Fantastic.

Capita out - Tories In!

Labour --
Soft on crime
Soft on immigration
No spine when it comes to standing up for British people

Your days are numbered

BYE BYE

It is about time we stood up and told the big three we are not happy

Free Blackburn Parking!

Two Tracks to Manchester!

Vote Meteroff for Mayor.

Well done Phil & For Darwen

Goodbye Kevin Connor - we said we would remember who authorised our pay cuts!! Never mind - Colin Rigby will offer you debt counselling for your loss of expenses ;o)

Another sad day for Blackburnians.

It will be interesting to see who will really be running the council.

With the likelihood of another coalition, both the tories and the libdems will be sucking up big time to the For Darwen motley crew.

A classic case of the tail wagging the dog I think.

Vote for an independant Blackburn I say. The Darweners are taking our money and our jobs, now they are trying to run our town ... send them back where they belong

I say well done to the For Darwen party. They were the only party to canvass in my area (Earcroft) and set a POSITIVE agenda. Their ideas may be a bit fantastical, but at least they are trying to set a more ambitious agenda for the people of Darwen. Obviously that was good enough for the voters of Earcroft, who won't be sad to say goodbye to the ineffectual ex-Cllr Barrett.

Well done to For Darwen Party. Now is the time to start a For Blackburn party and deal with issues special to B'burn above party polotics

OK - Darwen sub - area 7 North - eat your heart out This is for the folk from Redearth, the stupid death trap of a one err.. two no make that three way system you imposed on our town! the City of Darwen strikes back!

Area 7 - Darwen North (o/w Capita City).
This one was for all the people of Redearth and the stupid 3 way system you imposed on our town centre. The City of Darwen strikes back. Who needs independence when we've go a whole town -sorry area)working for us!

Alan, you have the right idea... It's only when the For Darwen Party formed that the real issues have come onto the agenda... As for Dave Smith in the Sunnyhurst ward, he did'nt help himself by having a clearly pi55ed alocholic sat in the reception of Holy Trinity asking for our polling number?.. Any undecided voters would have soon made the right choice!

Sad to see a hard working local Councillor like Dave Smith lose his seat as a result of the unpopularity of the Labour government.

He was always around in the Sunnyhurst area taking up people's problems and complaints. And, whether you agreed with him or not, he never left you in doubt what he thought about things. Perhaps people really prefer spin.

So the New Labour fascists have clung onto yet another term in the Shadsworth area.
I have heard nothing but fire and brimstone from the residents here in regards to our completely useless and redundant NuLab councillors,but amazingly,like a pitbull with a ten seconds attention span,they unbelieveably vote them in yet again,with no thought as to how we have been repeatedly let down in the past.
I truly despair for this god-forsaken area.
Gangs of hoodies prowling the streets,drug dealers given free reign,all of this old news to the residents,but yet again they vote in the people who could not really give a toss.
You deserve everything that you are going to get in the near future,residents of Shadsworth...

Well done to For Darwen, a supreme example of local politics. About time the arrogance of some of those long standing malingerers got well and truly checked.

A sad day for Darwen and Sunnyhurst in particular. Lets see how much work your new Cllrs really do. You'll soon realise how much Dave Smith did - as they saying goes - you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.

Just wondering in what way was stating my opinion that my new council representative is ineffective waste of space not allowed on this site.

Or is the Telegraph really *that* much under the For Darwen thumb?

well done the good people of the fernhurst ward ..... labour tried to farm us out to darwen, as for somebofy from the 'far darwen' party standing ..... please!

Well done to For Darwen, its about time people in the Borough finally see how bad the council has treat Darwen over the years, the town's traders are losing their lively hoods because of Blackburn council's incompetance... At least the voice of Darwen will finally be heard in Council chambers!

Well the voters of Darwen really deserve what they get now, voting in a tin pot party like the "For Darwen Party". Ok I am a conservative, but Counciller David Smith has given 22 years of excellent service to Darwen he has always put the interests of his ward above party politics and served our ward with much aplomb and dignaty. Lets see what happens now?

Yes Unconvinced, i was always impressed at ex-Cllr Dave Smiths views being expressed in ale houses across the darwen area. He can now spend a few years out trying to understand why the people of darwen have booted him out with his band of socialist lunatics. Perhaps they may even learn how to listen and be humble in opposition...but i won't hold my breath.

See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

AUDLEY
BEARDWOOD WITH LAMMACK
LITTLE HARWOOD
QUEEN'S PARK
SHEAR BROW
WENSLEY FOLD

None of the above areas surprises me that New Labour have held on to their seats,as it is in the residential populations' interests to keep New Labour in power,but what I find somewhat surprising is:

HIGHERCROFT
MILL HILL
SHADSWORTH WITH WHITEBIRK

I would have hoped that as the three above areas have been let down and deserted by New Labour,even a vote for the Conservatives might,just might ,have been worth at least ONE shot!
The whole of Blackburn has suffered at the hands of Neo-Labour for more years that I care to remember,but just like a dirty,fithy bad penny,they turn up again.
What on earth were you voters REALLY thinking?!Just like the post from the Shadsworth resident illicited above;they have let us all down time after time after time!I recall something I heard in relation to the British public's understanding of political parties,and it goes something like:'We have been crapped on so many times by politicians,that now,we just think that it's a light shower of rain...'
I think that may be closer to the truth should this inept government still be here after the next National Elections...
VOTE WISELY.

b wrote:
See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

You objected to a play area????

*shakes head* you can't please some people. Would you have prefered a homeless hostel or a drug rehab centre.

Of all the reasons to vote against someone this was yours.

I am a Labour supporter but its time we had a new face in Bastwell,Labour had the chance to sort the area out but failed,Parvez likes to sit in his nest but Rizwan&Sajid please sort the area out wich is neglected for Decades by Labour councilors.

A bad, bad day for both towns, NOC councils achieve only the agenda of the smallest representatives,ie For Darwen, who will achieve their agenda of promoting Ted Ward, at the expense of Blackburnians and darrenners real concerns. Darwen is being wrecked becaude of the disunity in the Borough the two tows should pull together to acheive things for the whole borough and Darreners should acnowledge that they are not traeted as badly as the Darrener Nespaper makes out. T H I N K F O R Y O U R S E L V E S !

Jim Royle wrote:
Yes Unconvinced, i was always impressed at ex-Cllr Dave Smiths views being expressed in ale houses across the darwen area. He can now spend a few years out trying to understand why the people of darwen have booted him out with his band of socialist lunatics. Perhaps they may even learn how to listen and be humble in opposition...but i won't hold my breath.

What? A councillor who goes into pubs? Disgraceful! No wonder you got rid of him.

GP wrote:

b wrote: See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

You objected to a play area???? *shakes head* you can't please some people. Would you have prefered a homeless hostel or a drug rehab centre. Of all the reasons to vote against someone this was yours.

Do you want to live next to a football/basketball court where all the local teenagers congrigate? I can't even watch TV without hearing a constant bang, bang, bang or having a football bounce up against the front of the house. Maybee you should come and live here. Originally it was suppossed to be a set of swings and a slide for the little ones before the Labour Council stepped in and changed it to a basketballl court, before this I did not object to it at all. See there's more to some situations than you think.

This is in response to the remarks on Page 16 of Thursday's LT.

Blackburn town centre will not be a busy area again till:

The market and fish market are up and running again.

There is free parking for those who wish to shop there.
******************

People who wish to take their cars into town are not welcome, so they will go shopping in towns where there is free parking - eg Darwen.

I walk into town from Buncer Lane and the amount of rubbish on the streets that lead into the town centre is a disgrace.

If I wish to catch the bus home with my shopping, I have to walk to the furtherst bus stop on the boulevard - across from the railway statio; or at the bottom of Montague Street.

b wrote:

GP wrote:

b wrote: See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

You objected to a play area???? *shakes head* you can't please some people. Would you have prefered a homeless hostel or a drug rehab centre. Of all the reasons to vote against someone this was yours.

Do you want to live next to a football/basketball court where all the local teenagers congrigate? I can't even watch TV without hearing a constant bang, bang, bang or having a football bounce up against the front of the house. Maybee you should come and live here. Originally it was suppossed to be a set of swings and a slide for the little ones before the Labour Council stepped in and changed it to a basketballl court, before this I did not object to it at all. See there's more to some situations than you think.

