A ROW has erupted after former Blackpool Council leader Roy Fisher was appointed to a new role looking after the resort's health needs.
Mr Fisher has been appointed as chairman of Blackpool Primary Care Trust (PCT).
But the move has angered the town's ruling Tories who claim it is "political".
Mr Fisher's new job, which comes with a salary of more than £33,000, was announced ju
st days after his bid to be re-elected onto the council failed.
He missed out on retaining the Park ward seat for Labour when Conservative candidate Peter Collins swept to victory at last Thursday's by-election.
Related stories:New leader tells of mixed feelingsTory triumph in Blackpool's Park WardMr Fisher, who led Blackpool's ill-fated bid to secure the supercasino licence, lost his Layton seat at the May 2007 local elections when the Tories took control of the town hall.
Council leader Peter Callow today said it was wrong for the PCT to appoint a former Labour council leader to role of chairman.
He said: "The Conservative group feels the situation is far from being a healthy one with a former Labour council leader, who only last Thursday was fighting a by-election, being appointed as PCT chairman.
"We've got major projects involving the PCT and this town, which we are working in partnership on such as the new complex at Moor Park.
"Mr Fisher will be involved in confidential talks with the council and he can just report straight back to his Labour colleagues.
"This stinks of being a political appointment. It shouldn't have gone to someone who is in the frontline of politics. It seems he didn't have a Plan B for the town, but he did for Roy Fisher."
Mr Fisher, who takes over from former Gazette managing director, Tony Shaw, denied it was a political appointment.
He said: "I'm very aware from my previous role at the problems which exist in Blackpool with regard to the health inequalities. I would like to see this town moving forward, which it has been doing under previous chairman, Tony Shaw.
"I hope the people of Blackpool will recognise this from my previous role at the council.
"It's really important the council and the PCT share boundaries so that both agencies are aware of each others' problems."
PCT bosses, who stressed Mr Fisher's appointment was made by national NHS Appointments Commission and not locally by the trust, said the new chairman would great experience to the role.
Blackpool PCT chief executive, Wendy Swift, said: "Roy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the post and joins us in exciting times as we continue with our plans for three new Primary Care Centres in Blackpool."
Sir David Henshaw, chairman of NHS North West, said: "I welcome Roy's appointment to what is one of our best performing Primary Care Trusts.
"His local knowledge and community involvement makes him the ideal person to take forward the health agenda in Blackpool and contribute to Healthier Horizons, our vision for better care, better health and better life for the people of the North West."
The full article contains 528 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
