DARWEN taxpayers are facing a £33,000 bill for electing their new town council – a third of the new authority’s budget.

The cost of June’s poll works out at more than £10 for every Darwen resident who voted, and more than £2,500 for each of the 13 town councillors.

Details of the hefty bill have triggered a row between the town council and Blackburn with Darwen Council over who should be responsible.

For Darwen Party leader Tony Melia, a town councillor who is also deputy leader of the borough council, said the borough council should pay for it. This would mean Blackburn residents paying for the Darwen poll, but Coun Melia said this was the same as other parish councils in the area.

He said: “I believe the costs quoted are very high, and I think the borough council should pay for the whole £33,000.”

The For Darwen Party is set to put a motion before the next council meeting calling for the borough to cover all the costs.

Labour town councillor Dave Smith said: “Everyone knew there were going to be costs for setting up the election, but these seem excessive.”

According to the breakdown, the biggest cost of £8,542 related to postal vote ballot packs. Ballot papers cost £4,323 and there was a £180 bill for stationery.

According to the borough council, many costs have been split with the European election, which took place on the same day.

Lib Dem Roy Davies, who sits on both councils, said: “This should have been looked at before. Now we’ve got a situation where a third of the budget has been swallowed up already.”

Tory Colin Rigby, executive member for resources on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “They have no choice but to pay for their own election.

“This is the reality of what they wished for. The wanted a town council, they’ve got a town council, now they’ve got to pay for a town council.”

The borough council had already provided a £100,000 interest-free loan to help establish the town council, he added.