OUTRAGED leaders today slammed Lancashire County Council for refusing to co-operate as Blackburn Council heads for independence.

Blackburn revealed the county council was delaying top level talks - with serious consequences for services and employees.

And Blackburn leader Malcolm Doherty claimed the setback was "sour grapes" because the county council has lost the fight to keep the borough under its control.

After a bitter two-year battle at county and district level, Parliament last month gave the final go-ahead for Blackburn and Blackpool to become unitary from April 1998, taking control of key local services including education, social services and libraries.

During the battle the county refused to discuss any handover arrangements and they have now said they cannot meet for another month until August 28.

Blackburn is anxious to start immediate talks, and Gail Barton, chairman of Blackburn's new local government reorganisation committee, claimed the county was going back on promises it made to co-operate.

"We have made several attempts to set up talks with the county council. But council chiefs say they haven't got time to talk to us until the end of August."

Coun Doherty added: "This seems like sour grapes. It is too late for the county to achieve anything by this delay.

"The county council can only damage the future provision of key services, and the career prospects of its own employees by not talking. "The sooner we talk, the sooner the uncertainty for service users and council employees will end.

"Furthermore, the county council's own services throughout Lancashire will need to be reviewed following the removal of Blackburn and Blackpool from its remit.

"There are only 20 months to complete this process and the sooner work begins, the sooner everyone in the county will be happier."

County council leader Louise Ellman claimed August 28 was the soonest date talks could be arranged because of holidays.

"Our chief executive sent a letter in July with proposals for a top level meeting. There are major issues to be discussed, and the best way to start is by determining policy at top level."

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