Blackburn with Darwen town twinning trip under fire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn with Darwen town twinning trip under fire
10:30am Thursday 17th June 2010 in News
TWIN TOWN: Peronne, where the party visited
A COUNCIL sent a party of six people to France on a twin town visit — the day after having £4million slashed from its budget.
A group from Blackburn with Darwen Council spent two nights in Peronne, returning on Sunday evening.
The council paid the cost of the flights to Paris, which it said came to £1,582, while their French hosts picked up the hotel and food bills.
The trip came the day after Blackburn with Darwen council was told it had lost more than £4million in government grants, and there are fears vital services could be cut back further following next week’s budget as ministers slash public spending.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: “It is an insult to struggling taxpayers back home that the council is wasting money on jollies to France when budgets are so tight."
The councillor in charge of leisure and culture in Blackburn and Darwen has criticised the decision.
For Darwen Party member Trevor Maxfield said: “It isn’t exactly sending out the right message.”
Council bosses said the visit taught them 'new and different ideas' about how to cut costs.
But one of the party, Lib Dem Paul Browne, admitted he would support scrapping the biennial get-togethers between Blackburn, Peronne and Altena in Germany.
Coun Browne, the lead member for leisure and culture, said: “I don’t think it is that essential, and I would prefer to see things like theatres and libraries kept open.”
But Coun Browne said it had been a 'brilliant' visit and insisted sharing notes had been 'very useful'.
Another of the party, deputy council leader Tony Melia, paid for all his own costs after combining the visit with a business trip to France.
He said: “The stuff we covered was useful, but there’s no kind of parity between Blackburn and Peronne.
"The town is much smaller and the types of business are different.”
Also on the trip was Labour’s Dorothy Walsh, who insisted: “We did not go over there on a jolly, believe you me. It was very hectic.”
The delegation, which also included Tory councillor Jackie Slater, adult social services director Stephen Sloss and town twinning officer Brett Henry, arrived on Friday, staying in the three-star Hotel Saint Claude and dining at local bistros.
A number of workshops were held, looking at young people’s services, adult social care and setting up a trainee scheme for doctors.
Harry Catherall, deputy chief executive at the council, said the trip was useful to learn different approaches.
Comments(25)
retired one
says...
11:52am Thu 17 Jun 10
It wouldn't have cost a penny if they had had a web conference.
DarwenRed
says...
11:58am Thu 17 Jun 10
time.team
says...
12:04pm Thu 17 Jun 10
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Extremely high salaried managers who have everything at our expense.
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What’s new?
amazed
says...
1:34pm Thu 17 Jun 10
Please name the "extremely high salaried managers that went on this jolly.
Another case of shooting oneself in the foot. Will these Councillors and officials never learn?
They must know that anything that smacks of a free jolly will be jumped on by the people who want to do this council down.
It is time someone got a grip and lived in the real world once more.
And if I hear another word about the likelihood of a bus lane on the A666 I will withdraw my vote - and that is a promise.
DarwenRed
says...
2:19pm Thu 17 Jun 10
adult social services director Stephen Sloss and town twinning officer Brett Henry
Izanears
says...
3:44pm Thu 17 Jun 10
Viv
says...
5:12pm Thu 17 Jun 10
I've had the pleasure of visiting Peronne (at my own expense) and was amazed at the high regard that the people of Peronne still hold Blackburn. The town owes much to the brave soldiers from Blackburn who helped liberate the town at the end of WW1, but they remember and acknowledge that debt. Maybe some of those critiscising the twinning visit should take a trip to Peronne (at their own expense) and learn a thing or too.
Mo Lestor
says...
5:15pm Thu 17 Jun 10
time.team
says...
6:05pm Thu 17 Jun 10
"the likelihood of a bus lane on the A666"!
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Note: Managers are the ones that manage these affairs are they not?
ste.g
says...
7:51pm Thu 17 Jun 10
Viv wrote:sounds like nothing more than a good knees up on me and the rest of the tax payer.why any town needs to be twinned is beyond me.waste of time and money.
Its a shame that people react so negatively to the concept of town twinning, although I'll admit that the costs of this trip could have been trimmed considerably.
I've had the pleasure of visiting Peronne (at my own expense) and was amazed at the high regard that the people of Peronne still hold Blackburn. The town owes much to the brave soldiers from Blackburn who helped liberate the town at the end of WW1, but they remember and acknowledge that debt. Maybe some of those critiscising the twinning visit should take a trip to Peronne (at their own expense) and learn a thing or too.
ste.g
says...
7:55pm Thu 17 Jun 10
ste.g wrote:sorry viv that wasnt directed at you i must have accidentally pressed quote.
Viv wrote:sounds like nothing more than a good knees up on me and the rest of the tax payer.why any town needs to be twinned is beyond me.waste of time and money.
Its a shame that people react so negatively to the concept of town twinning, although I'll admit that the costs of this trip could have been trimmed considerably.
