BLACKBURN'S bid for unitary status takes another twist today (Thursday) when Lancashire County Council challenge the decision in the High Court.

With news that Parliament has delayed debating the issue for a week until July 4, county chiefs are hopeful they can get premission for a judicial review on the situation.

The county council are arguing that a final decision cannot be made until the Local Government Commission's review of the electoral structural is completed in December.

Roy Rich, the county council's Local Government Review Officer said: "Any decision made beforehand would prejudice any new findings we make. We still believe that a two tier structure is the best for Lancashire and Blackburn and will continue or fight to maintain it."

But Liza McKinney from the Local Government Commission said that the electoral review was completely separate from the unitary status review.

She said: "Electoral reviews are carried out every 10 to 15 years whenever possible. The last review in Blackburn was in 1976 and we are just working on the instructions of the Secretary of State.

"However I must stress that any new evidence that Lancashire County Council can come up with to halt the borough's go-it-alone bid will be looked into and dealt with.

Gail Barton, chair of the council's Local Government Reorganisation Committee said: "I am disappointed by this latest move by the county council which will further frustrate the smooth transition of services and prolong and heighten the anxieties of staff.

"These legal proceedings are another costly exercise which will have to be borne by all of the residents of the county including Blackburn and Blackpool who support unitary status."

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