COUNCILLORS have been slammed for taking time out from considering the proposed closure of special schools and homes for the elderly - to debate the Glenn Hoddle saga.

Local charities have told Blackburn with Darwen council to concentrate on running the borough instead of commenting on issues on which disabled people have already formed their own views.

Labour councillors Maureen Bateson and Janice Parker have tabled a motion for discussion at a meeting of the council tomorrow which blasts Hoddle for the "distress and offence" his comments have caused to disabled people in the borough.

The ex-Tottenham player and Chelsea manager left his post as England manager after he was alleged to have said disabled people were paying for sins committed in a previous life.

But charities which work for disabled people and opposition councillors have criticised the council for bringing the subject up once more at a meeting which will be discussing the possible closures of homes for the elderly and special schools in the borough.

Joyce Ferguson, Honorary Secretary of the Blackburn and Darwen Society for the Blind said: "What Glenn Hoddle thinks is of no account and blind people are carrying on with their lives regardless.

"The council should do the same and concentrate on doing what they are supposed to be doing, running the town."

The treasurer of the Darwen Disabled Group, Alice Moss said: "I agree that there are more important things that should be under discussion at the council, as insulting as Glenn Hoddle's comments undoubtedly were to disabled people."

Patricia Lane, manager of the SCOPE charity shop in Blackburn, which raises money for people with cerebral palsy agreed. She said: "It's a bit late to be discussing this now and even so people with cerebral palsy are capable of their own thoughts on this issue."

Opposition councillors on Blackburn with Darwen Council have also criticised the motion, a week after William Hague criticised Tony Blair for intervening on the subject.

Tory Leader Coun James Hirst said: "I really do think we have many more important things to be thinking about, such as getting the council tax down and value for money for residents rather than talking about Glenn Hoddle.

Liberal Democrat Coun Karimeh Foster said: "Glenn Hoddle has paid his penalty and there are a lot of other things the council should be discussing, such as the council tax and home for the elderly.

"It is not our job to interfere with what sporting personalities are saying. They are responsible for their own actions.

"Disabled people are as much a part of society as everybody else and perfectly capable of thinking for themselves."

Labour leader Coun Malcolm Doherty defended the proposed debate.

He added: "This is not about Glenn Hoddle. It is about the remarks he made about the disabled and the damage they did.

"It will be a free ranging debate and I am sure it will be very interesting."

The statement drafted by the two Labour councillors reads: "This council has a belief in the promotion of equality and regrets the comments made by Glenn Hoddle."

"This council recognises the barriers many disabled people face in their lives.

"As a council we are attempting through our policies and procedures to help disabled people to overcome these barriers and improve their quality of life. We recognise the contribution many disabled people make to our society and we firmly believe that when those in the public eye make unwise statements it devalues the attainments and efforts of all disabled people."

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