I'd prefer the teenagers in my area congregating at a basketball court outside my house giving them something to do than what I currently have - Local teens gathering outside the working mens club getting pi$$ed out of their faces, thinking its funny to use my car as a climbing frame, fighting and shouting 'til all hours. I'd love for it to be a ball bouncing bothering me.

I think yours is a classic situation of 'not in my back yard' and have no idea how bad things really could be.

I very nearly didnt vote yesterday but given the close result in the ewood ward im pleased i did!.

wheres highercroft in bburn? they seem to be getting alot of bnp votes in that area only

Councillor Dave Smith helped me and my family many times in the past. I'm sorry to see him lose his seat. he was always happy to help us out.

a resident of wrote:
well done the good people of the fernhurst ward ..... labour tried to farm us out to darwen, as for somebofy from the \'far darwen\' party standing ..... please!

Why shouldn't a "For Darwen" candidate stand in Fernhurst. When the ward was created, it encompassed the north of Earcroft and all of Lower Darwen, which has always considered itself to be part of Darwen, not the hole that is Blackburn. Well done "For Darwen" for giving us Darreners a voice !!!!

GP wrote:

b wrote:

GP wrote:

b wrote: See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

You objected to a play area???? *shakes head* you can't please some people. Would you have prefered a homeless hostel or a drug rehab centre. Of all the reasons to vote against someone this was yours.

Do you want to live next to a football/basketball court where all the local teenagers congrigate? I can't even watch TV without hearing a constant bang, bang, bang or having a football bounce up against the front of the house. Maybee you should come and live here. Originally it was suppossed to be a set of swings and a slide for the little ones before the Labour Council stepped in and changed it to a basketballl court, before this I did not object to it at all. See there's more to some situations than you think.

I'd prefer the teenagers in my area congregating at a basketball court outside my house giving them something to do than what I currently have - Local teens gathering outside the working mens club getting pi$$ed out of their faces, thinking its funny to use my car as a climbing frame, fighting and shouting 'til all hours. I'd love for it to be a ball bouncing bothering me. I think yours is a classic situation of 'not in my back yard' and have no idea how bad things really could be.

Excuse me for wanting a better quality of life.

ghel wrote:
wheres highercroft in bburn? they seem to be getting alot of bnp votes in that area only

I think you know EXACTLY where Highercroft is...
A hell(boy)hole a little up the road from myself...Don't take the mickey out of them,ghel ,as they are only normal folk just like yourself.
Shadsworth were not given the option to vote BNP this time around simply because there is no direct 'threat' from New Labour's open door policy at the moment.
We have a number of Eastern European drunks up here,but other than that,it's not a real problem right now...but only for right now,you understand...AFTER that,I shudder to think...

Hellboy wrote:

ghel wrote: wheres highercroft in bburn? they seem to be getting alot of bnp votes in that area only

I think you know EXACTLY where Highercroft is... A hell(boy)hole a little up the road from myself...Don\\\'t take the mickey out of them,ghel ,as they are only normal folk just like yourself. Shadsworth were not given the option to vote BNP this time around simply because there is no direct \\\'threat\\\' from New Labour\\\'s open door policy at the moment. We have a number of Eastern European drunks up here,but other than that,it\\\'s not a real problem right now...but only for right now,you understand...AFTER that,I shudder to think...

hellboy im just wondering because of the amount of bnp votes they got there, im asian myself and i regularly visit the shads leisure centre, ive never had any problems

Shame on you Sunnyhurst voters for getting rid of Dave Smith. I've never voted Labour in my life and probably never will. But if I lived in Dave Smith's ward I'd have certainly broken the habit. You must all be mad. Good luck to young Andrew who could perhaps polish his introductions. "Hiyay'awright?" isn't cool me old son. A voice for Darwen from the For Darwen Party. I really don't think any of 'em will have much to say for themselves. Anyway Dave. good luck. Don't lose heart. Sit back for a bit and watch the fun. Pity it's our money they'll be wasting.

I will miss Dave Smith. Whenever you asked for his help - he leapt into action, sorted it and kept you informed at all times.
A tough act to follow

For Darwen this,For Darwen that,cut Darwen loose and see how they go on,lets have two seperate towns and save all this ****.

Dave Smith may have been a good councillor locally but he also suffered from the nasty afflication many Labour councillors under Bill Taylor's administration came down with: arrogance.
It's one thing to believe what you are doing it is right, it is quite another to make those who disagree with you feel stupid and isolated. With Dave Smith, this was most obvious when he was involved with planning meetings.
With that arrogance comes a habit of spending too much time in the Town Hall. Bill Taylor paid for that in Audley, and it is the very reason while Gail Barton lost in Mill Hill also.
Under Kate Hollern, Labour may have lost control but they have learnt they can't take the vote for granted.
What should Colin Rigby do now? In an ideal world, the party with the most votes should take charge with the part with second-highest number of votes. Could a Lab-Con partnership work? It would be much safer for Cllr Rigby, and, in all honestly, is he running the town hall that differently from the way Cllr Hollern ran it?

The success of the For Darwen Party has effectively knocked them out of any hope they had of wielding much influence. They won two Labour seats (yes they won a LibDem seat as well but the LibDems won one in Blackburn). Previously we had a "coalition" in which the For Darwen Party were integral to power. But now the Tories and the LibDems have control as an alliance. They have 29 seats to Labour's 27. Surely the FDP (5 seats) will not side with Labour? An alliance wouldn't need FD support to keep Labour out of the way.. Where Michael Johnson and the other two independents figure in all this is hard to figure. Finally, Dave Smith: sorry you were spun out. Probably the best ward councillor Darwen has had for yonks.

ghel wrote:
wheres highercroft in bburn? they seem to be getting alot of bnp votes in that area only

It's a big estate up above Ewood Park: used to be called Higher Croft when I was younger (i.e. two words, not one).

Well I'm fed up with the lot of 'em. I have now officially declared myself as Leader of Blackburn with Darwen and invite you all to join me at www.breakawayrepubli
x.com (search for Blackburn and Darwen separately).

Come on... Let's show 'em!!!

Noy a single Tory V Lib Dem ballot anywhere in the borough, and they say it`s just a coincidence or shoud that be a FARCE.

I think it`s time to take party politics out of Local Government, and make every cadidate stand on his own principals " if they can find any with principals"

I would just like to congradulate the people of Sunnyhurst for the sterling job we did in voting out of office the biggest TRAITOR to the people,Darwen has ever had the misfortune of being lumbered with.

Dave Smith

No sooner did he evict people from their homes on redearth, they evicted him from his Sunnyhurst seat leaving him around a minimum of £10,000 in expenses out of pocket. Poetic justice Dave ha ha ha

I will be celebrating your loss tonight with a few beers,thinking about next year when we remove Dave Hollings cos he's next!!!

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Dave, really sorry that you've lost, tragedy for us all, especially the labour party. gsb

GP wrote:
The success of the For Darwen Party has effectively knocked them out of any hope they had of wielding much influence. They won two Labour seats (yes they won a LibDem seat as well but the LibDems won one in Blackburn). Previously we had a "coalition" in which the For Darwen Party were integral to power. But now the Tories and the LibDems have control as an alliance. They have 29 seats to Labour's 27. Surely the FDP (5 seats) will not side with Labour? An alliance wouldn't need FD support to keep Labour out of the way.. Where Michael Johnson and the other two independents figure in all this is hard to figure. Finally, Dave Smith: sorry you were spun out. Probably the best ward councillor Darwen has had for yonks.

As you say GP 'surely for Darwen won't side with Labour?'
Don't hold your breath.
as for the independants Michael Johnson has shown how fickle he can be in the past.
I hope For Darwen stick to the principles by which they got elected.
People don't seem to care or don't trust any of the councillors, this shows by the amount of people voting - onlt two wards had just over 50% of eligible people voting, with 3 wards less than 30%. Does anyone think people should be compelled to vote?
And I bet it's the ones who didn't vote that will be complaining and whining no matter what happens with the coalition.

PS. I hope that fellow Darweners who do not support the idea of a Town Council get of their butt and make their views known if and when we get a referendum with the true facts and options and costs

LT:It is likely For Darwen leader Tony Melia will now demand a bigger role for his party on the council's ruling executive board.

Speaking after the count, he suggested a coalition would again be formed, adding: "We will be pretty much the same as before, only bigger."

