keep its PROMISES, and yes they were, PROMISES, I think it was misspelt though, should be L I E S!

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Rach, Darwen says...
3:33pm Fri 4 May 07

Reply to Cllr Michael Johnson,

There are 2500 people of Darwen behind you and the rest of the For Darwen Party. People with negative comments will soon be eating there words when good things happen.

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:36pm Fri 4 May 07

well If that is the case I feel that the words I eat will be a lot more palatable than the lies that the people fo Darwen have swallowed from the For Darwen Party!

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Rach, Darwen says...
3:37pm Fri 4 May 07

You talk about lies what lies have any of the For Darwen Party told ????

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Ged Melia, says...
3:39pm Fri 4 May 07

I am Tony Melia's brother and unlike 'unbelievable' I'm prepared to say who I am. What I would like to say is that Anthony, Tony, has shown a keen interest in Darwen for many years. He's contributed to the community as an active member of Darwen Rotary, a local school and employs local people in his DARWEN based business. The only 'something of the night' I can think of is his standing as a WHITE KNIGHT. In my interactions with him and his colleagues they have shown nothing but a genuine interest on the concerns of Darwen people and their election is a clear reflection of the very strong feelings that Darwen people have about not having quality representation. Unlike 'unbelievable' he has stood up to literally be counted. Both he and his colleagues are the start of a movement to arrest the apparent inexorable decline experienced by Darwen over a series of (predominantly Labour) administrations. It looks to me like the fight back movement has begun!

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:41pm Fri 4 May 07

The Party Name is a good start - should be anti-Blackburn, or the get Tony 'dracula' Melia into office at any costs party!! The For Darwen Party are claming possible independance for Darwen, that, in short, is a HUGE WHOPPING LIE!

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:43pm Fri 4 May 07

I won't say who I am, I've seen the 'goons'. Please don't tell me I need to say who I am, there are plenty of people in the list above both pro and anti For Darwen who have done the same.

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B, Darwen says...
3:49pm Fri 4 May 07

Unbelievable I think somebody might be suffering from sore grapes. Who are you F Davis? or N Nuttall?

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M Johnson, darwen says...
3:51pm Fri 4 May 07

unbelievable. Yes your comments are. All i can say is you must be one of the unsung masses that have the ability to fight for your town from a arm chair. I would love to hear what you would do to help Darwen or resolve the problems we have in the town. If all you can do is continue the innane drivle and personal attacks on people who have fought for the town the live in, then you need to get a life.

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:52pm Fri 4 May 07

Neither, just someone a little concerned for Darwen, you have met some of those I assume? I had a vote yesterday, just as I ASSUME you did. Sour grapes, no, just concerned for Darwen, it is OK to show concern for your town isn't it? Or do For Darwen have the monopoly on that?

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unbelievable, darwen says...
3:57pm Fri 4 May 07

tell me Mr Johnson, is that the way you will be talking to YOUR voters come the time of your next fight? I, too have a right to speak, and I am doing just that, For Darwen are not the only people who can speak up for Darwen and its problems, I can do it too, and if I choose, I CAN do that from my armchair, oh wonderful internet! I don't and won't though! just so you know if I suddenly go silent, I'm off now, thanks all, not running away, but I've got a lot to do!

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citizen, darwen says...
3:58pm Fri 4 May 07

I see that unbelievable likes to hide behind insults and rhetoric, perhaps an ex councillor. Creatures of the night and goons - i think this individual should crawl back into his burrow as the light of the new Darwen may be too bright for him..

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Rach, Darwen says...
4:00pm Fri 4 May 07

Unbelievable - Everyone is concerned for there town but everyone else is ripping into the people that are doing something about it. If you had the choice to change something about Darwen what would you change?

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unbelievable, darwen says...
4:54pm Fri 4 May 07

quick reply then I really must fly, honestly, what I would change? OK, not flying into the face of For Darwen in particular, I would like to see positivity in change in Darwen, for too long everything is all about keeping things as they are. Times change, and so dothe needs of a town which in its own nature is very proud of its traditions. The answer is not though to immediately blame others. Darwen is not how it used to be, and thats not all down to council decisions, some of which I feel may have been wrong, I accept that, but because of the needs of the Darwen people. Would a person shop in Darwen with a limited choice or Blackburn with a large choice, Blackburn more often that not. Darwen can't compete with Blackburn on something like that. It needs to adapt to meet the people and offer them what they need, then it will thrive. The Redearth debarcle was bad, we all know that. But NOW is too late to start changing it, we, as does the council, who we elected, need to accept that and move on. Simon Huggill (LibDem) wouldn't be happy with Darwen unless we were all going around in Horse and trap and building in the Victorian and Georgian style. We need to show real pride in our town, pride which we can sustain and build on. We need to move away from the belief that Darwen is still the economic workhorse that it was up until the 1980's, it isn't, we need to embrace the ways forward, not look back at 'what was'. Darwen doesn't need to be independent to be like this, Darwen has always been and always will be independent from Blackburn, in the hearts of Darreners. I feel that there have been many changes in Darwen, especially recently, the traffic in the town centre is awful, I don't need to support for darwen to say that, The redearth debarcle, again awful. but there ARE positives, the health centre is fantastic, we ARE going to have a School in Darwen with A sixth Form again, Brilliant. such things we need to embrace. We can't be the business centre we used to be, it's not realistic, we are becoming a residential area, there are many all over the country, so lets build on that, let's make Darwen a place that people want to be, want to come to. Many Blackburn people look into the telegraph letter pages and see the continual stream of negativity about Darwen, mainly from... not as you expect me to say, For Darwen, but the likes of Browne, Huggill and Davis (or we did in the past, but the letters dried up quite quickly when R Davis was elected), and see Darwen as MOANERS, Never Happy, Fickle, I qui=ote things that friends of mine have said to me. I don't want to be seen as that, I am proud of my town, as I know many other people are, but some people take advantage of this for political amunition, that's not representing the townsfolk, thats having the townsfolk led up the garden path.

So, what I'm saying, in the long winded response, (sorry, if I repeated myself a lot during it, I'm in and out and lose track!) Is that I want Darwen to be proud, not necessarily independent, I want people to give time for change, not jump on it straight away, and I want to see the 'focus' Libdems to do exactly that, focus on the town. The labour Party to do that, Labour for the town, The conservatives to conserve our identity within a unified brough and For Darwen, I want for Darwen to be realistic, I think most people have a modicom of sympathy with what they say, but just don't believe it can happen. Represent Darwen the best way possible, work together with ALL the Darwen councillors to make Darwen a happy, positive place to live again.

Cheers

believable!

