TOWN hall bosses in Blackburn are hoping to borrow £8 million to foot the bill for winning independence from Lancashire County Council.

The council has asked for permission from central government to borrow the money over the next four years.

It is looking unlikely that Blackburn will have its bid for £515,000 in transitional expenditure for next year approved by the government.

But the bulk of the money would come in 1997 if a bid for for almost £5 million is accepted.

Council chiefs are not expecting to get the go-ahead to borrow the full amount and are still waiting to hear from the Government.

Treasurers have already put £500,000to one side to help fund the re-organisation.

Special arrangements are also being made to make sure Blackburn Council chooses the right people to run the new authority.

New bosses will have to be appointed to help run key services like education and social services.

And some town council chiefs will have to reapply for their jobs because of an increase in responsibility.

The current chief executive Gerald Davies will probably have to put in an application form if he wants to be in charge of Blackburn after spring, 1998.

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