Who would like to place a bet that the bigger role on the executive board Cllr Melia would want are positions on planning or anything else that revolves around business regeneration. I bet they won't be interested in childrens services or adult social care etc.
Or maybe I'm just a little too cynical

For me David Smith lost the plot over the closure of Sunnyhurst Post Office. He came round a few Sunday afternoon's ago along with Janet Anderson MP and Dave Hollings. I thought, well there go two hypocrites (?) "We don't want it to close" then she voted for the party line in Parliament and he "sat on his hands locally. That is what local elections are for - local issues, never mind the 10p tax. That is Mr GB our sullen, sulky PMs doing. In a way I am sorry to see David go but there is always another day but I hope not!!

When it comes to national politics, I would certainly not vote Labour. But those in Sunnyhurst who have allowed a brainwashed schoolboy to oust an experienced Councillor who really does care about his community should hang their head in shame. Wait until you need help and he will be as invisible as his mentor!!

Whilst most of the old guard are still there, there will be little change. It is all about prestige expenses and having people call you councillor, getting your picture in the paper, no bad thing for those running their own busineses, then there is the chance to go to far waway places with strange sounding names on fact finding missions and wandering around the town hall into places that the general poll tax paying public are not allowed, then there is the chance of free meals, free to the councillor that is.
As for answering e-mails from constuents, say from people who object to planning applications then there is always the cop out "I can't say anything I am on the planning committee so I can't comment" So the constituent is only worth representing when elections come around, you then get the faithful few to stuff pamphlets through letterboxes telling everyone what a great job you are doing, but don't knock on doors in case a LOCAL issue is presented to you that you have managed to ignore for the past couple of years, and that is it really have a prosperous year

Blackburn Lad wrote:
Another sad day for Blackburnians. It will be interesting to see who will really be running the council. With the likelihood of another coalition, both the tories and the libdems will be sucking up big time to the For Darwen motley crew. A classic case of the tail wagging the dog I think. Vote for an independant Blackburn I say. The Darweners are taking our money and our jobs, now they are trying to run our town ... send them back where they belong

An independant Blackburn vote will be welcomed by us in Darwen, we can separate from your council and we have the nerve and backbone to be independant ourselves...Thank You for your comment!

well done and congratulations to joe smith.

Iqbal wrote:
I am a Labour supporter but its time we had a new face in Bastwell,Labour had the chance to sort the area out but failed,Parvez likes to sit in his nest but Rizwan&Sajid please sort the area out wich is neglected for Decades by Labour councilors.

What are you on about Iqbal? Neglegted for decades? I remember when Bastwell and the surounding wards were decent places to live before they became overspill areas for pakistan and bangladesh, and that wasn't decades ago. You're right though it needs sorting. Lets start with you and your ilk, ie. the people who are causing the problems. Lets start by demolishing and landscaping the eyesore on Ash St. Then all the bazars which are obstructing the pavements etc. etc.....then illegal parking... I could go on all night but you know what I mean.

Did I hear someone say we couldnt do it? Well wake up an smell the roses. A lot of you feeling sorry for Dave Smith but as a Darwen councillor he should have been fighting in the corner with his constituents who voted for him. Let`s be right about one thing - where was his voice when they took people out of their homes to build an accademy? (YET TO SEE IT) a logical thinking person would have built new houses an THEN started proceedings to move people out -LEGALLY.The labour council have walked all over the borough for too many years AND got away with it. They have continued to wreck Blackburn and spend a fortune on peices of scrap metal to stick in the middle of rounabouts and on church street and now they are doing it in Darwen. A traffic system that beggars belief and take a look along the A666 Blackburn Road and see all the carbon that`s queued up trying to travel through the centre of Darwen. I sincerely hope we don`t feel sorry for any of the Labour councillors because THEY NEVER FELT SORRY FOR US - THE VOTERS WHO TRUSTED THEM.

JIMBO wrote:
Did I hear someone say we couldnt do it? Well wake up an smell the roses. A lot of you feeling sorry for Dave Smith but as a Darwen councillor he should have been fighting in the corner with his constituents who voted for him. Let`s be right about one thing - where was his voice when they took people out of their homes to build an accademy? (YET TO SEE IT) a logical thinking person would have built new houses an THEN started proceedings to move people out -LEGALLY.The labour council have walked all over the borough for too many years AND got away with it. They have continued to wreck Blackburn and spend a fortune on peices of scrap metal to stick in the middle of rounabouts and on church street and now they are doing it in Darwen. A traffic system that beggars belief and take a look along the A666 Blackburn Road and see all the carbon that`s queued up trying to travel through the centre of Darwen. I sincerely hope we don`t feel sorry for any of the Labour councillors because THEY NEVER FELT SORRY FOR US - THE VOTERS WHO TRUSTED THEM.

Canvassers at my door, I won't say who, said Tony Melia was evil and only in it for the power...Did they explain why they said that?...No... It could be said those canvassers were evil then, trying to sway my vote their way and also the power that comes with it I suppose...but what power, the only one I know is seeing our people happy with smiles on their faces. If the For Darwen Party have this in mind they will need support and I congratulate them. Instead of stupid bickering, lets get together on a true coalition and make our borough the best.

Very sad to see David Smith lose . I just hope we don't live to regret it . As said by others . He's always been there for the people of Sunnyhurst , very helpful and friendly .These sentiments are also echoed by my family .

Alan Barnes wrote:
Well done to For Darwen Party. Now is the time to start a For Blackburn party and deal with issues special to B'burn above party polotics

Go ahead then Alan. Get on with it. Put up or shut up.

Unconvinced wrote:
Sad to see a hard working local Councillor like Dave Smith lose his seat as a result of the unpopularity of the Labour government.

He was always around in the Sunnyhurst area taking up people's problems and complaints. And, whether you agreed with him or not, he never left you in doubt what he thought about things. Perhaps people really prefer spin.

Usually in the pub!

Blackburn Lad wrote:
Another sad day for Blackburnians.

It will be interesting to see who will really be running the council.

With the likelihood of another coalition, both the tories and the libdems will be sucking up big time to the For Darwen motley crew.

A classic case of the tail wagging the dog I think.

Vote for an independant Blackburn I say. The Darweners are taking our money and our jobs, now they are trying to run our town ... send them back where they belong

Be careful what you wish for my friend.

Darreners also fill major sections of Ewood Park.

If they all stop supporting your football club, you will have a very empty ground.

anyone know who won in Audley,Most likely Labour as they normally win

Captain Blackburn wrote:
Well I'm fed up with the lot of 'em. I have now officially declared myself as Leader of Blackburn with Darwen and invite you all to join me at www.breakawayrepubli x.com (search for Blackburn and Darwen separately). Come on... Let's show 'em!!!

ay ay cptn - here's your first backer. Yeah lets show those out of touch labour cronies big time. General election's not far away! ha ha

To all those from the Sunnyhurst ward who are calling 'young Andrew', how many actually met him when he called round to canvass. How many other candidates bothered?
He is a young man who wants the best for his area which is why he stood and you are lucky to have someone who will give 100%.
He is not a brainwashed schoolboy, he is a man of 24 with his own ideas.

blackburn just wrote:
For Darwen this,For Darwen that,cut Darwen loose and see how they go on,lets have two seperate towns and save all this ****.

Pleeeeeeze...

milano wrote:

GP wrote: The success of the For Darwen Party has effectively knocked them out of any hope they had of wielding much influence. They won two Labour seats (yes they won a LibDem seat as well but the LibDems won one in Blackburn). Previously we had a \"coalition\" in which the For Darwen Party were integral to power. But now the Tories and the LibDems have control as an alliance. They have 29 seats to Labour\'s 27. Surely the FDP (5 seats) will not side with Labour? An alliance wouldn\'t need FD support to keep Labour out of the way.. Where Michael Johnson and the other two independents figure in all this is hard to figure. Finally, Dave Smith: sorry you were spun out. Probably the best ward councillor Darwen has had for yonks.

As you say GP \'surely for Darwen won\'t side with Labour?\' Don\'t hold your breath. as for the independants Michael Johnson has shown how fickle he can be in the past. I hope For Darwen stick to the principles by which they got elected. People don\'t seem to care or don\'t trust any of the councillors, this shows by the amount of people voting - onlt two wards had just over 50% of eligible people voting, with 3 wards less than 30%. Does anyone think people should be compelled to vote? And I bet it\'s the ones who didn\'t vote that will be complaining and whining no matter what happens with the coalition.

