A COUNCIL leader is going on-line in a bid to find out what the public think of his borough's services.

Blackburn with Darwen leader Bill Taylor has launched his own email address for people to contact him with their gripes and groans.

And he pledged to answer each one and tackle the problems presented to him.

Coun Taylor's voyage on to the world wide web is part of a three-pronged assault on the concerns of people in Blackburn with Darwen and comes just two weeks after he was elected.

He has also launched a new telephone hotline which will allow people to ring his office at any time, and he is planning a series of leaders' surgeries.

Coun Taylor said he hoped people would make use of the new opportunity to communicate with him as council leader.

He said: "As a council, it is important that we listen and hear what people have to say and help as best we can when there are problems that need to be addressed. As leader of the council, it is my pledge to make sure that this happens.

"It is 150 years since the council was created and the world has changed considerably since those early days. I want to make use of the latest technology on offer to reach out into the communities and open up the town hall as we have never seen before."

He added: "I am deeply concerned that people may feel untouched by local government and see the town hall as remote from their lives. I can begin to help tackling this apathy by enabling local people to get in touch about issues they feel strongly about. "I hope to hear from young people, many of whom feel totally disengaged from society. These people are our future and will form the communities of tomorrow so it is important to listen and discuss issues that are of importance to them."

He added that the hotline was available for people who did not have access to email, and an answerphone service was in operation.

He said: "I can't think of anywhere else in the country where this is done.

"Jack Straw still holds six surgeries a month in the borough, and I as education executive member held regular surgeries specifically for that subject.

"This is a logical step forward. In some cases, we will be able to sort things out on the spot. In others, it may be a case of involving relevant officers."

Coun Taylor can be contacted at council.leader@ blackburn.gov.uk or on 01254 585757.

People can also contact their local councillor at councillors@blackburn.gov.uk or telephone on 01254 585321.