quick reply then I really must fly, honestly, what I would change? OK, not flying into the face of For Darwen in particular, I would like to see positivity in change in Darwen, for too long everything is all about keeping things as they are. Times change, and so dothe needs of a town which in its own nature is very proud of its traditions. The answer is not though to immediately blame others. Darwen is not how it used to be, and thats not all down to council decisions, some of which I feel may have been wrong, I accept that, but because of the needs of the Darwen people. Would a person shop in Darwen with a limited choice or Blackburn with a large choice, Blackburn more often that not. Darwen can't compete with Blackburn on something like that. It needs to adapt to meet the people and offer them what they need, then it will thrive. The Redearth debarcle was bad, we all know that. But NOW is too late to start changing it, we, as does the council, who we elected, need to accept that and move on. Simon Huggill (LibDem) wouldn't be happy with Darwen unless we were all going around in Horse and trap and building in the Victorian and Georgian style. We need to show real pride in our town, pride which we can sustain and build on. We need to move away from the belief that Darwen is still the economic workhorse that it was up until the 1980's, it isn't, we need to embrace the ways forward, not look back at 'what was'. Darwen doesn't need to be independent to be like this, Darwen has always been and always will be independent from Blackburn, in the hearts of Darreners. I feel that there have been many changes in Darwen, especially recently, the traffic in the town centre is awful, I don't need to support for darwen to say that, The redearth debarcle, again awful. but there ARE positives, the health centre is fantastic, we ARE going to have a School in Darwen with A sixth Form again, Brilliant. such things we need to embrace. We can't be the business centre we used to be, it's not realistic, we are becoming a residential area, there are many all over the country, so lets build on that, let's make Darwen a place that people want to be, want to come to. Many Blackburn people look into the telegraph letter pages and see the continual stream of negativity about Darwen, mainly from... not as you expect me to say, For Darwen, but the likes of Browne, Huggill and Davis (or we did in the past, but the letters dried up quite quickly when R Davis was elected), and see Darwen as MOANERS, Never Happy, Fickle, I qui=ote things that friends of mine have said to me. I don't want to be seen as that, I am proud of my town, as I know many other people are, but some people take advantage of this for political amunition, that's not representing the townsfolk, thats having the townsfolk led up the garden path. So, what I'm saying, in the long winded response, (sorry, if I repeated myself a lot during it, I'm in and out and lose track!) Is that I want Darwen to be proud, not necessarily independent, I want people to give time for change, not jump on it straight away, and I want to see the 'focus' Libdems to do exactly that, focus on the town. The labour Party to do that, Labour for the town, The conservatives to conserve our identity within a unified brough and For Darwen, I want for Darwen to be realistic, I think most people have a modicom of sympathy with what they say, but just don't believe it can happen. Represent Darwen the best way possible, work together with ALL the Darwen councillors to make Darwen a happy, positive place to live again. Cheers believable!

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Shaun, Darwen says...
5:22pm Fri 4 May 07

Well done Tony you and the people of Darwen have given Mr Nuttall a bloody nose, I hope Mr smith and the rest of so called Darwen candidates start to work for the town and not themselves because next time it will be them.

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Linda, DARWEN with blackburn as underdogs for a change says...
5:26pm Fri 4 May 07

Darwen should go back to what it was back to what it was before being overtaken by Blackburn. We the folks of darwen should stand up, shout and be united, maybe even go back to being with Lancashire. Leave Blackburn to it.

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MR MOHAMMED, BLACKBURN says...
5:47pm Fri 4 May 07

FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE PEOPLE OF DARWEN IN RIDDING THEMSELVES OF A BULLYISH LABOUR RUN COUNCIL,I HAVE LIVED IN BLACKBURN SINCE 1963,HENCE,I HAVE VOTED LABOUR UNTIL LAST NIGHT! MY VOTE WENT ELSEWHERE FOR THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOT DELIVERED WHAT THEY PROMIED!!
WE HAVE ALL THE MILLIONS OF £S POURING INTO OUR TOWN,YET,WHERE DOES IT GO?? VOTES ARE BOUGHT BY GIVING GRANTS FOR HOUSING IN PRODOMINENTLY ASIAN AREAS SUCH AS WHALLEY RANGE,BASTWELL,BANK TOP & SO FORTH, OUR SUPER HOSPITAL IS A SHAMBLE!! OUR OAP HOMES & SERVICES ARE BEING WATERED DOWN & SOON WILL BE EXTINCT! THE STREETS OF BLACKBURN ARE AS MEAN AS THE ONES IN NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES! KIDS HAVE NOTHING TO DO OR NOWHERE TO GO AFTER SCHOOL HOURS,IN FACT THE LIST CAN GO ON FOREVER!!
WHAT A SHAME MY ASIAN COUNTERPARTS COULDNT BE BRAVE ENOUGH LIKE THE PEOPLE OF DARWEN & RID BLACKBURN OF THIS PATHETIC LABOUR RUN COUNCIL,WHO BASICALLY ARE UNDERRWORKED,OVERSPENT & OVERPAID!!!
CONGRATS TO ALL YOU DARRENERS...YOU'L SOON REAP THE REWARDS OF YOUR COURAGEOUS TRIUMPH!!!!

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thomas, Darwen says...
5:48pm Fri 4 May 07

Well, that has started something!! What is all this about "this sorry town"? Tell me, how can anyone "sort out the town centre"? It is becoming to look quite smart and work is ongoing - don't judge until it is finished!! The traffic is horrendous because we only have one main road running through the town - the A666. The problem is that there is too much traffic for it to handle. I e.mailed Capita some time ago about the placing of bollards outside the Millstone cutting off Bridge Street. I suggested that Bridge Street should be opened up for Redearth Road/Sudell Road traffic, relieving Hardman Way. (The bollards went up!!) I also suggested a dedicated "Ring Road" via Brandy House Brow, Blackamoor, Sett End (Darwen) and Pole Lane emerging at Grimshaw Street or Watery Lane. I can't see any other way to solve the problem -any more suggestions?The new Health Centre is great, the Leisure Centre will be great but will not please everyone because of the reasons we have all heard about. It could not be sited as suggested on Robin Bank because the land would cost too much to decontaminate because it was the site of the old Gas Works. Regarding lack of consultation, was the Darwen Chamber of Trade not involved and was there not a number of public meetings (sparcely attended) before all the work was started? Finally whoever suggests that we become independant of Blackburn is living in cloud cuckoo land!!

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Chris, darwen says...
5:54pm Fri 4 May 07

Mr Mohammed just do what us darreners did and stand up. All it took was 4 good people of the town of Darwen to stand up and say hold on enough is enough. I am all to aware that promises have been made and promises have been broken but i believe that deep down Tony will deliver. The people of Darwen have used their voice and he listened thats why me and the missus voted for him. I hope he delivers. Good luck Tony, the wife and i will be behind you!

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Viv, Darwen says...
5:54pm Fri 4 May 07

In the words of my daughter Darwen has been set back 10 years. For Darwen are nothing of the sort, everything they say is against Darwen - they want to see Darwen back in the dark ages. It now has a bunch of councillors including an ex right wing councillor, an ex BNP organiser and an ex Blackburn Lib Dem parliamentary candidate - if he cared so much about Darwen why did he want to be MP for Blackburn. I want to see a forward thinking council who have a vision for improving the lives of local people - what happened last night is a travesty for the whole borough.

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M, says...
6:14pm Fri 4 May 07

I have voted since I was 18 and believe it's the right thing to do. Times have certainly changed. I couldn't tell you when I last had a councillor knock on my door. Leaflets and flyers have taken their place helping to fill the recycle bag....shame on them!
I am pleased that Labour have had the shock that they deserve!

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Joe K, Brighton says...
6:17pm Fri 4 May 07

Sorry to bother, does anyone know if Coucillor Michael Johnson served in the armed forces, when where etc??

Joe

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Concerned of Darwen, Darwen says...
6:20pm Fri 4 May 07

Viv wrote:
In the words of my daughter Darwen has been set back 10 years. For Darwen are nothing of the sort, everything they say is against Darwen - they want to see Darwen back in the dark ages. It now has a bunch of councillors including an ex right wing councillor, an ex BNP organiser and an ex Blackburn Lib Dem parliamentary candidate - if he cared so much about Darwen why did he want to be MP for Blackburn. I want to see a forward thinking council who have a vision for improving the lives of local people - what happened last night is a travesty for the whole borough.

At last somebody else who is suspicious of this lot!

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Paul, Darwen says...
6:29pm Fri 4 May 07

I am a council officer, I am Darwen born and bred and i voted ForDarwen (Tony Melia)i hope these new councillors actually get some real ideas of how councils are run and the issues affecting local government.

Darwen and its inhabitants are viewed as a parochial joke, anything that is mooted as being a positive for the town is premeditated by the realisation that it will be shot down by the petty mindedness of residents living in the past.

When i returned from University in 1994 this was the last place i wanted to be, in the last few years we have become a market town, we have areas of the town centre protected through conservation orders, we have future investment in schools and current investment in health and housing. We have a work in progress of a town centre, i am gobsmacked that this can be judged before it is completed and i speak on a regular basis to many residents who have moved to the town in the last five years who appreciate it's rural position, its strong travel links to major cities and the large investment in the area that the last council have made in the town.

The majority of the funding that has come into the town is not from council tax this funding has come from the creativity and dedication of hard working officers who tirelessly promote and develop the potential of this beautiful town.