People should only be compelled to vote if the political parties are compelled to stand in all wards, One of the reasons I won't vote Conservative is that by not standing in every ward, they are denying people their right to vote. Wheras the Labour Party stood in all the wards despite almost being beaten into fourth place by the spoiled ballot papers in Whitehall ward.

bigrick wrote:

a resident of wrote: well done the good people of the fernhurst ward ..... labour tried to farm us out to darwen, as for somebofy from the \\\\\\\'far darwen\\\\\\\' party standing ..... please!

Why shouldn\\\'t a \\\"For Darwen\\\" candidate stand in Fernhurst. When the ward was created, it encompassed the north of Earcroft and all of Lower Darwen, which has always considered itself to be part of Darwen, not the hole that is Blackburn. Well done \\\"For Darwen\\\" for giving us Darreners a voice !!!!

For Darwen standing in Fernhurst, and Turton is hypocrytical, to say the least, If they are complaining about Darwen being forced to be part of Blackburn then they should not stand in areas of Blackburn and Bolton forced to be part of Darwen.

I am amazed at many of the comments from these so called Darweneers. How can any saine and right in the head voter stick a cross in the box for a kid who cant string to words together? What ever your politics, or party, Councillor David Smith has served his Ward and His Town Well. He has always been happy to take phone calls, email, even complaints in the pub (take note councillors have a life to you know) Never once in 22 years did he moan or say no to anyone. YOU THE VOTERS of Darwen will regret the sad departure of an excellent councillor. Sunnyhurst Ward will suffer under the hands of the "Kid". However I would hope that you muppets that voted David Smith out and the "kid" in never need any real help or assistance. It takes years to learn how to work you way round town hall tactics and the way the work TRUST me i know. I am proud to say David Smith is a Darrener and a good and honest councillor to boot, cant say that about many of the New For Darwen Muppets, did you know they even nicked David Smiths Email Address's from an email sent by him, and used it to canvess for votes, thats really honest and not very clever is it. I am disgusted at the low turn out of voters in Sunnyhurst and the other wards. IF YOU DIDNT VOTE DONT MOAN you aint got the right to do so.

I am sure that David Smith Will bounce back and the For Darwen Party will soon be a forgotten thing of the past.

CLUELESS THATS BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN COUNCIL at present and rudderless tooo

Andy Newton wrote:
Very sad to see David Smith lose . I just hope we don't live to regret it . As said by others . He's always been there for the people of Sunnyhurst , very helpful and friendly .These sentiments are also echoed by my family .

I could name plenty of people Dave Smith has helped over the years, but I really think the issue of Sunnyhurst post office closure affected the Labour voters. It's just a good job a genuine person like Andrew was there to collect the votes. Sorry to see you go Dave but I think Mrs Anderson voted the wrong way when the proposed closures were voted on.

It is about time that the MAJORITY are listened to. That majority are the ones who don't vote.Because WE know we won't be lIstened too.Whatever happens your council will take your wage and decrease it- demoralise you by threats of resigning. The Govt will then take more tax off you so in the end you lose.Depsite the fact you work and have children you still lose out.As for gaining with WTC/CTC I havent seen it yet.As they look at GROSS income.It is about time that we had independant parties in Blackburn addressing real issues like prbs with childen, crime, rats, injustice.Not so called political parties fighting for Darwen when all wards should have someone who listens and acts upon it.

Not brainwashed? ...that is ironic. It really is quite shocking that people cannot see past the quite obvious spin of the For Darwen party. Amateurs.

Go on then what does the for Darwen party stand for? More things for Darwen? I could say that for all the wards in Blackburn more things!Listeneing to the people - get out there and speak to them! As one of the councils workers who has to sign or it is resiging tell me how you know!

Gerri wrote:
A sad day for Darwen and Sunnyhurst in particular. Lets see how much work your new Cllrs really do. You\'ll soon realise how much Dave Smith did - as they saying goes - you don\'t know what you\'ve got \'til its gone.

very very true gerri, david smith was one in a million... still is and will always be a valued friend, I no longer live in the sunnyhurst ward and he would have got my vote hands down.. the ward will go down hill now hes "not on the case" dedication to his ward was one of his qualities, the residents of that ward will surely miss david and his nack of helping/getting results, and if he could help he said so.. unlike the false promises from other parties DO ANY OF THE SUNNYHURST RESIDENTS KNOW THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THEIR NEW COUNCILLERS, THEY ARENT PROMOTED ON THEIR CAMPAIGN LEAFLETS, YET DAVIDS WAS CLEARLY STATED FOR ALL TO RING / CONTACT ETC.. THESE FOR DARWENS, ARE NOT ACCESSABLE AT ALL.
SHAME ON YOU "FOR Darwen"

Dunc wrote:

blackburn just wrote: For Darwen this,For Darwen that,cut Darwen loose and see how they go on,lets have two seperate towns and save all this ****.

Pleeeeeeze...

Can we have our industry and housing back first that Blackburn helped to pinch of us and sell to private concerns and foreigners, then we might have some revenue to spend "wisely" from borough taxes. At least we would have a working and social council and not a "sweet shop" of a council that reduce their workload to deliberately run down their council only to bounce back with nothing better than to impose fines and other "public" levies to make their money...what a farce!

I can not believe Dave Smith has lost his seat to a Tin pot band wagon such as For Darwen. Dave has been FOR DARWEN for 22 years, what an insult to such a long standing, tireless hard working Councillor.

Can any one answer the question of freedom of speech? I have read some of the comments left on the board and find them both repulsive and purile. If a person is beaten fair and square were it matters i.e. in the ballet box them the majority of voters have spoken. Belittling either the winner (to young) or the loser (had the post for 22years) shows how little people care about other people. If you are not happy then maybe you should have not just got yourself to vote but your friends as well. It is the lack of interest of ther voters which upset many of the people who have voted. BUT THEN AGAIN! may be just may be we are all sick of what the major parties are doing on a national level. If this is the case may i suggest they write to their MP to complain and not on message boards like this. To finish may i congratulate all the winners and hope they put needs of their wards first and in doing so up hold the trust us mortal folk have in them.

Let' see how a boy can do a man's job! Sunnyhurst be ashamed!

Dave Smith = insincerity = false promises = house demolitions when refurbishment was promised = kissing Rod Aldridge's **** =
ill conceived academy = **** kicked and out of council = GOOD RIDDANCE = NEXT COUNCILLORS WILL LISTEN TO THE VOTERS.
I TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULD BE VOTED OUT AND YOU LAUGHED.
LABOUR ARE TRAITORS TO THIS COUNTRY

andy broadley wrote:
Let\' see how a boy can do a man\'s job! Sunnyhurst be ashamed!

Funny you weren't saying this when dave smith came in to power in sunnyhurst at 22years old. Some 2 years younger than the boy you are calling. Shame on you. By the way 2 questions 1) did you vote?
2) do you live in sunnyhurst or just jumping on the band wagon?
Perhaps it is you that is the small boy?

My own little protest-vote helped oust labour from Ewood ward. I`m 'traditionally' a labour voter, but am totally sick of the way they are taxing the working man. I`m about to lose my job because of some of their policies.....so i voted Tory for the first time ever! I feel dirty inside, but i`m glad i`ve helped get rid of one of them!!

Good to see Abdul Samad win in Little Harwood, he has done a great job for LH, they tory candidate was a joke and it was good to see all those sad people supporting imran khan go home cryin..u bunch of losers...Samad the people's person!!!

My policy may seem a bit naive but what I say is to take the publics revenue, put it in a pot and then spend it wisely and carefully...simple equation is'nt it. Along the way as you are watching the coffers fill up you help the vulnerable sectors of our people professionally to whatever degree is necessary. I personally see a problem and have a solution their imbedded into my sub consciousness even before I have to think about it. Simple!...Problem...

