A NEWSENIOR executive has returned to Blackburn with Darwen Council, drawn back by the ‘buzz’ about the borough.

Tom Flanagan has taken over the £110,000 a year job as the new executive director for place, replacing Andrew Lightfoot.

He had previously been director of regeneration at the borough between 1997 and 2001.

Since then Liverpool-born Mr Flanagan has worked at local authorities in Cornwall, Oldham and Liverpool before moving to Oxfordshire County Council as Head of Planning, Environment and Transport Policy.

He said: “I feel excited and privileged – it feels like I am coming home.

“There is a real buzz about the place.

“I have been extremely impressed with the commitment to investment and the momentum behind the current programme of regeneration activity.

“There has been a visible growth in local home-grown businesses and the Hive network is a real strength that will provide strong business leadership going forward.

“The shopping experience surpasses other places that are much bigger and investment in flagship projects such as the Cathedral Quarter will ensure the town centre continues to be an economic driver in its own right.

“The investment in townscape heritage projects and market facilities in both Darwen and Blackburn shows the importance of retaining an independent retail sector and retaining both quality and choice.

“It has been interesting and informative working in the south-east and south-west, I have gained a great deal of insight into smarter ways of working.

“However, you can take the boy out of the north but you can’t take the north out of the boy and I’m looking forward to returning home and using those insights to contribute to a brighter future for the borough.

“The innovation and creativity of the Blackburn is Open campaign and the linkages to refurbished assets such as the library and museum indicate that people are not afraid to reinvent the place anew and utilise cherished traditions while inventing future opportunities.

“To fully realise our potential we will need to raise our sights and set a clear ambition and narrative for the future.

“Only in that way will we convince our young people and our new and growing businesses that Blackburn with Darwen is the place to invest in for the long term.”