Maybe it is time for the residents of Darwen to actually appreciate where they live, stop using the "poor cousin" tag and work with Blackburn in creating an even better place to live.

Tony i hope you and your party use this opportunity to create a positive change in the mentality of how Darwen see's itself.

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Darwener, Darwen says...
6:32pm Fri 4 May 07

Well, that has started something!! What is all this about "this sorry town"? Tell me, how can anyone "sort out the town centre"? It is becoming to look quite smart and work is ongoing - don't judge until it is finished!! The traffic is horrendous because we only have one main road running through the town - the A666. The problem is that there is too much traffic for it to handle.

I totally agree with you on this one Thomas.

I also think that for those who have problems with the traffic as a motorist along the A666 should also look at alternative route to use like you have mention in you comment.

I am a pedestrian and dont very often travel by car. I do use the lights at the post office as I take my children to and from school but as Thomas mentioned in his comment that the town center is still ongoing and you cant expect work to be done overnight in a busy town center and as the trouble regarding the traffic lights outside the post office has been brought to the councils attention I would only presum that the council will correct the errors which have been made.

How many members of the public have been saying that its about time council actually made an update inprovment into darwen? and now this has been done some mebers of the public dont like the matter. You cant expect to throw scafolding up to build a new building and call it done now can you, not until all the work is complete.

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Danny K, Darwen says...
6:42pm Fri 4 May 07

Just reading unbelievable, I agree, For Darwen are worrying, but not as worrying as Huggill, he seems to have a problem about everything. GOD HELP US

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thomas, Darwen says...
7:00pm Fri 4 May 07

Thank goodness for a bit of positive thinking, Paul of Darwen. I agree with most of what you say except that I did not vote for Tony Melia!! He produced some cracking pamphlets at what cost I wonder, but some of the ideas and statements were too far fetched for me to stomach. It will be interesting to see how FOR DARWEN get on when they take their seats. They will not do anything alone except possibly use their casting votes to block any plans that THEY don't agree with. Let us hope that they will be positive too. I did initially support Paul Browne when he too made the suggestion about the bollards in Bridge Street and that is when I took an interest...what will be the next chapter in our history?

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Paul, Darwen says...
7:09pm Fri 4 May 07

Thanks Thomas, the way i see it is that you can't complain once you are in power. Lets see how they do over the next 4 years if it is just a power trip then they will be voted out and the town will just stay as bad as so many people seem to think it is already so nothing lost really.

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Pamela, Blackburn says...
7:11pm Fri 4 May 07

Congratulations to the For Darwen Party. I hope they do make a difference. My family is one of those who suffered because of the old councils decision to demolish two gates. We were very happy there but had to move to blackburn. Since coming to blackburn my son have been victimised and bullied with no help from the police, housing or the so called local councillor who just helped him by asking for an assessment on my son to see if he should be allowed to live in our home. His crime? hes disabled. If councillor florence oldfield applies to your party to act as a councillor please dont entertain her. she should be the leader of the BNP party her policies and views are the same as theirs. Good luck and hope you suceed in keeping the labour party out. Again well done and tell kate hollerin to stop moaning she brought her current position - unemployed- on herself.

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Bernadette Johnston, canada says...
8:51pm Fri 4 May 07

Well I hope your happiness lasts with your new party.I have only one thing to say My brother Frank Connor LAB worked bloody hard for the voters of MARSH HOUSE and Darwen I only hope you will find in any of your new members a man as honest and decent as Frank Connor .

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ross, lancs says...
9:18pm Fri 4 May 07

u darweners are a bunch of moaners who want to live in the ark ages , on horses and carrage.darwen has seen alot of improvemets over the last 10 years and major regheneration but it is the darweners who dont want cahnge, stop blaming blackburn for ur problems

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Pamela, Blackburn says...
9:41pm Fri 4 May 07

bernadette i dont doubt your brother was a grand councillor and rep for the area but things have took a drastic turn for the worst in blackburn recently. I am not a darwener or a blackburner i just live here. The councillors for the mill hill/waterfall area are not too good at representing the people and in some cases dont rep us at all thank fully the worst of them didnt stand this time. perhaps she didnt want to get de elected this time. Ross it would be interesting to know if you live in blackburn

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geoff, blackburn says...
10:18pm Fri 4 May 07

Now that the Lib Dems have got in the Shear Brow ward does that mean all literature will NOT be in all languages but either urdu or other .It does not practice equality when they distribute leaflets in a language that is not accessible by all.Not very equal is it ,assuming that all the Shear brow residents are all asian .To hear that Labour have lost the council makes me smile in a away -Maybe some proper issues will now be tackled and NOT forced

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D, WENSLEY FOLD says...
10:28pm Fri 4 May 07

Pamela wrote:
Congratulations to the For Darwen Party. I hope they do make a difference. My family is one of those who suffered because of the old councils decision to demolish two gates. We were very happy there but had to move to blackburn. Since coming to blackburn my son have been victimised and bullied with no help from the police, housing or the so called local councillor who just helped him by asking for an assessment on my son to see if he should be allowed to live in our home. His crime? hes disabled. If councillor florence oldfield applies to your party to act as a councillor please dont entertain her. she should be the leader of the BNP party her policies and views are the same as theirs. Good luck and hope you suceed in keeping the labour party out. Again well done and tell kate hollerin to stop moaning she brought her current position - unemployed- on herself.

Kate Hollern unemployed?I think not !!! Can you say the same? I doubt it.Learning how to spell may be the way forward.Who knows it may help with the chip on your shoulder.

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Melinda Doolittle, Darwen says...
10:40pm Fri 4 May 07

I am pleased as punch that Kate Hollern won. Ms. Hollern is what is right about the Labour Party. People should take a lesson from her politics. She cares. Ms. Hollern was able to win when the rest of Labour tanked. This attests to her compassion and leadership. Right on, Ms. Hollern!

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D, WENSLEY FOLD says...
11:20pm Fri 4 May 07

THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,At last,Somebody that appreciates a good thing when they see it.

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Peter, Blackburn says...
12:44am Sat 5 May 07

And you wonder why the whole of Blackburn laughs at you? You are not the 'poor relations' of the joint authority. Yes, you're by far the smaller of the two but what do you want, an equal 50/50 split on everything? Darreners make up a huge chunk of the council, stop saying it's not represented. I'm happy with the borough as it is but if Darreners want their freedom they're welcome to it. Go and join Lancashire again then we'll see how much they invest in the town. The first thing they'll do is close the health centre, library, children's centres, town hall, new gym and swimming pool. I know as I work for them. I consider myself to be a Blackburner have always had a very genuine feeling and respect for Darwen having been born there, lived there until 5 and now living back there so I think I'm entitled to a view. Please just cheer up, smile and stop blaming everyone for your problems. It's a grey, dull town with a moronic downer on itself. What do you think you'd be without Blackburn; a sunny tourist haven like Oxford? No, just accept facts. Darwen has done quite well for itself given it's size and limitations. I hope FD works well with BWD rather than constantly be a thorn in it's side. But looking at the right-wing, racist and fickle elements of it's make-up I'd be very surprised. Tell me honestly, if these guys had lost yesterday do you honestly believe they wouldn't have suddenly switched parties, wards (possibly towns) and policies and run again next year as Lab or Lib Dem or whoever would allow them onto the council expenses gravy-boat. How can you people vote for someone who knocks on your door one moment and says "I'm not racist but... I love Blackburn and want it to be 'pure'" and then the next minute knocks again and says "er, I may lose that one so I'm definitely not a racist now... I love Preston, I mean Burnley, er... where are we today? Ah yes, Darwen. I love Darwen. Please vote for me. I have no racist policies, honest. And I've always loved Bur... Darwen. Erm, down with Blackburn? Oh you like that? Yes, down with Blackburn." Good luck, you'll need it. There's a bit of me that hopes you really suffer for it. If FD or a future LCC means sutbacks to the town I'll be long gone.

