[g jones]

Tensions seem to be running high in the Conservative Party locally. I am sure Doug didn't really mean it though he was involved in an unsavoury incident with Stan Horne in the Ossy Con a couple of years back. Stan gave Doug a backeye, a Tory Councillor present at the time told us later. Stan Horne (Conservative) is standing for the Rishton by-election next month as a matter of interest.

Quite honestly it is deplorable that Councillors behave this way. When I got elected Stan Horne went to a relative of mine and in their opinion, spent the whole conversation 'fishing for any dirt' on me. With parts of the Government being perceived the way they are it is hard for members of the public in Hyndburn to fully appreciate that The Council is further away from progress than when the Conservatives first took over. It's quite sad people don't vote on local issues.

The Conservatives have been unable to run the Council to be truthful, relying on an awful lot of mis-information and an avalanche of 'good news' press releases from Peter Britcliffe (and more recently 'potential' Tory Candidate for MP, Tony Dobson).

The constitution has been rigged at the Council to give the opposition very little opportunity to speak. The opposition is allowed 2 debates a year. However they can only propose them and speak during the debate. Peter Britcliffe insisted that he must be able to sum up the opposition debate and changed the constitution accordingly.

This does not prevent us putting motions forward but this always results in Conservatives using their bigger block vote to always seek to humble Labour Councillors irrespective of the issue.

I was frank on the night (and if you read the resolution), realistic about the situation but, as always, the Conservatives turned it into a playground argument which was disapointing.

I believe that if more people sat in the gallery we would have a more honest debate which is what the Borough desperatly needs instead of the monopoly axis of PB and the OB.

Anyone can attend Full Council meetings. There is a public gallery that hold about 40-50. The next meeting is this Wednesday at 7pm to try and have one last effort to save our Crown Post Office. Or ring 388111 and ask when future meetings are.