Solution...its not difficult. So get your braindead faculties together and lets see some action instead of pussyfooting around with this and that...see something for what it is and what it will be at a future time, make your decision based on that and get on with it.

good old dave smith done a lot of good for town used too do work for a local builder many years ago when smith himself was about 24 years old the builder i worked for employed local people and used the local timber yards the builder also did all the surveys on his hopefully next housing estate i.e jack keys lot of work there for the locals and local businesses guess who cocked it up and it went too a manchester firm called walter lawrence good for the town smith dont think so bye bye smithy

Hellboy wrote:

ghel wrote: wheres highercroft in bburn? they seem to be getting alot of bnp votes in that area only

I think you know EXACTLY where Highercroft is... A hell(boy)hole a little up the road from myself...Don't take the mickey out of them,ghel ,as they are only normal folk just like yourself. Shadsworth were not given the option to vote BNP this time around simply because there is no direct 'threat' from New Labour's open door policy at the moment. We have a number of Eastern European drunks up here,but other than that,it's not a real problem right now...but only for right now,you understand...AFTER that,I shudder to think...

As a resident of Higher Croft I am also saddened by the amount of support the BNP received in my area-especially after reading the recent quotes made by Nick Eriksen the BNP's campaign organiser that rape should be equated with eating chocolate cake!!! and that some women need hitting to keep them in line!!!
The ignorant people who voted for Darren Jeal are probably the same people who don't want to work but blame this on 'foreigners' stealing their jobs. I want to hope that the people who voted BNP do not truly understand the bigotry and hatred that these people spew but sadly I feel this is not the case.

Urban Spaceman wrote:
AUDLEY BEARDWOOD WITH LAMMACK LITTLE HARWOOD QUEEN\'S PARK SHEAR BROW WENSLEY FOLD None of the above areas surprises me that New Labour have held on to their seats,as it is in the residential populations\' interests to keep New Labour in power,but what I find somewhat surprising is: HIGHERCROFT MILL HILL SHADSWORTH WITH WHITEBIRK I would have hoped that as the three above areas have been let down and deserted by New Labour,even a vote for the Conservatives might,just might ,have been worth at least ONE shot! The whole of Blackburn has suffered at the hands of Neo-Labour for more years that I care to remember,but just like a dirty,fithy bad penny,they turn up again. What on earth were you voters REALLY thinking?!Just like the post from the Shadsworth resident illicited above;they have let us all down time after time after time!I recall something I heard in relation to the British public\'s understanding of political parties,and it goes something like:\'We have been crapped on so many times by politicians,that now,we just think that it\'s a light shower of rain...\' I think that may be closer to the truth should this inept government still be here after the next National Elections... VOTE WISELY.

I live in one of the above areas.....what are you trying to imply? I feel let down by Labour, however in the past year I haven't seen anything that would make me vote either Liberal or Tory. Shame the people of Blackburn vote on issues as to how often their bins are collected as opposed to real issues such as how to move our town forward!!!!!

I lost my house in the regeneration, i kicked up a storm big time. During that time i swore never to speak to david smith again, i felt so let down by the labour council and unltimately JANET (I DONT GIVE A HOOT) ANDERSON, (WHERE WAS SHE WHEN SUNNYHURST RESIDENTS WERE LOOSING THEIR HOUSES, NOW WHERE, YET SHES BACKING FOLK LOOSING JOBS AT DARWEN. ANYWAYS, david has since proved to me that theres good and bad points in all decisions, and loosing my house at the time was horrendous, but now its the BEST THING THATS EVER HAPPENED TO ME and too boot, im still good mates with david and will be for life and thorougly applaud him for the help and assistance i was given during my HMR loss. I wish him all the best for the furture and hope he now can enjoy his favourite hobby "blackburn rovers" and follow them 100% without council meetings/council committments hindering. take care david.

I lost my house in the regeneration, i kicked up a storm big time. During that time i swore never to speak to david smith again, i felt so let down by the labour council and unltimately JANET (I DONT GIVE A HOOT) ANDERSON, (WHERE WAS SHE WHEN SUNNYHURST RESIDENTS WERE LOOSING THEIR HOUSES, NOW WHERE, YET SHES BACKING FOLK LOOSING JOBS AT DARWEN. ANYWAYS, david has since proved to me that theres good and bad points in all decisions, and loosing my house at the time was horrendous, but now its the BEST THING THATS EVER HAPPENED TO ME and too boot, im still good mates with david and will be for life and thorougly applaud him for the help and assistance i was given during my HMR loss. I wish him all the best for the furture and hope he now can enjoy his favourite hobby "blackburn rovers" and follow them 100% without council meetings/council committments hindering. take care david.

Not a single flier, nobody came to my door - nothing. Nobody canvassed me for my opinion or for my vote. So I didn't. I'll be darned if I'm doing someone else a favour by electing them if they can't even be bothered to try and woo me.

No wonder people are becoming apathetic to politics - even the candidates themselves are...

I am sad to see Dave Smith voted off Sunnyhurst, I live in that district and he has done loads for it, he is very approachable, not sure about this fancy party, darwen cares or whatever it is called, they are all talk just to get the votes, what did they do for Darwen ? Academy? they all in favour of that. This dam A666 road around the town?
Let's wait and see shall we. At 24 I think he could be a bit wet behind the ears, I have got shoes older than him!
Thank you Dave Smith for all your years of loyalty.

very true, we only had labour here and it wasnt even the candidate up for election.. very poor, whats even poorer is when you leave messages for them and they dont reply and take it for granted your a safe secure vote for them on polling day. Whats the old addage, " dont get mad, get even " or what goes around comes around..
take heed cllrs.. serve your voters not use them for your own gain.

Dave Smith as a councillor helped many people in Sunnyhurst Wward over the past 20+ years and lost largely because of a protest vote, as happened last year as well. The people of Sunnyhurst have a lost a valuable friend and helper. Dave was always there to help and put his heart and soul into the job. He will be missed most by those who need his help in the future, maybe some of those who voted against him.

i cant believe dave smith didnt get voted back in,dave is a fantastic councillor and is both honest and trustworthy and an all round top bloke!u,ve always got my vote dave.kerry taylor

Sue wrote:
I am sad to see Dave Smith voted off Sunnyhurst, I live in that district and he has done loads for it, he is very approachable, not sure about this fancy party, darwen cares or whatever it is called, they are all talk just to get the votes, what did they do for Darwen ? Academy? they all in favour of that. This dam A666 road around the town? Let's wait and see shall we. At 24 I think he could be a bit wet behind the ears, I have got shoes older than him! Thank you Dave Smith for all your years of loyalty.

How can you say what they are about when clearly by your superficial "prose" have never met them and can't even remember their name.

I would like to see the people of Darwen run OUR town, we were great once and I would like to see if we still are, a great test of our resolve. Of course our own council would initially carry a burden of financial ups and downs but I think we will be proud in the end. Its a little early for thinking of having our own council just yet, we might as well get all we deserve of our present council as we have paid for it for about 30 years and got nothing back till now. Keep up the good work Labour for us in Darwen but on the next election when For Darwen have 4 from 5 wards and then 5 from 5 next time round then we will have our own council back please. Remember no ward in Darwen voted Labour in the election...3 for For Darwen and 2 for Lib Dem.

It will be interesting to see how the Coalition permutations work out, as the For Darwen party could join with Labour and put them back in charge. I suppose it all depends on which Party offers For Darwen the best sweetener.

WHAT A RESULT. So yet again the nutters get a seat on a ward. Why do you people in Darwen not realise the only way to get back the old borough is to vote for expereinced councillors that Darreneers Know and Trust. Whilst the spin around the For Darwen Party may last a month or to, this bunch of misfits and cretians will never achive what Councillor David Smith has Done. He has the RESPECT of his Ward and His TOWN. NO ONE HAS BEEN A BETTER AMBASSADOR than Dave, and he didnt deserve this result. NEXT TIME you lazy lot who couldnt be bothered to get off your backsides to vote, DO IT other wise Blackburn will just walk all over Darwen as they have tried many times before. But Thanks to Real Darwen People like Dave Smith (and paul browne does his bit) party politics aside they support and work for DARWEN. This for Darwen Party He today gone tommorow, with a bit of luck. Thanks to Councillor David Smith for 20 odd years of total dedication to his ward and Town. Honest and integrity goes a long way with the folk of Darwen.

