CLAIMS that up to 8,000 county council jobs could be axed in the wake of Blackburn winning independence have been slammed as scaremongering.

County hall chiefs revealed that staffing levels will slashed by 25 per cent when Blackburn and Blackpool boroughs break away to become single status councils.

The massive changes in the make-up of the county council will also spark a major shake-up of administration of all three local authorities.

But Blackburn Council expects its own workforce to increase from 1,500 to around 5,000 following the shift in power.

And Gail Barton, chairman of Blackburn's local government reorganisation committee, claims the council is doing its utmost to protect jobs in the borough.

Coun Barton said: "Talk of these sort of job losses seems to smack of scare- mongering.

"While we can make no guarantees we have promised our staff we will do all we can to protect jobs and services."

Workers who provide vital services in the borough will be employed by Blackburn town hall after April, 1998.

Talks are taking place between the two local authorities and lists are being drawn up of people who provide services in Blackburn and Darwen. The unions are also involved in the discussions

Jobs such as teachers and social workers will automatically come under Blackburn Council control.

Coun Barton added: "Obviously Lancashire County Council will have to downsize its operations in the coming year but it is still early to say what the changes will mean.

"As soon as we have any news, the first people to be told what is happening will be those who are directly affected, the employees.

"We are currently working alongside the county council to avoid any redundancies following reorganisation."

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