I've had the pleasure of visiting Peronne (at my own expense) and was amazed at the high regard that the people of Peronne still hold Blackburn. The town owes much to the brave soldiers from Blackburn who helped liberate the town at the end of WW1, but they remember and acknowledge that debt. Maybe some of those critiscising the twinning visit should take a trip to Peronne (at their own expense) and learn a thing or too.
my appologies.
hasslem hasslem
says...
8:19pm Thu 17 Jun 10
Mo Lestor wrote:Paed O' Phile - t0sser
I bet Peronne can't believe it's luck in being twinned with Darwen?
Mo Lestor
says...
8:51pm Thu 17 Jun 10
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Being from Darwen i don't suppose you can expect anything else?
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Like i said get some therapy for your agrressive, violoent nature.
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As for pedo i refute that accusation totally. But there again I suppose it takes one to know one!
local chap
says...
10:07pm Thu 17 Jun 10
MIKEOXLONGER
says...
11:16pm Thu 17 Jun 10
hasslem hasslem wrote:What delightful wit and repartee.
Mo Lestor wrote: I bet Peronne can't believe it's luck in being twinned with Darwen?Paed O' Phile - t0sser
Your 'stash' of retort is second to none.
Mo Lestor
says...
12:13am Fri 18 Jun 10
hasslem hasslem wrote:If you have sunk so low as to use that 'P' word i am afraid that any self respect you may have had has just gone.
Mo Lestor wrote: I bet Peronne can't believe it's luck in being twinned with Darwen?Paed O' Phile - t0sser
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To be honest i thought you would have been a more worthy opponent than that.
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I suppose that being from Darwen you don't know any different.
This is just another example of your short temper, lack of vocabulary and violent Darwen nature.
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Like i sdaid, Take a holiday and calm down a little.
hasslem hasslem
says...
12:15am Fri 18 Jun 10
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Constantly whining on about how they hate everything about Darwen - the article isn't even about Darwen and yet one half of Waldorf and Statler is slagging the town off.
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These two reprobates seem to try and claim some moral high ground and yet one calls himself Molester and the other is a lazy ex-copper.
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Rarely do I agree with Amazed - but your previous comments ring true, my friend.
icannotrace
says...
3:19am Fri 18 Jun 10
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Just think how much it would of cost to have the French in Blackburn and Darwen...more than £1,582 i think.
A Darener
says...
9:46am Fri 18 Jun 10
icannotrace wrote:No but it would go a long way in the running of the day centres for the disabled.
Come on get real the cost was only £1,582. This won't keep theatres or librarys open. . Just think how much it would of cost to have the French in Blackburn and Darwen...more than £1,582 i think.
Jack Dawthecrow
says...
9:54am Fri 18 Jun 10
We should also make them welcome by wearing stripped t-shirts, a beret, a string of onions round our necks and riding bycicles with a french loaf in the front basket. If thats not enough we could set fire to the odd lorry load of live sheep
jackmetickler
says...
10:13am Fri 18 Jun 10
As far as I can see they seem to spend their time making our lives a misery and spending money on crap.
There must be a better way to manage our affairs in this new century than this medieval council that originates from the old village elders of yonder year.
Darwenbert
says...
10:35pm Fri 18 Jun 10
Ivor Smallcock
says...
9:04am Sat 19 Jun 10
hasslem hasslem wrote:To be honest mate it is you i find annoying. At least Mo Lester and Mike Oxlonger seem to be using educated opinion as well as humour in making well written and honest critique about many subjects of interest. Up until you joined in the debates the comments were never of the rude and vile nature you have brought to proceedings. Using the "P" word by the way you have is unforgivable, just to try to win a point. Why dont you use educated and concise points, you may go down a little better in many peoples opinions. I agree with Mo Lester that your aggression is beyond acceptable. Get a grip, if the abuse carries on then why dont you move out of Darwen, after all there are better places to live..............ma
Hands up everyody that finds Molester's and Oxlonger's bilious invective in the slightest bit amusing. . Constantly whining on about how they hate everything about Darwen - the article isn't even about Darwen and yet one half of Waldorf and Statler is slagging the town off. . These two reprobates seem to try and claim some moral high ground and yet one calls himself Molester and the other is a lazy ex-copper. . Rarely do I agree with Amazed - but your previous comments ring true, my friend.
ny !
amazed
says...
3:57pm Sat 19 Jun 10
It is generally accepted that Mo Lestor (Molester) and Mike Oxlonger seem to have a grudge against everything about Darwen. In fact Mo uses his pseudonym "anything but Darwen"
You can only expect a true Darwener to support his town whatever its shortcomings i.e. some of the inhabitants for instance.
I don't agree with the use of the "p" word in relation to anybody but these two, along with Ken Shuffles are "the pits" (oh heck another "p" word"!!) Please don't join them because Burnley, Nelson and Colne or not what you might call God's gift to Lancashire are they?
phoebesgrandad says...
11:49am Thu 17 Jun 10