A LEADING councillor has been ousted from his role spearheading the regeneration of Blackburn and Darwen after a secret ballot among his Labour colleagues.

Coun Ashley Whalley was voted out after a Cabinet shake-up on Blackburn with Darwen Council.

He has been replaced by Coun Andy Kay.

Coun Whalley oversaw a series of controversial projects for the town throughout his tenure, such as the Orbital Route traffic scheme and the Church Street regeneration but always defended them strongly.

His fiercest critic today said the town had declined under his influence, rather than regenerated and he was happy to see him go.

But Labour party colleagues said Coun Whalley had not been ousted for any "sinister" reasons, and that the contest between him and Coun Kay had always been close in previous years.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Bill Taylor has the power to select his own cabinet but he forsakes that and puts the decision to the vote of the party's 36 councillors.

Coun Whalley was given the role as chair of the council's scrutiny committee.

He said: "In the Labour party you go through an annual process of election and in this party you win some and you lose some."

Coun Whalley's biggest critic, town centre hairdresser Jeff Stone, has been unhappy since proposals to pedestrianise Church Street, close to his Fleming Square shop, were unveiled.

He said: "It is no surprise he has lost his portfolio, especially after the 'winter of discontent' when he blamed everyone and everything else for the town's problems with the orbital route."

Coun Whalley's replacement, Coun Kay, added: "I'm really pleased to be able to do whatever I can to help our town. There is a heck of a lot of work Ashley started and that has continued through the years.

"I don't feel sorry for Ashley. It's not a matter of feeling sorry. It's a matter of doing a job and that's life."

Coun Tony Humphrys, the mayor as of next month, said: "I understand that the vote was very close. There was nothing sinister. Ashley Whalley has done a good job as the member for regeneration and his work to better the town centre has been well supported by the public and his members."

Coun Hussain Akhtar said: "Ashley Whalley has done a really good job and I don't think there was a problem with him that people didn't vote for him.

"His was the hardest job in the council and a lot of people get criticised when they do a good job.

"At the end of the day this is a democracy and I believe in that."

The only other change was Coun John Milburn who has taken over the resources portfolio vacated by Gail Barton after she lost her Mill Hill seat on the May 2 elections.