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David, Darwen says...
1:30am Sat 5 May 07

thomas wrote:
Well, that has started something!! What is all this about \"this sorry town\"? Tell me, how can anyone \"sort out the town centre\"? It is becoming to look quite smart and work is ongoing - don\'t judge until it is finished!! The traffic is horrendous because we only have one main road running through the town - the A666. The problem is that there is too much traffic for it to handle. I e.mailed Capita some time ago about the placing of bollards outside the Millstone cutting off Bridge Street. I suggested that Bridge Street should be opened up for Redearth Road/Sudell Road traffic, relieving Hardman Way. (The bollards went up!!) I also suggested a dedicated \"Ring Road\" via Brandy House Brow, Blackamoor, Sett End (Darwen) and Pole Lane emerging at Grimshaw Street or Watery Lane. I can\'t see any other way to solve the problem -any more suggestions?The new Health Centre is great, the Leisure Centre will be great but will not please everyone because of the reasons we have all heard about. It could not be sited as suggested on Robin Bank because the land would cost too much to decontaminate because it was the site of the old Gas Works. Regarding lack of consultation, was the Darwen Chamber of Trade not involved and was there not a number of public meetings (sparcely attended) before all the work was started? Finally whoever suggests that we become independant of Blackburn is living in cloud cuckoo land!!

It makes be laugh to hear to wait & see until it's finished. I think the closing of the A666 in the centre of Darwen is the biggest mistake ever made. How can sending the heavy traffic around a side street be a good idea? Leaving what used to be a very wide road for a few buses & pedestrains is a major mistake slowinf down the flow of traffic through the town as the lights are now on red for longer by the circus to enable the buses to get through. It's almost like Blackpool with the amount of new traffic lights? Also why did they not resurface the road up by the post office before they set all that traffic up it? Surely to resurface it now would cause untold delays?
How can it be sensible to have a large school in the centre of what is already a busy town centre? What will it be like trying to get in & around Darwen at the times when children would be going to & coming from school? It will become a no go area?
As for the Bus lane outside the old wall coverings (now houses) what is the point of all that? Another reason for traffic to be held up for the buses?
Why should there be a ring road using the suggest route above, why should the residents of these streets have to suffer extra traffic? The locals already use these to get around Darwen, afterall who in their right mind uses the A666 through Darwen to get to Blackburn?
Maybe stopping cars parking near the lights at the circus would improve the flow? The flow which has been so badly affect by the changes to the town centre. I couldn't really see what the problem was with the old system? At least the traffic did flow? With the present system people are trying to sneak in by the Golden Fry causing even more congestion?
What is the objection the council seem to have with the use of the car? It's not like the the transport system is regular or cheap, I can get to Blackburn & back in my car cheaper that it would cost to use the bus to Blackburn only?
The problems are only going to get worse because of the influx of people moving in from Manchester because of the new houses being built. The road infrastructure will not cope & the changes that have been carried out are only making it worse?
The roads around Darwen are some of the worst I have ever come across in their state of repair.

[quote][bold]thomas[/bold] wrote: Well, that has started something!! What is all this about \"this sorry town\"? Tell me, how can anyone \"sort out the town centre\"? It is becoming to look quite smart and work is ongoing - don\'t judge until it is finished!! The traffic is horrendous because we only have one main road running through the town - the A666. The problem is that there is too much traffic for it to handle. I e.mailed Capita some time ago about the placing of bollards outside the Millstone cutting off Bridge Street. I suggested that Bridge Street should be opened up for Redearth Road/Sudell Road traffic, relieving Hardman Way. (The bollards went up!!) I also suggested a dedicated \"Ring Road\" via Brandy House Brow, Blackamoor, Sett End (Darwen) and Pole Lane emerging at Grimshaw Street or Watery Lane. I can\'t see any other way to solve the problem -any more suggestions?The new Health Centre is great, the Leisure Centre will be great but will not please everyone because of the reasons we have all heard about. It could not be sited as suggested on Robin Bank because the land would cost too much to decontaminate because it was the site of the old Gas Works. Regarding lack of consultation, was the Darwen Chamber of Trade not involved and was there not a number of public meetings (sparcely attended) before all the work was started? Finally whoever suggests that we become independant of Blackburn is living in cloud cuckoo land!![/quote] It makes be laugh to hear to wait & see until it's finished. I think the closing of the A666 in the centre of Darwen is the biggest mistake ever made. How can sending the heavy traffic around a side street be a good idea? Leaving what used to be a very wide road for a few buses & pedestrains is a major mistake slowinf down the flow of traffic through the town as the lights are now on red for longer by the circus to enable the buses to get through. It's almost like Blackpool with the amount of new traffic lights? Also why did they not resurface the road up by the post office before they set all that traffic up it? Surely to resurface it now would cause untold delays? How can it be sensible to have a large school in the centre of what is already a busy town centre? What will it be like trying to get in & around Darwen at the times when children would be going to & coming from school? It will become a no go area? As for the Bus lane outside the old wall coverings (now houses) what is the point of all that? Another reason for traffic to be held up for the buses? Why should there be a ring road using the suggest route above, why should the residents of these streets have to suffer extra traffic? The locals already use these to get around Darwen, afterall who in their right mind uses the A666 through Darwen to get to Blackburn? Maybe stopping cars parking near the lights at the circus would improve the flow? The flow which has been so badly affect by the changes to the town centre. I couldn't really see what the problem was with the old system? At least the traffic did flow? With the present system people are trying to sneak in by the Golden Fry causing even more congestion? What is the objection the council seem to have with the use of the car? It's not like the the transport system is regular or cheap, I can get to Blackburn & back in my car cheaper that it would cost to use the bus to Blackburn only? The problems are only going to get worse because of the influx of people moving in from Manchester because of the new houses being built. The road infrastructure will not cope & the changes that have been carried out are only making it worse? The roads around Darwen are some of the worst I have ever come across in their state of repair.

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John, Balckburn says...
5:28am Sat 5 May 07

Good luck to "For Darwen". You must stand up to these Blackburn amateur dramatics councellors. They simply have no idea of how to run a County Borough.

They squander money on all their pet projects, and leave the main issues in the dustbin (fortnightly collections manadatory).

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Lrc, Darwen says...
7:26am Sat 5 May 07

I myself did vote For Darwen. By doing this though it would be unrealistic to expect wholesale changes and a 100 per cent improvement. I voted purely in hope that the new party can bring fresh ideas to the table and look at things from a different perspective. Without the ball and chain of a major party clouding their judgement, For Darwen will not feel intimidated to make suggestions of their own belief.

Or so i hope anyway......

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thomas, Darwen says...
11:18am Sat 5 May 07

I address this mainly to David of Darwen. At least I can raise a laugh with you by my comments - you also have made me smile!! The A666 is not closed - it bhas been diverted. You nthink it would have been better as it was. I believe it was diverted because of the build up of carbon monoxide at the double set of traffic lights. Since then the M65 has been extended back to the M6, many new businesses have been attracted to the area , many more houses built etc. so Darwen is not the cosy little town it once was in the 60s!! We even have a motorway services"" The Health Centre generates it own traffic ergo new traffic lights in Police Street. The pedestrian crossing lights at the Post Office are the wrong type because when approaching them from Bolton Road a driver can't tell whether they are giving pedestrians the go ahead to cross. THIS REALLY NEEDS ATTENTION. You ask why should residents "suffer" by traffic using my suggested "ring road" What do you suggest should happen, David? You are bound to encroach on residential areas - look at the ring roads around Nottingham, or any other big towns. If you are suggesting that all the traffic comes through the town centre you would need an overhead motorway similar to the Hammersmith Flyover but 4 miles long!! Whether people are in their right mind or not, a heck of a lot of them use the Darwen - Blackburn route. Hey, how about all the Darreners working in Darwen and all the Blackburners stick to Blackburn - that WOULD solve the problem!! (joke!!) I mentioned Bridge Street being opened to traffic again. What a waste of space it is when some traders use the middle of the road to measure their products - there must be something wrong!! Your poiont about sneaking up past the Golden Fry, wherever that is, escapes me.
We will have to see what or when the College is bu. However is running the Borough will have plenty of time to get it right - maybe the FOR DARWEN party will have an input? They could not gererate a website so what chance have they (At least I could not access it).We are a busy town with a lot of development going on - we will have to live with it but we can't blame the Council for bringing in new businesses and creating more jobs - surely that must be in their favour - and I am not a Socialist either!! Thee on!!

