COUNCIL Conservative leader Colin Rigby caused controversy by labelling Blackburn a 'grotty mill town.' He said the town was "trying to compete with the likes of Preston and that just wasn't possible."

Was his frank assessment right or wrong? Ian Singleton investigates...

COLIN RIGBY may think we can't compete with Preston -- but the man at the helm at the other end of the M65 today admitted he was envious of Blackburn.

The leader of Preston City Council, Ian Hall, spoke as Coun Rigby's fellow Tories and people who live and work in the town disagreed with his outspoken views.

Preston has undergone a multi-million pound transformation into a major shopping centre in recent years -- and more major projects are in the pipeline.

And the Preston leader emphasised that, despite its efforts, he didn't think Blackburn would never join his city in the big league. But Coun Hall, whose daughter lives in Blackburn and is a regular visitor, said: "I am very envious of Blackburn.

"The council is a unitary authority and have the power to do all the things without reference to anybody else. In Preston, we are a district council. In Blackburn they have done a tremendous job in a relatively short period of time.

"We think they have been very progressive. I think there was a tremendous amount of deprivation in Blackburn and there still is in places. Certainly, parts are, without doubt, grotty and not particularly nice.

"Preston is in the correct place on the main north-south link. It is a natural place for redevelopment and expansion and Blackburn has to recognise that.

"That doesn't mean there isn't a place for Blackburn, but we all have to recognise our strengths.

"Our main competitors are Liverpool and Manchester and the Trafford Centre. We don't see Blackburn as a direct competitor, but we have to work together -- we live off each other.

"If Preston expands, that creates jobs and benefits people in Blackburn."

Doug Chadwick, who, as the vice-chairman of the Blackburn Civic Society, is knowledgeable about the town's architecture and history, said: "Anyone with a pair of eyes only needs to look at Blackburn to see Coun Rigby's comment is way off the mark.

"You would struggle to find a mill in Blackburn now. A mill town in the context of the dark satanic mills is out of the past and historical.

"In Blackburn, people need to step back and look how the town has transformed since that image of being a mill town.

"Blackburn has an awful lot to be proud of. We have some very good, new architecture, not least of which is the train station and the college, which is leading the way. "Blackburn is a changing town and the orbital route will be the making of Blackburn once the next leg is opened."

Some of Coun Rigby's fellow Conservatives disagree with him. Coun Alan Cottam, Conservative spokesman for regeneration, said: "What Colin has said is a personal opinion.

"It is our job as opposition to highlight problems but still play a part in improving the town and not talking it down for the sake of it."

Coun Sheila Williams said: "I don't agree that Blackburn is a grotty mill town. It was once, but so were a lot of others."

Coun Fred Slater said: "It used to be a mill town and is no longer, but the town certainly needs a lot of renovation and I don't think we will have got to the stage where we are as good as some of our neighbours for a long, long while."