A COUNCILLOR has vowed to carry on talking 'tripe' - because he says it is getting action from council bosses!

Lib Dem leader Paul Browne was accused of continually talking tripe by Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, after he claimed plans to regenerate Darwen town centre had only come about thanks to opposition pressure.

Council bosses are currently meeting with key players in Darwen with a view to setting up a new partnership which will bid for funding for schemes around Darwen.

People are being asked what they would like in their town centre. Priorities so far include a better range of shops and environmental improvements.

Coun Browne told a full council meeting: "I am pleased action is being taken.

"But it is a shame it has taken so long. Darwen is constantly forgotten. The only reason any action is being taken is because we have refused to let them forget about us."

Coun Kay said: "We have held a number of meetings so far and it is good to be working with people who realise we are serious and don't just moan we are not doing enough.

"We are as committed to Darwen as we are to any part of the borough but the important thing to remember is that Darwen is not just for Darweners, or Darreners as my dad, who was one, called them.

"We want to make Darwen attractive for people who live in Blackburn as well, in the same way we have improved Blackburn for the benefit of everyone. The people we are talking with now are key players in the town, who would benefit from improvements.

"It is nice not hear the old tripe about Darwen being ignored at the expense of everything else. Our work is nothing to do with Darwen being ignored, because it hasn't been. It is about improving the whole borough and Darwen has never been forgotten."

Darwen Labour councillor Dave Hollings said: "This work isn't because the Lib Dems have claimed nothing has been done. We admit that perhaps not as much has been done as should have been but the Labour group have responded constructively rather than just shouting we have been forgotten."

Coun Karimeh Foster, a Lib Dem councillor, said: "We have campaigned for Darwen and hopefully we finally have action."

And Coun Browne said: "People may say I am talking tripe, but I won't change what I have been saying. It is the way we have got this action."