I address this mainly to David of Darwen. At least I can raise a laugh with you by my comments - you also have made me smile!! The A666 is not closed - it bhas been diverted. You nthink it would have been better as it was. I believe it was diverted because of the build up of carbon monoxide at the double set of traffic lights. Since then the M65 has been extended back to the M6, many new businesses have been attracted to the area , many more houses built etc. so Darwen is not the cosy little town it once was in the 60s!! We even have a motorway services"" The Health Centre generates it own traffic ergo new traffic lights in Police Street. The pedestrian crossing lights at the Post Office are the wrong type because when approaching them from Bolton Road a driver can't tell whether they are giving pedestrians the go ahead to cross. THIS REALLY NEEDS ATTENTION. You ask why should residents "suffer" by traffic using my suggested "ring road" What do you suggest should happen, David? You are bound to encroach on residential areas - look at the ring roads around Nottingham, or any other big towns. If you are suggesting that all the traffic comes through the town centre you would need an overhead motorway similar to the Hammersmith Flyover but 4 miles long!! Whether people are in their right mind or not, a heck of a lot of them use the Darwen - Blackburn route. Hey, how about all the Darreners working in Darwen and all the Blackburners stick to Blackburn - that WOULD solve the problem!! (joke!!) I mentioned Bridge Street being opened to traffic again. What a waste of space it is when some traders use the middle of the road to measure their products - there must be something wrong!! Your poiont about sneaking up past the Golden Fry, wherever that is, escapes me. We will have to see what or when the College is bu. However is running the Borough will have plenty of time to get it right - maybe the FOR DARWEN party will have an input? They could not gererate a website so what chance have they (At least I could not access it).We are a busy town with a lot of development going on - we will have to live with it but we can't blame the Council for bringing in new businesses and creating more jobs - surely that must be in their favour - and I am not a Socialist either!! Thee on!!

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Trevor Maxfield, Darwen says...
2:29pm Sat 5 May 07

thomas wrote:
I address this mainly to David of Darwen. At least I can raise a laugh with you by my comments - you also have made me smile!! The A666 is not closed - it bhas been diverted. You nthink it would have been better as it was. I believe it was diverted because of the build up of carbon monoxide at the double set of traffic lights. Since then the M65 has been extended back to the M6, many new businesses have been attracted to the area , many more houses built etc. so Darwen is not the cosy little town it once was in the 60s!! We even have a motorway services\"\" The Health Centre generates it own traffic ergo new traffic lights in Police Street. The pedestrian crossing lights at the Post Office are the wrong type because when approaching them from Bolton Road a driver can\'t tell whether they are giving pedestrians the go ahead to cross. THIS REALLY NEEDS ATTENTION. You ask why should residents \"suffer\" by traffic using my suggested \"ring road\" What do you suggest should happen, David? You are bound to encroach on residential areas - look at the ring roads around Nottingham, or any other big towns. If you are suggesting that all the traffic comes through the town centre you would need an overhead motorway similar to the Hammersmith Flyover but 4 miles long!! Whether people are in their right mind or not, a heck of a lot of them use the Darwen - Blackburn route. Hey, how about all the Darreners working in Darwen and all the Blackburners stick to Blackburn - that WOULD solve the problem!! (joke!!) I mentioned Bridge Street being opened to traffic again. What a waste of space it is when some traders use the middle of the road to measure their products - there must be something wrong!! Your poiont about sneaking up past the Golden Fry, wherever that is, escapes me. We will have to see what or when the College is bu. However is running the Borough will have plenty of time to get it right - maybe the FOR DARWEN party will have an input? They could not gererate a website so what chance have they (At least I could not access it).We are a busy town with a lot of development going on - we will have to live with it but we can\'t blame the Council for bringing in new businesses and creating more jobs - surely that must be in their favour - and I am not a Socialist either!! Thee on!!

try http://www.fordarwen.org.uk/

[quote][bold]thomas[/bold] wrote: I address this mainly to David of Darwen. At least I can raise a laugh with you by my comments - you also have made me smile!! The A666 is not closed - it bhas been diverted. You nthink it would have been better as it was. I believe it was diverted because of the build up of carbon monoxide at the double set of traffic lights. Since then the M65 has been extended back to the M6, many new businesses have been attracted to the area , many more houses built etc. so Darwen is not the cosy little town it once was in the 60s!! We even have a motorway services\"\" The Health Centre generates it own traffic ergo new traffic lights in Police Street. The pedestrian crossing lights at the Post Office are the wrong type because when approaching them from Bolton Road a driver can\'t tell whether they are giving pedestrians the go ahead to cross. THIS REALLY NEEDS ATTENTION. You ask why should residents \"suffer\" by traffic using my suggested \"ring road\" What do you suggest should happen, David? You are bound to encroach on residential areas - look at the ring roads around Nottingham, or any other big towns. If you are suggesting that all the traffic comes through the town centre you would need an overhead motorway similar to the Hammersmith Flyover but 4 miles long!! Whether people are in their right mind or not, a heck of a lot of them use the Darwen - Blackburn route. Hey, how about all the Darreners working in Darwen and all the Blackburners stick to Blackburn - that WOULD solve the problem!! (joke!!) I mentioned Bridge Street being opened to traffic again. What a waste of space it is when some traders use the middle of the road to measure their products - there must be something wrong!! Your poiont about sneaking up past the Golden Fry, wherever that is, escapes me. We will have to see what or when the College is bu. However is running the Borough will have plenty of time to get it right - maybe the FOR DARWEN party will have an input? They could not gererate a website so what chance have they (At least I could not access it).We are a busy town with a lot of development going on - we will have to live with it but we can\'t blame the Council for bringing in new businesses and creating more jobs - surely that must be in their favour - and I am not a Socialist either!! Thee on!![/quote] try http://www.fordarwen.org.uk/

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Electoral commssion, hoddlesden says...
2:12am Sun 6 May 07

wasn't For Darwen asked to amend their website as they had an advertisement directly attributed to the elecotral commision on it which they had amendded, and yes I do know that they did not have the copyright so it could be shown, sailing close to the wind there??

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Rick, Springvale says...
1:36pm Sun 6 May 07

Thomas, the fact is that the traffic moves more slowly now than it did before so the changes are not an improvement.
Many roads are unnessarily closed so drivers are taking longer to get from A-B queueing to use bits of congested road which they do not need to be on in the first place.
Improvement is only such if it does more than make things look better.

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Alexander Gordon, Darwen. Lancs. says...
2:01pm Sun 6 May 07

I've been in Darwen since 1967 and it was a very nice Town, it had its own Buses, its own Mayor, its own Council and Council workers it was a very prosperous little town until 1974 when a Mayor(Lib) had the casting vote and what he did that night in the council chambers was to sell Darwen down the river when his casting vote took Darwen into Blackburn's hands and it was the worst thing that has ever happend or will ever happen to Darwen. So I think it will be a good thing that has happen to Darwen last Thursday night when a New Party got 2 people elected onto the Council + 1 who joined before the elections. I do not believe that "For Darwen" Party will reneged on any of there polices that they have promised so we could vote them in on Thursday, because if they did we could vote them off next time. So people should give them time to settle in etc not criticize as soon as they have been elected, there is an old saying "Nout quire than folk" and in some of the Comments people have put in it's true i.e. People want change but if it doesnt work right away they start to moaning etc so that is why I say give them a chance.

