LANCASHIRE County Council is considering whether to appeal after it lost its bid to halt Blackburn's push for unitary status.

A High Court judge ruled that its argument - that the issue could not be debated in parliament until the Local Government Commission's final report of the electoral structure was completed - be turned down.

After listening to all the evidence, Mr Justice Collins said he did not think the county council could argue that the Secretary of State had acted unlawfully, in placing the structural change order before parliament.

As MPs prepared to debate the issue in the House of Commons today (Thursday), a county council spokesman said: "We are disappointed with the decision and will be considering, with leading counsel, whether to appeal."

But Councillor Gail Barton, chairman of the borough's local government reorganisation committee said: "I am delighted the county council's attempt to frustrate the passing of the orders in parliament has been rejected.

"I do hope now the county authority will get down to serious discussions over the transitional arrangements so that the uncertainty for residents of the borough, and our staff, can be removed."

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