MEMBERS of the new Darwen parish council seem determined to have a Darwen mayor instead of simply a chairman when they next meet.

At least the For Darwen Party members and their new “best friend” Paul Browne seem hell bent on pursuing it.

Nobody else at the first public meeting seemed at all keen on the idea and several were openly hostile. My view? The parish council will be a waste of time and the idea of a Darwen mayor is ridiculous.

Someone asked what powers the new parish council would have and the legal chief mumbled something about bus shelters. Oh, and councillors will also be able to comment on planning matters. Well, I can comment on planning matters – and so can anyone else.

As for a Darwen mayor after 35 years, well, it’s madness. It’s also an insult to the office of the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen which we have become accustomed to over the years. Darwener Jim Hirst must be baffled.

Well, I voted against a Darwen parish council but now we’re lumbered with one. To go with the rest of the talking shops the Council itself, the Neighbour-hood Board, the Town Centre Partnership, the Neighbourhood Voices, the Chamber of Trade, the Civic Society, the Fill-the-road-holes Front, the Clean-up-the-River-Darwen Campaign Group, the Cobblestones Concern Coalition and all the others.

I’m looking forward to the first local function attended by both Jim Hirst as Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen and Paul Browne as Mayor of Darwen. It should be fun!

HARRY NUTTALL, Darwen