Yours sincerely
Mr A D Gordon

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devoted darwener, darwen says...
1:31pm Mon 7 May 07

having read these comments from people who claim to be proud of darwen etc etc how many of you can honestly say you shop in darwen, socialise in darwen, spend money in darwen, when i go shopping in darwen on a saturday its like a ghost town, shops, market traders and pubs and any other organisation need your support - don't people realise businesses wouldn't close down if you spent your money there, we now have a nice new pub the bridgewater lets hope darweners keep it open, i think darwen it looking quite smart though with the changes, the new road needs to be changed its far too dangerous for pedestrians and motorists alike around the post office and white lion area people are crossing all over to get to health centre and school some-one will get killed, the main road needs to re-opened to enable you to drive straight through and carry on up redearth road this would ease the congestion and also the shops would carry on getting passing trade. Who ever decided to put the heatlth centre were it is then design that road its madness. The old health centre should have been revamped or better still why not utilise the old technical college? Its a waste of tax payers money but on a good note im looking forward to the new leisure centre opening - oh yes you will need to cross that damned road again to get there! Well i feel better now ive got that off my chest!!! SPEND MONEY IN DARWEN

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thomas, Darwen says...
6:16pm Mon 7 May 07

jj wrote:
you got what you deserved, its not a labour council its a dictatorship. labour lost my vote and that of many others. Kay, Hollern, khan, and the rest of them can now start taking notice of the electorate.

To Rick of Springvale. You can contradict me if you like but I don't believe that the traffic moved faster when we had the double set of traffic lights. That is why the build-up of carbon monoxide was detected presumably. When the M65 spur at the boundary was built it took some time for the traffic light people to get them right. I hope the Post Office situation particularly and also the re-opening of Bridge Street will be re-examined. If people would stop complaining and get on to Blackburn with Darwen (Capita) Road Services they MAY take some notice. I certainly will and the last time I complained about a situation in Blackburn, things were done!!(Cardwell Place but I don't take credit for it - the new bridge at present being constructed caused them to have a re-think)

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Charlotte, Darwen says...
12:42pm Tue 8 May 07

Darwener wrote:
Only time will tell if things will change for Darwen. I'm not saying Tony wont do well for Darwen but things have been mentioned before in the past not only by labour but also conservatives and Lib Dem's and they have turned the other way and the things we was promised didn't turn up. I must say that even though Darwen should have equal rights as Blackburn while under the same council but What about the... * New Health Centre? * The New Leisure Centre? * The New Houses which have been built in the area? * The New Look Town Centre? We need ro thank Labour for those. Even though some people are against the Closures of these buildings and of knocking them down but we have to build for the future. How many of us without transport had to Travel to hospital to see a specialist? I have seen a number of specialists who have actually been seen at the New Health Centre which has saved me a great deal of money and time as what it would of cost to travel to the hospital to see the specialists. As for the new Leisure Centre, this will be accessable for the diabled and for the parents with push chairs. Many times I wanted to take my children swimming but couldnt due to having a push chair and having to lift the parm up the huge flight of stairs inside the building. The old leisure centre was accessable to gain enterance but once you was inside the building you couldnt get any further than the reception area. If anything like lifts was available this wasnt made clear to people like myself as I visited the Centre myself a number of times and no sign was seen. Lets face it how many people who used the Leisure Centre had to use steps? As for the swimming pool for what it costs for the repair to the leaking pool they may as well built a new leisure centre with access for diabled. Also new jomes in the area, lib dems made it clear they didn't want two gates to be demolished, but look at the beautiful houses with have been built in there place (which now a lib dem councillor has admitted to them looking nice). So maybe lib dems should look to the furture before speaking. So lets hope Tony and the For Darwen Partey can head Darwen in an even better direction.

I'm glad the For Darwen party won seats.
Labour have been no good for us.
They made a botched job of redoing the town centre, closed down a leisure centre before getting planning permission for a new one, and boarded up lots of houses for a school that might not even be going ahead!
Yay, go Darwen!

[quote][bold]Darwener[/bold] wrote: Only time will tell if things will change for Darwen. I'm not saying Tony wont do well for Darwen but things have been mentioned before in the past not only by labour but also conservatives and Lib Dem's and they have turned the other way and the things we was promised didn't turn up. I must say that even though Darwen should have equal rights as Blackburn while under the same council but What about the... * New Health Centre? * The New Leisure Centre? * The New Houses which have been built in the area? * The New Look Town Centre? We need ro thank Labour for those. Even though some people are against the Closures of these buildings and of knocking them down but we have to build for the future. How many of us without transport had to Travel to hospital to see a specialist? I have seen a number of specialists who have actually been seen at the New Health Centre which has saved me a great deal of money and time as what it would of cost to travel to the hospital to see the specialists. As for the new Leisure Centre, this will be accessable for the diabled and for the parents with push chairs. Many times I wanted to take my children swimming but couldnt due to having a push chair and having to lift the parm up the huge flight of stairs inside the building. The old leisure centre was accessable to gain enterance but once you was inside the building you couldnt get any further than the reception area. If anything like lifts was available this wasnt made clear to people like myself as I visited the Centre myself a number of times and no sign was seen. Lets face it how many people who used the Leisure Centre had to use steps? As for the swimming pool for what it costs for the repair to the leaking pool they may as well built a new leisure centre with access for diabled. Also new jomes in the area, lib dems made it clear they didn't want two gates to be demolished, but look at the beautiful houses with have been built in there place (which now a lib dem councillor has admitted to them looking nice). So maybe lib dems should look to the furture before speaking. So lets hope Tony and the For Darwen Partey can head Darwen in an even better direction. [/quote] I'm glad the For Darwen party won seats. Labour have been no good for us. They made a botched job of redoing the town centre, closed down a leisure centre before getting planning permission for a new one, and boarded up lots of houses for a school that might not even be going ahead! Yay, go Darwen!

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thomas, Darwen says...
8:25pm Tue 8 May 07

Well much to everyones relief I am going on holiday for a couple of weeks. I have already made my views known to BwD Info website i.e. that the traffic signal at the Post Office is the wrong type. Drivers can't see if it is on Red, Amber or Green so on approach from Bolton Road or Church St/Railway Road this could cause a pedestrian to be injured. It is OK on approaching from Blackburn direction. The other point was the re-examination of the opening of Bridge Street. It would spoil the pretty pavement outside the Millstone and the the bollards would have to be removed!! This would relieve the traffic in Hardman Way and allow direct access to Redearth Road and Sudell Road.
I hope that when I get back that "FOR DARWEN" and the traders of Bridge Street and any other interested bodies will have made some advances to the powers that be at BwD (Capita)to get the ball rolling.

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Darwener, Drawen says...
12:21am Wed 9 May 07

I'm glad the For Darwen party won seats.
Labour have been no good for us.
They made a botched job of redoing the town centre, closed down a leisure centre before getting planning permission for a new one, and boarded up lots of houses for a school that might not even be going ahead!
Yay, go Darwen!

And when Conservatives and Lib Dems have been in power they've never made any mistakes have they?

I grew up under a Conservative Gov and I like many have seen my parents struggle trying to make ends meet while working. I dont want to bring my children up in this world under a conservative Gov like I was.

I remember working and trying to make ends meet for my family on just working family tax credit, but not thankyou to Labour bringing in the Child Tax Credit a number of families I think would agree are far better of.

All parties make mastakes which is why if you read in an earlier post I put somewhere along the lines that they all make promises which they don't forfil and carry out... Am I right? There all the same no matter who is in and the For Darwen Party is a new one so lets sit back and see what they make of the Town and as also mentioned only time will tell! Correct!

We all vote for who we like and we all have a voice that needs to be heard which is why we vote for who we do, but not everyone can be pleased.

What about Blackburn? there are probably things labour have done in that town that lots of people are not pleased about... Not everyone can be pleased and to please everyone in life is a major task, correct? So lets all take a seat and see what the For Darwen Party do for us between now and the next voting day... Let them prove themselves that there worth the votes because this next 12 months is going to be a uphill task for them as a first time in for Darwen.