Andy B I think that would be the ideal solution, lets face it Darwen has never seen so much tooing and froing, the election cannot simply halt everything. What is happening in Darwen at the moment is excellent and other things disgraceful, so theirs alot of negatives and positives that will need to gel together and will take time. I think that has the ruling parties have started the developement projects agenda they need to be completed without any more hiccups, get the developement out the way with support to the present, but at the same time lean some support to the party thats willing to speak up For Darwen. In the meantime lets applaud the changes and bite our lip over the disgusting aspects...lets be patient. We have a voice for Darwen but not one that can carry out "a perfect world." But at least the seeds are sown...Here's To Darwen.

Confused, Lammack
You did get a leaflet and we knocked on a large number of doors. Had it not been for illness we would have knocked on all of them, as we do every election, as well as putting out in touch leaflets through the year. We never take the voters for granted as they are the ones we answer to.

michael lee wrote:
Confused, Lammack
You did get a leaflet and we knocked on a large number of doors. Had it not been for illness we would have knocked on all of them, as we do every election, as well as putting out in touch leaflets through the year. We never take the voters for granted as they are the ones we answer to.

Mr Lee, I respectfully inform you I did NOT receive any leaflet, flier or promotional reading of any sort, at least since the turn of 2008 and certainly nothing Election related. Occasional mind-numbing propaganda has landed on my doorstep in the past, I will not deny that. Please don't insult my intelligence or question my honesty in the meantime - that's exactly the sort of thing which makes voters even more apathetic to the system.

Having seen Darwen develop dramatically through the ages it is clear that Dave Smith clearly had an influence on improving many of the towns flaws. However the importance of a new regime can not be expressed enough. I know there's the old saying, 'If it isn't broke then don't fix it' but for those of Darwen with children, grand children and even great grand children, it is them who we should also be considering. We need a strong influence that can better the lives of them and their surroundings, maybe young blood is the answer? Whether the For Darwen Party will be able to do this... time will tell... but until that day comes we should remain open minded and positive for the future of Darwen and it's residents.

Steve wrote:

andy broadley wrote: Let\' see how a boy can do a man\'s job! Sunnyhurst be ashamed!

Funny you weren't saying this when dave smith came in to power in sunnyhurst at 22years old. Some 2 years younger than the boy you are calling. Shame on you. By the way 2 questions 1) did you vote? 2) do you live in sunnyhurst or just jumping on the band wagon? Perhaps it is you that is the small boy?

Yes I Voted (for Dave)!

Yes I live in Sunnyhurst, that's how I was able to vote for Dave, that's how it works!

And yes, I am quite small and boyish for my age, thanks for the compliment!

Deal time folks.What do you think will happen this time?
The Lib Dems do not like the For Darwen Party and they are in a much stronger position this time as they have 13 seats not 11. Yes folks 13 remember the independants? 2 of them are Lib Dems and will be back in the fold so quick the floor will melt right to the office.
Cons have 18 which means they do not need FDP.
Why share power 3 ways when they can do it Two ways and not have to worry about having the FDP on the executive.
The FDP sold out last time and the people did not like it even though they voted them in again it was with a lot less votes than last time!
FDP with 5 and johnson can stand alone and hold the balance of power letting the two run the council but getting what they want. Johnson will vote Darwen and not tow any party line and i know that was on of the main reasons he fell out with Melia.
I bet Tony Melia will jump straight in bed with the torys and be back in Colin Rigbys pocket.
Lets see if he sells Darwen out again for power for him but not For Darwen. The sooner we get a Darwen Town Council the sooner we get a real Darwen vote and not a Blackburn vote.
No more towing the party line. I have heard both johnson and Maxfield complaining about Tony Melia doing things with Rigby which they knew nothing about, What does that tell you.
Lets hope the new FDP councillors take notice of what happened to johnson He was not happy with what was going on and he was outed,look at what he did for Darwen music live yet melia never ever mentioned him in any of his party sheets in the Darrener.
Stand alone party fighting for Darwen and not playing politics,right what a load of Bo**ocks.

b wrote:
See what happens Florence when you build a play area outside my house. For the first time ever the wife and I vote against Labour we oust you. Power to the people.

I don't think Florence was instrumental in building a play area in front of your house. What happened was democracy in action ie the concensus of people in your area actually wanting the play area. Get a life!!!!!!

Confused, Lammack I did not mean to insult your intelligence but we put out leaflets to all houses in Beardwood with Lammack so I am concerned that you did not get one. If you could give street name I can check out what went wrong.

Sue wrote:
I am sad to see Dave Smith voted off Sunnyhurst, I live in that district and he has done loads for it, he is very approachable, not sure about this fancy party, darwen cares or whatever it is called, they are all talk just to get the votes, what did they do for Darwen ? Academy? they all in favour of that. This dam A666 road around the town? Let's wait and see shall we. At 24 I think he could be a bit wet behind the ears, I have got shoes older than him! Thank you Dave Smith for all your years of loyalty.

Academy? One of the labour parties f... ups.
Harwood st ?? One of the labour parties f... ups.
Leisure centre? One of the labour parties f... ups.
A666 ? OH ! one of the labour parties f... ups.
All the above are projects started and ballsed up by the Labour party, certainly not Dave Smith on his own but when the coalition took over power they had been finished or had had that much money spent on them (Redearth academy !!!) that it was far too late to do anything about it.

david smiths flat, is fully owned outright by way of a mortgage and fully legit, *(if it was meant for the purposes of old folk) why was it SOLD to him in the first place.
sounds like theres a bit of jealousy creeping in amoungst the page

I am sick of listening to whining people who just have no brains because they have to ponse around with everyone elses ridicule following the crowd like one celled organisms...I voted for For Darwen because I am proud of our town and want to see us stick up for ourselves for a change but I also applaud Labour with the redevelopement, I don't split my politics, I see something for what it is and what I see are major changes happening to Darwen for the better, i'll tell you what we'll reverse back before any developements and what you will have is a 70's stageset, no wonder BBC came to Darwen to film us, fair enough lets keep our heritage and quaint uniqueness which is very important but we can't stand still. At last we are having some cash spent on us and everybody seems to be moaning about it, like kids who have'nt got their spending money, its time to grow up.

THOSE WHO VOTED LABOUR.PLEASE GET HELP!!!IM AFFRAID YOUVE LOST THE PLOT

A lot of gush about David Smith. Yes he was helpful no doubt to a lot of people - that is why he was supposed to do!! On a practical note, has anyone looked at the state of the roads (bus routes) around his patch of the last 22 years - Sunnyhurst? Harwood Street a patched up mess (Our worthy 24 year old new councillor stated that he would see that speed is kept down by installing speed humps(?) - well there are already "chicanes" so what does he know?) Earnsdale Avenue, Sunnyhurst Lane, David Smith did see that £17,000 was spent on Owlet Hall Road next to where he lives!! I would have liked to see ANY of the candidates for Sunnyhurst because they certainly did not come near us. I would have asked David about the closure of the post office for instance and why "he sat on his hands" locally whilst his mentor, Dame Janet, voted in parliament for the closures, Both of them said that they did not want it to close. Well it was a disappointing result all round and please let us avoid a Darwen Town Council - that will just be another "talking shop"

In reply to Thomas:

If it's the Thomas who I think lives on Sunnyhurst Lane then Labour workers certainly did call to his house. Indeed I said 'hello' to Thomas as when I was calling to see people on the other side of the road ! If he wanted me to call in person all he had to do was ask or phone (unlike the other candidates at least I always put my name & address on my leaflets !)

Regarding the roads - yes they are certainly a mess. Over the years we have seen some partial re-surfacing. All roads are graded by the council officers in terms of how bad they are. Owlet Hall Rd was very close to the top of the list so that's why it got re-surfaced. The roads Thomas mentions are getting close to the top of the list too. Remember that the coalition have been in charge for a year now - and this year, for the first year that I can remember, not one road in Sunnyhurst Ward has been included in the re-surfacing list. In the Labour budget we included an extra £500,000 over and above the coalition budget for road re-surfacing. So if people were voting on whether they wanted more roads resurfacing then Labour would have romped home ! Unfortunately, people voted against this extra money !

