THE new leader of the Pendle Conservative party hopes councillors will be able to put aside their ‘political differences’ to find the best possible solution for their constituents.

Vivary Bridge ward Coun Joe Cooney has taken over at the helm of the Tory party from Mike Blomeley after he stepped down before the recent election due to health problems.

Pendle Council is currently in deadlock, after voters left no party with overall control.

Both the Tories and the Labour party have 18 councillors each, while the Liberal Democrats have 12 seats and the British National Party has one.

To gain overall control one of the parties must join a coalition with the Lib Dems.

If this does not happen the council will be a hung council and each decision will be made on the number of individual votes.

Tory leader Coun Cooney said he was ‘willing’ to meet with Lib Dems to have the discussion about the possibility of working together similarly to the National Coalition.

He said: “We are willing to meet with the Liberals and to sit down and try and come up with a way of working together.

“We are hoping to meet with them early this week but it is too early yet to say what will happen.

“Currently, each of the parties are having their own meetings to discuss their own positions.

“I hope no matter what happens, that councillors will be able to put aside their political differences and do their very best for the people of Pendle.”

Pendle’s Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have yet to make their position clear.

Meetings between the relevant parties are expected to take place this week.

A decision must be made in time for Full Council on May 17 .