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Darwener, Darwen says...
12:24am Wed 9 May 07

Conservatives closed the Coal Mines didnt they, why? because the leader of the conservatives at the time her son was head or something in south africa which is why all business for coal was pointed in there direction... which made her son a very welthy man indeed as we know. So deep down it wasn't done for the British, it also wasnt done for south afric but for her own family.

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Cllr M Johnson. FOR DARWEN PARTY, Darwen says...
10:33am Wed 9 May 07

Why is it so hard for some people to understand the democratic process we have in this country? The For Darwen Party Fought on local issues, is it our fault that the Labour Party faild to meet the needs of the people of the town? Labour lost seats because they railroaded plans through the council,
(because they could). The problem is they failed to fullfill the promises they made, also they did not consult with the people of Darwen fully. This can be proven by the numbers of people who objected at the meetings held, yet they still went ahead with what they wanted to do. Let's be honest with each other, Labour lost the seats in Darwen because the Labour voters lost faith in the party they supported. For Darwen did at no time attack any other candidate or smear any other party, Yet Labour attacked the for Darwen candidates with gutter politics and outright lies. This has been made public and reported to the council. In the forth comming weeks Darwen for the first time will have a fair crack of the whip, no more back door policies because
For Darwen will be in a position to stop the wholesale destruction of areas of the town. The job For Darwen have to do is rectifie the problems we have in the town and make sure the investment we have is used to take our town forward. We are not questioning the funding but we are asking why the people of the town have not been listened to. Renovation, relocation, accountability, consultation and coheasion in Darwen. If we follow these points we will make a change in Darwen. We at For Darwen do not want a return to the Dark ages we want a new vibrant Darwen one that all the residents of our town can be proud of. We are no longer going to be the little brother of Blackburn, we are equal to Blackburn this is why it should be Blackburn & Darwen. When the books open in the council we will for the first time in over 19 years be able to see what the spending ratio is between Balckburn And Darwen. Let's see who is sitting uncomfortable in their seats now. Power can be a very dangerous thing when you have had it for a long time. For Darwen are looking forward to a brighter future for Darwen and the Darwen people.

Why is it so hard for some people to understand the democratic process we have in this country? The For Darwen Party Fought on local issues, is it our fault that the Labour Party faild to meet the needs of the people of the town? Labour lost seats because they railroaded plans through the council, (because they could). The problem is they failed to fullfill the promises they made, also they did not consult with the people of Darwen fully. This can be proven by the numbers of people who objected at the meetings held, yet they still went ahead with what they wanted to do. Let's be honest with each other, Labour lost the seats in Darwen because the Labour voters lost faith in the party they supported. For Darwen did at no time attack any other candidate or smear any other party, Yet Labour attacked the for Darwen candidates with gutter politics and outright lies. This has been made public and reported to the council. In the forth comming weeks Darwen for the first time will have a fair crack of the whip, no more back door policies because For Darwen will be in a position to stop the wholesale destruction of areas of the town. The job For Darwen have to do is rectifie the problems we have in the town and make sure the investment we have is used to take our town forward. We are not questioning the funding but we are asking why the people of the town have not been listened to. Renovation, relocation, accountability, consultation and coheasion in Darwen. If we follow these points we will make a change in Darwen. We at For Darwen do not want a return to the Dark ages we want a new vibrant Darwen one that all the residents of our town can be proud of. We are no longer going to be the little brother of Blackburn, we are equal to Blackburn this is why it should be Blackburn & Darwen. When the books open in the council we will for the first time in over 19 years be able to see what the spending ratio is between Balckburn And Darwen. Let's see who is sitting uncomfortable in their seats now. [bold]Power can be a very dangerous thing when you have had it for a long time.[/bold] For Darwen are looking forward to a brighter future for Darwen and the Darwen people.

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M Evans, Darwen says...
12:01pm Thu 10 May 07

WELL DONE Tony and the FOR Darwen Party!
I lived in quite a nice area on Harwood Street until the so called regeneration scheme! Our area now looks like a run down, uncared for s**thole!!
4 years I have waited for Labours promises to be fulfilled on the regeneration of Harwood Street. Only to now be told our house is not going to be given the facelift promised!! All I ever asked for was a YES or NO decision on my property so I could continue the improvements myself.
We were told firstly we may be demolished? We were then told that as soon as Nicholas St. was completed work would be done on our property.
I was then told by Cllr. Dave Smith our property would be facelifted BUT, within the next twelve years and I should be grateful the council are spending the money on my house!!!
I said "don't you think we have waited long enough"?
He then said the money had been moved to start work on the St. Peters area or funding would have been lost!
I told Dave Smith in no uncertain words how I felt and that Labour should not come looking for my vote come election time! to which he replied "If Labour do not get in, you may not get anything done"! Well Dave I was quite happy to take that chance!!
Tony Melia has asked the question on our behalf and informed me that the council have completely 'U' turned and are not going to continue with the facelift to our property! Well done Blackburn ANDDarwen Council for nothing!
A meeting is to be arranged with Harwood Street Residents and the council on what is now to be done in our area.
Thanks to Tony Melia, Trevor Maxfield & The For Darwen Party for taking an interest in our issues. More than our local labour councillors did!

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Martin Evans, Darwen says...
12:39pm Thu 10 May 07

Concerned of Darwen wrote:

Viv wrote:
In the words of my daughter Darwen has been set back 10 years. For Darwen are nothing of the sort, everything they say is against Darwen - they want to see Darwen back in the dark ages. It now has a bunch of councillors including an ex right wing councillor, an ex BNP organiser and an ex Blackburn Lib Dem parliamentary candidate - if he cared so much about Darwen why did he want to be MP for Blackburn. I want to see a forward thinking council who have a vision for improving the lives of local people - what happened last night is a travesty for the whole borough.
At last somebody else who is suspicious of this lot!

At least Viv gave a name! Be it only their first!
I think before people slander the name of another person, they should at the least have the fortitude to give theirs! This includes 'Concerned of Darwen' and 'unbelievable'!
I hope the people concerned get to know your names and sue the pants off you all!
Keep forgetting what a RIGHTEOUS past local council leaders and Goverment have!
GET A GRIP!

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MA, UK says...
3:31pm Fri 11 May 07

Ged Melia wrote:
I am Tony Melia's brother and unlike 'unbelievable' I'm prepared to say who I am. What I would like to say is that Anthony, Tony, has shown a keen interest in Darwen for many years. He's contributed to the community as an active member of Darwen Rotary, a local school and employs local people in his DARWEN based business. The only 'something of the night' I can think of is his standing as a WHITE KNIGHT. In my interactions with him and his colleagues they have shown nothing but a genuine interest on the concerns of Darwen people and their election is a clear reflection of the very strong feelings that Darwen people have about not having quality representation. Unlike 'unbelievable' he has stood up to literally be counted. Both he and his colleagues are the start of a movement to arrest the apparent inexorable decline experienced by Darwen over a series of (predominantly Labour) administrations. It looks to me like the fight back movement has begun!

Keen as being annoyed that he didn't get in the first time??? I think Mr Melia is in it for the power - doubt he will do much!!

PS Rach you should have stood instead of the ones with BNP and Eng First Connections. I take your point that we want whats best for Darwen, but I wouldn't want to be associated with ppl like that - it gives off the impression that Melia was in it for power and nothing more. Hey prove me wrong, but I think most of the changes will come from the Councillors who have worked hard for years in opposition and never close their doors to any queries even if it is not in their ward, we know who those Darwen councillors ate they like the colour yellow (thank you for working for Dawen the Lib Dems - you are the true for darwen party) , I just hope Tony Melia doesn't try and take that credit away from the ppl that actual deserve it.

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neil, darwen says...
8:56pm Fri 11 May 07

good points, I too think Melia was in it for the power, he knew he had found a niche yet to be exploited with for Darwen. I hope he does the things he promised, but KNOW he won't! I'm not a Lib-Dem and to be honest, don't agree with all the last commetns, but I do feel that a vote for them would serve Darwen better than a Melia vote, but there we go. How low though can Rigby and Foster go to ally themselves with a former member of EF and another questionable character in Earcroft. I'm a little disappointed that these people, the same people who openly criticised this person in the past are now willing to work with him in order to get power. scrupples in politics, I don't think so.........
I also find it hard to believe that some of the Darwen Lib-Dems will accpet working with Mr Meila, considering the very 'interesting' language and comments I have heard from their lips regarding him in the past few weeks.