Speed bumps are placed on roads were there have been a lot of pedestrian accidents. Again, all roads are graded and analysed in conjunction with the police - those with the highest accident records will receive humps or other traffic calming measures (such as the chicanes as mentioned by Thomas.)Traffic calming will not be installed in areas where there have been no or just a few pedestrian accidents. (such as Earnsdale Rd / Tockholes Rd / Sunnyhurst Lane). Indeed when these roads are eventually re-surfaced people will complain about the extra speed of traffic due to the nice, smooth, pothole free new road surface ! The only exception to this is where planning conditions can be made for speed humps / traffic calming when new estates or new housing is built. (e.g. Oakdale / Fernhurst Farm)

Thomas may be surprised to find out that there wasn't a vote in Parliament to keep the post offices open. The Tory motion merely asked for a 6 month delay of the review. No extra money was put forward by the Tories in order to keep them open. However, irrespective of this 'Dame Janet' along with everyone else didn't want Sunnyhurst PO to close at all. Royal Mail's reasons for closure were flawed and factually incorrect, as well as them going against a promise made to keep it open ''for many years to come'' when the PO moved from Harwood St to Hindle St. I certainly did not ''sit on my hands'' - together with Cllr Dave Hollings I delivered over 500 leaflets urging people living around the Post Office to write in to Royal Mail to object to the closure. I also wrote 2 very strong letters to Royal Mail - as did Janet. I also moved a motion at the full Council meeting asking the Council to enter into negotiations with Rouyal Mail, LCC and other bodies in order to see if post office services can be saved. (other Councils have made similar moves). Hopefully because of my action, the Council will be able to provide PO services from Sunnyhurst PO - as well as other services such as Council Tax payments etc;

As for a Darwen Town (parish) Council a referendum (as moved by Labour Councillors at a Council meeting)will be held - probably in September to see if Darweners want a Town (parish) Council or not. Hopefully the coalition will give the precept (additional Council Tax to be paid) publicity before the vote, as well as the powers (very few indeed) and situation with the extra Mayor that will be created.

Dave, you may be right, you may be right. If the call was on the Sunday afternoon then I did speak to Dave Hollins. I mentioned the roads to him and he did say something about the extra £500,000 being turned down by the coalition "Obviously they have other priorities" he said. Yet David Grogan's leaflet said that there was £500,000 in the pipeline if I remember rightly. (AQll the leaflets have gone for re-cycling now so I can't check) The trouble is, David, that on reading all the leaflets and I did read them all carefully, all the parties were jumping on the bandwagon!! All claimed to have had something to do with all the good things - the Leisure Centre (I approve of the new scheme in spite of the extra cost) I am sure the situation was not so desperate as to close it so early. In my time I have seen pools still open with cracked overflow channels due to slight settlement!! The fight is over, "the King is Dead, Long Live the King". I am sorry personally that you lost, David and even more so because of the mud slinging that has appeared in these columns. It has been said also that you were getting a little stale (you will no doubt deny that this is true) but let someone else take the flack for a change. I am looking forward to seeing what the "enthusiastic" 24 year old undertaker can achieve!!

thomas wrote:
A lot of gush about David Smith. Yes he was helpful no doubt to a lot of people - that is why he was supposed to do!! On a practical note, has anyone looked at the state of the roads (bus routes) around his patch of the last 22 years - Sunnyhurst? Harwood Street a patched up mess (Our worthy 24 year old new councillor stated that he would see that speed is kept down by installing speed humps(?) - well there are already "chicanes" so what does he know?) Earnsdale Avenue, Sunnyhurst Lane, David Smith did see that £17,000 was spent on Owlet Hall Road next to where he lives!! I would have liked to see ANY of the candidates for Sunnyhurst because they certainly did not come near us. I would have asked David about the closure of the post office for instance and why "he sat on his hands" locally whilst his mentor, Dame Janet, voted in parliament for the closures, Both of them said that they did not want it to close. Well it was a disappointing result all round and please let us avoid a Darwen Town Council - that will just be another "talking shop"

Apart for the Leisure Centre (which the Council has borrowed another £3m pounds on our behalf)what has the Coalition done for Darwen since they took over some twelve months ago? They were unhappy with the road system - nothing has happened. They were going to freeze meals for our town elders but instead raised them. Talk about reinstating the Sunnyhurst Bus servce was made - has it been reinstated? and Yes they were against the Location of the New Academy, but voted to keep it on Redearth Road (they knew before the elections last year that it had to be in the Town Centre area otherwise the money to build it would not be made available.) The good thing is that the residents are now going to have referendum on a Town Council thanks only to the Labour Councillors who put forward the suggestion at a recent Council meeting.

So what happened? Colin Rigby and his merry men have supposedly "done nothing" and the voters showed last week their displeasure with ALL THREE parties in Darwen by voting with their feet for "For Darwen" party. They have got their desserts, as they say and may now start to listen to people as Gordon Brown at National level is also having to listen to people. A "wake up call" which may shock them into action. But what do we hear? The previous Labour Admin did not leave any money in the kitty for anything but essentials to be done. Well my Council Tax went up (admittedly one of smallest rises in the country and may be at the cost of reduction in Council employees but there it is) So the question is "what next"? We have had new promises in the "For Darwen" leaflets. In fact promises, promises from all the parties. Let's see what happens - it could be an interesting 12 months.

Just a couple of points Thomas:

1) The Leisure Centre DIDhave to close when it did on the specific advice of the health & safety oficers. This can be confirmed by the Chief Executive and Director of Leisure & Culture. (indeed the Chief Executive wrote an article in 'The Shuttle' about this very issue)

2) Yes, Mr Grogan was sort of correct about the £500,000. The coalition put an extra £500,000 into roads but the Labour budget put an extra £500,000 on top of this.

Yes, you are right, interesting times ahead. As you said For Darwen made lots of promises last time (broke them all except one) and lots of promises this time. We will see how many they break this time ! However, I've also heard a rumour that the Lib-Dems are thinking of jacking in the current coalition and going to form a coaltion with Labour instead - precisely because they are getting very fed up with For Darwen's tactic of promising the earth but delivering nothing, and their 'interesting' approach to land deals ! Interesting times indeed.

ps it was Dave Hollings you spoke to.

Why don't you both,Dave Smith & Thomas, meet in a pub somewhere. and talk over your now irrelevant political points.
I hope so because your both boring the crp out off me.

Dave Smith wrote - "2) Yes, Mr Grogan was sort of correct about the £500,000. The coalition put an extra £500,000 into roads but the Labour budget put an extra £500,000 on top of this."
So why did you not put the fact you were promising an extra £1m on your flyers (£500k + £500k = £1m).
On the flyers I received from Barbara Arkley only £500k was mentioned. Is this what is called creative accounting????????

In the Community wrote:

Urban Spaceman wrote:
AUDLEY BEARDWOOD WITH LAMMACK LITTLE HARWOOD QUEEN\\\'S PARK SHEAR BROW WENSLEY FOLD None of the above areas surprises me that New Labour have held on to their seats,as it is in the residential populations\\\' interests to keep New Labour in power,but what I find somewhat surprising is: HIGHERCROFT MILL HILL SHADSWORTH WITH WHITEBIRK I would have hoped that as the three above areas have been let down and deserted by New Labour,even a vote for the Conservatives might,just might ,have been worth at least ONE shot! The whole of Blackburn has suffered at the hands of Neo-Labour for more years that I care to remember,but just like a dirty,fithy bad penny,they turn up again. What on earth were you voters REALLY thinking?!Just like the post from the Shadsworth resident illicited above;they have let us all down time after time after time!I recall something I heard in relation to the British public\\\'s understanding of political parties,and it goes something like:\\\'We have been crapped on so many times by politicians,that now,we just think that it\\\'s a light shower of rain...\\\' I think that may be closer to the truth should this inept government still be here after the next National Elections... VOTE WISELY.

I live in one of the above areas.....what are you trying to imply? I feel let down by Labour, however in the past year I haven\'t seen anything that would make me vote either Liberal or Tory. Shame the people of Blackburn vote on issues as to how often their bins are collected as opposed to real issues such as how to move our town forward!!!!!

I was not trying to 'imply' anything,just stating fact.
Areas with a high Asian population will always give a vote to New Labour as it is in their interest to do so,as it is New Labours' policy to cringe and fawn for the minority vote.
All I was saying is that I was somewhat surprised that New Labour had still managed to sucker in predominantly indiginous areas simply because,in my opinion(for what it's worth...)they have let everyone down drastically.
We had the Conservative agenda many years ago,which almost brought the UK to it's knees,but nothing can really compare to what this government has inflicted on us.This country is almost extinct...

