A SENIOR Conservative councillor has rejected plans to set up an all-purpose authority for East Lancashire.

Pendle borough proposed the breakaway body from the current county council in February.

It would include Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.

Pendle's Labour leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal and his Conservative counterpart Cllr Paul White believe it would better serve Eastern boroughs than the current Preston-based Lancashire County Council.

Cllr Ken Hind, leader of the Tory-run Ribble Valley Council, has made clear its opposition to the plan.

He said: "We have had no formal request but we view the prospects with disquiet .

"This potential unitary will be predominantly urban and industrial and have little in common with the rural Ribble Valley.

"Any approach to join such a unitary authority will result in a recommendation to council that we do not join by the current Conservative administration.

" Our commitment to the public is to remain as part of the Lancashire County Council area within a two tier council structure where our independence is preserved.."

The latest row comes as talks about a Lancashire Combined Authority with delegated powers an cash from Whitehall are back under way with Ribble Valley reluctantly sitting in on the discussions.

Burnley council leader Mark Townsend, his Hyndburn counterpart Cllr Miles Parkinson , and Blackburn with Darwen's boss Cllr Mohammed Khan have all said the idea of an East Lancashire unitary authority is worth considering.

Cllr Hind added: "We recognise that Lancashire County Council has its problems but big is not always beautiful.’’