Think I'll move somewhere where the politics have a little more morality....... Zimbabwe anyone?

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MA, UK says...
10:13pm Fri 11 May 07

It's a simple choice - work with Labour who have proved to be a waste of time with their BAD management skills and their constant filling their ears with tissues!! Or do the Lib Dems join up with Cons and For Darwen and get their agenda accross - which I have every faith in their leader Cllr Foster to do. He has shown the upmost integrity and intellect throughout his many years as a councillors (not bed hopping to party which suited him), and the electorate respect him for that. If their were more councillors like him and his wife (and from what I have seen the other Lib Dem councillors are following good suit) then to be honest Darwen and Blackburn would be a wonderful Borough. The problem is the Lib Dems did not have any executive power on the cabinet as this was dictated by Labour.

Lets give the coalition a chance - there is no perfect world in politics, I think they are making the right choice. You either have Labour in power which is a no go, have the Chief Exec Graham Burgess in charge (who is not even elected) or you have this coallition which might work.

For Darwen are the smallest no. in the coallition so I am sure their EF and BNP connections will fall on deaf ears.

Good luck for the Borough

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MA, UK says...
10:14pm Fri 11 May 07

It's a simple choice - work with Labour who have proved to be a waste of time with their BAD management skills and their constant filling their ears with tissues!! Or do the Lib Dems join up with Cons and For Darwen and get their agenda accross - which I have every faith in their leader Cllr Foster to do. He has shown the upmost integrity and intellect throughout his many years as a councillors (not bed hopping to party which suited him), and the electorate respect him for that. If their were more councillors like him and his wife (and from what I have seen the other Lib Dem councillors are following good suit) then to be honest Darwen and Blackburn would be a wonderful Borough. The problem is the Lib Dems did not have any executive power on the cabinet as this was dictated by Labour.

Lets give the coalition a chance - there is no perfect world in politics, I think they are making the right choice. You either have Labour in power which is a no go, have the Chief Exec Graham Burgess in charge (who is not even elected) or you have this coallition which might work.

For Darwen are the smallest no. in the coallition so I am sure their EF and BNP connections will fall on deaf ears.

Good luck for the Borough

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MA, UK says...
10:15pm Fri 11 May 07

It's a simple choice - work with Labour who have proved to be a waste of time with their BAD management skills and their constant filling their ears with tissues!! Or do the Lib Dems join up with Cons and For Darwen and get their agenda accross - which I have every faith in their leader Cllr Foster to do. He has shown the upmost integrity and intellect throughout his many years as a councillors (not bed hopping to party which suited him), and the electorate respect him for that. If their were more councillors like him and his wife (and from what I have seen the other Lib Dem councillors are following good suit) then to be honest Darwen and Blackburn would be a wonderful Borough. The problem is the Lib Dems did not have any executive power on the cabinet as this was dictated by Labour.

Lets give the coalition a chance - there is no perfect world in politics, I think they are making the right choice. You either have Labour in power which is a no go, have the Chief Exec Graham Burgess in charge (who is not even elected) or you have this coallition which might work.

For Darwen are the smallest no. in the coallition so I am sure their EF and BNP connections will fall on deaf ears.

Good luck for the Borough

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MA, UK says...
10:26pm Fri 11 May 07

It's a simple choice - work with Labour who have proved to be a waste of time with their BAD management skills and their constant filling their ears with tissues!! Or do the Lib Dems join up with Cons and For Darwen and get their agenda accross - which I have every faith in their leader Cllr Foster to do. He has shown the upmost integrity and intellect throughout his many years as a councillors (not bed hopping to party which suited him), and the electorate respect him for that. If their were more councillors like him and his wife (and from what I have seen the other Lib Dem councillors are following good suit) then to be honest Darwen and Blackburn would be a wonderful Borough. The problem is the Lib Dems did not have any executive power on the cabinet as this was dictated by Labour.

Lets give the coalition a chance - there is no perfect world in politics, I think they are making the right choice. You either have Labour in power which is a no go, have the Chief Exec Graham Burgess in charge (who is not even elected) or you have this coallition which might work.

For Darwen are the smallest no. in the coallition so I am sure their EF and BNP connections will fall on deaf ears.

Good luck for the Borough

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neil, darwen says...
2:08am Sat 12 May 07

ok, the fct that the for darwen parties EF and BNP connections will fall on deaf ears is largely irrelevant to me, they still have them!!! the for darwen party consists of 3 elected members, 1 of which is former EF, one former BNP and the other frmer LIBDEM! I am confused as to the previous post about the comment regarding libdem councillors, although I agree they don't swap parties so readily ( P Browne, D Foster) Tony Melia DID just that, yet still the LibDems work with him. To say LibDem councillors don't bedhop is a little hypocritical don't you think, considering! Mr Browne said quite recently in a conversation with myself that there was NO way he could EVER work with Mr Melia (former LibDEM PARLIAMENTARY candidate for.......BLACKBURN!!!!) Several LibDem councillors, recently, have not been elected as LibDem coucillors, but have 'defected' shortly afterwards, are we to see the same quite soon with For Darwen?

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MA, UK says...
9:47am Sat 12 May 07

I think the Lib Dems will take example from their leader.
It is a concern that EF and BNP are in their, but ppl of Darwen elected them so you have to work them (**** I know).
But I reiterate my points above you have to make a choice and there isn't one ideal choice up there, I think the coallition is the best option.

PS I am shocked that if you spoke to Browne he didn't convince you to be a Lib Dem - lol

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jacki, Darwen says...
8:20am Tue 15 May 07

Please tell me where the Lib Dems came from? Silly of me i forgot they formed as a breakaway from other party,s. By the way why have you not mentioned that Cllr Johnson & Maxfield and Mr Meleady stood for Darwen independents in 2004. LIB DEM Roy Davis changed his vievs and jumped into bed with the lib dems after he could not get elected as an independent. So please do not give me the B.S about For Darwen all it sounds like is the Labour Group whining that For Darwen had by far the best turn out in Darwen that is why the won Two and Nearly took 4 so who is kidding who the people of Darwen know these men that is why they walked their wards and came second in Two.

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derek, Blackburn says...
1:39pm Tue 15 May 07

looking at the last letter, I would say that For Darwen should be concentrating on education for the people of Darwen, it looks as though the they need it!

PS: step 1: paper and pen rather than slate and chalk

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Alank, Rochdale says...
7:15pm Fri 18 May 07

Why is it so many detractors of the results fall back on the old "we're not sure of their politics and cannot be bothered to find out, so they and their policies must be from the far right no matter what their political affiliations now ?"
Surely the prime aim of democracy allows people the choice of party to vote for and if the politics of the winner (or winners) are found distasteful to some then maybe the losers should listen to and address the concerns of the changed voters ready for the next election, isn't that what democracy is ?
And (I don't know for certain) would it really suprise anyone if the story about the flyers going out making derogatory comments about the candidate on the morning of the election was true ? Aren't they all a bit pathetic and sad, willing to do anything to gain a bit of power ?

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paul, darwen says...
9:41pm Tue 29 May 07

cllr michael Johnson wrote:
EFP/BNP what has that got to do with For Darwen. I am a Darrener, i supported Darwen independence in 84, i formed Darwen independents 2004 and fought the elections. Now i am with like minded people who support the town they care for. For Darwen is for the people of Darwen, our job is now to resolve the problems that Blackburn has left us with.

you are not what you seem, and ive seen the other side of you Mr scuba diver.

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ale, darwen says...
12:33am Fri 8 Jun 07

what is the Mr Scuba Diver thing then? love to hear what the oh so holy Cllr Johnsn has been upto!!! Please, feel free to let at least me in on it!

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