Captain Blackburn wrote:
Well I'm fed up with the lot of 'em. I have now officially declared myself as Leader of Blackburn with Darwen and invite you all to join me at www.breakawayrepubli
x.com (search for Blackburn and Darwen separately).

Come on... Let's show 'em!!!

Just signed up now,Captain...Permis
sion to come aboard?

dave smith wrote:
In reply to Thomas: If it\'s the Thomas who I think lives on Sunnyhurst Lane then Labour workers certainly did call to his house. Indeed I said \'hello\' to Thomas as when I was calling to see people on the other side of the road ! If he wanted me to call in person all he had to do was ask or phone (unlike the other candidates at least I always put my name & address on my leaflets !) Regarding the roads - yes they are certainly a mess. Over the years we have seen some partial re-surfacing. All roads are graded by the council officers in terms of how bad they are. Owlet Hall Rd was very close to the top of the list so that\'s why it got re-surfaced. The roads Thomas mentions are getting close to the top of the list too. Remember that the coalition have been in charge for a year now - and this year, for the first year that I can remember, not one road in Sunnyhurst Ward has been included in the re-surfacing list. In the Labour budget we included an extra £500,000 over and above the coalition budget for road re-surfacing. So if people were voting on whether they wanted more roads resurfacing then Labour would have romped home ! Unfortunately, people voted against this extra money ! Speed bumps are placed on roads were there have been a lot of pedestrian accidents. Again, all roads are graded and analysed in conjunction with the police - those with the highest accident records will receive humps or other traffic calming measures (such as the chicanes as mentioned by Thomas.)Traffic calming will not be installed in areas where there have been no or just a few pedestrian accidents. (such as Earnsdale Rd / Tockholes Rd / Sunnyhurst Lane). Indeed when these roads are eventually re-surfaced people will complain about the extra speed of traffic due to the nice, smooth, pothole free new road surface ! The only exception to this is where planning conditions can be made for speed humps / traffic calming when new estates or new housing is built. (e.g. Oakdale / Fernhurst Farm) Thomas may be surprised to find out that there wasn\'t a vote in Parliament to keep the post offices open. The Tory motion merely asked for a 6 month delay of the review. No extra money was put forward by the Tories in order to keep them open. However, irrespective of this \'Dame Janet\' along with everyone else didn\'t want Sunnyhurst PO to close at all. Royal Mail\'s reasons for closure were flawed and factually incorrect, as well as them going against a promise made to keep it open \'\'for many years to come\'\' when the PO moved from Harwood St to Hindle St. I certainly did not \'\'sit on my hands\'\' - together with Cllr Dave Hollings I delivered over 500 leaflets urging people living around the Post Office to write in to Royal Mail to object to the closure. I also wrote 2 very strong letters to Royal Mail - as did Janet. I also moved a motion at the full Council meeting asking the Council to enter into negotiations with Rouyal Mail, LCC and other bodies in order to see if post office services can be saved. (other Councils have made similar moves). Hopefully because of my action, the Council will be able to provide PO services from Sunnyhurst PO - as well as other services such as Council Tax payments etc; As for a Darwen Town (parish) Council a referendum (as moved by Labour Councillors at a Council meeting)will be held - probably in September to see if Darweners want a Town (parish) Council or not. Hopefully the coalition will give the precept (additional Council Tax to be paid) publicity before the vote, as well as the powers (very few indeed) and situation with the extra Mayor that will be created.

Smith is against a town council that is why i did not vote for him. having read Grahams leaflet it was very clear and concise about a town council, this was not chalanged by any other party, so i am sure it must be near to yhe mark. If it had been wrong i am sure the other parties would have jumped all over it so well done Andrew you got my vote.

As for a Darwen Town (parish) Council a referendum (as moved by Labour Councillors at a Council meeting)will be held - probably in September to see if Darweners want a Town (parish) Council or not. Hopefully the coalition will give the precept (additional Council Tax to be paid) publicity before the vote, as well as the powers (very few indeed) and situation with the extra Mayor that will be created.

By your statement you are against a town council. So why would you propose a motion to create one? All you do is sit on the fence and get a sore behind. A word of advise if you are for aomething you should go for it not pretend you are for it.

Glad you lost, you can now chew on that bunch of very large sour grapes and look forward to the thrashing you will get next time.

In reply to sour grapes: Thrashing ? I slashed the For Darwen majority from last year ! Quite a big swing to Labour in Sunnyhurst & Earcroft in fact !

I didn't propose any motion to create a town council. (perhaps you mis-read my comment). The motion I moved was to have a referendum to let the people decide. Everyone seemed to agree with this (including For Darwen !) - so how is this sour grapes ?

I was just pointing out the consequences of having a town council - because the consequences have never been spelled out by For Darwen, - certainly the petition never mentioned things like a precept (extra council tax), two mayors, the very limited powers of a town council (same as a parish council). It's no use people saying they want or don't want a town council without actually knowing what is entailed. The impression given by some folk is that a town council would return Darwen to the pre 1974 years. This, of course, is simply not the case at all.

So a referendum, with all the facts and figures given,in my opinion is the best way forward in order to decide the issue once and for all. As I said, this seems to have all Party suppport. So by criticising me you are also criticising everyone else !

Dave, your just as bad a loser as you were a councilor, for crying out loud shut up and let this be an end to your nonsense, the electorate have spoken.

dave smith wrote:
In reply to sour grapes: Thrashing ? I slashed the For Darwen majority from last year ! Quite a big swing to Labour in Sunnyhurst & Earcroft in fact ! I didn't propose any motion to create a town council. (perhaps you mis-read my comment). The motion I moved was to have a referendum to let the people decide. Everyone seemed to agree with this (including For Darwen !) - so how is this sour grapes ? I was just pointing out the consequences of having a town council - because the consequences have never been spelled out by For Darwen, - certainly the petition never mentioned things like a precept (extra council tax), two mayors, the very limited powers of a town council (same as a parish council). It's no use people saying they want or don't want a town council without actually knowing what is entailed. The impression given by some folk is that a town council would return Darwen to the pre 1974 years. This, of course, is simply not the case at all. So a referendum, with all the facts and figures given,in my opinion is the best way forward in order to decide the issue once and for all. As I said, this seems to have all Party suppport. So by criticising me you are also criticising everyone else !

Sorry Dave but I read the For darwen stuff and it quite clearly said I quote "Darwen cannot be the same as pre 1974 but a town council will give us many advantages and more powers than that of a neighbourhood/area committee number 5 south Blackburn, and most of all retain its identity as Darwen, our town. A town council would not be able to run things like social services and education (Lancashire County Council was charged with operating theses services pre 1974) but certainly more able to run its own local affairs than the current situation under Blackburn with Darwen"

So they did not say that as I am sure you read the leaflet too or did you?

I still have a copy and have phoned BWD to check the facts before I voted I was told It could happen as decribed so that is why I voted For Darwen.

I also read For darwen leaflet and it was very clear and concise as to what a town council can and canot do, so your argument does not wash Dave sorry!!

I am sure if For Darwen's leaflet was not corect you Dave would have been the first to point it out you did not so I can only assume it was.

David Smith : In your reply to me you say that for the first time NOT ONE ROAD APPEARED IN THE RE-SURFACING LIST LAST YEAR. Well, Borough Road is in the Sunnyhurst ward and that was done very recently but that is splitting hairs!! However, apart from Owlet Hall Road, I can't remember any road that has been completely surfaced in Sunnyhurst AREA during the last five years in which you and your colleagues were in office - tell me if I am wrong. Sunnyhurst Lane was dug up many years ago for services to be re-newed (gas and water) and the line of the excavations are still there to prove that nothing was ever done. Incidentally I have been defending you on the other blog in which you foolishly allowed yourself to publish your dissapointment at failing to win. For "my sins" I have now received similar insults - these people are total morans. You really did ask for "it" didn't you? Anyway I am now taking a sabatical from politcs for some time and will concentrate on my favourite subject, "Classical" music - it sooths the soul!! But I won't be commenting on that subject either............!

Hi,

Just a quick additional comment here to all those in Shadsworth with Whitebirk.

I stood for the Conservatives in the ward. Unfortunately I didn't get around to everyone's house.

However, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who voted for me. Labour got in again this time, but hopefully we've shown that we are a force to be reckoned with in the ward and can build on that over the next two years, ready to take Labour on again in 2010 and win!