County's longest serving councillor dies at 86

One of England's longest serving councillors has died at the age of 86.

Ivan Taylor served as a Blackpool councillor for 59 years, and most recently was ward councillor for Claremont.

He was the leader of the council when it became a unitary authority, overseeing the roll out of Sure Start centres, and set up the town's first publicly run leisure centre.

Councillor Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: "Blackpool has lost one of its greatest champions", adding that Taylor had "devoted his life to the town he loved".

Taylor was first elected to Blackpool county borough in 1966-1969, and then again from 1971-72.

In 1973, he was elected for Blackpool Borough Council which was, until 1998, a district council within Lancashire.

As council leader from 1991 to 2000, he led the council's transition to become a unitary authority, ensuring that decisions around children and families, adult services, highways and later public health were made in Blackpool, the council said.

He led on the building of the town's first leisure centre at Blackpool Sports Centre.

Now, Blackpool Council runs three leisure centres, as well as a sports village, supporting more than 7,000 local people with access to affordable exercise, sport and health related benefits.

Taylor also led on the roll out of Sure Start children's centres across the town, which still support thousands of families in their new role as family hubs.

He was Mayor of Blackpool in 2002-2003 and for 20 years, he served alongside his wife councillor Sylvia Taylor, who represented Claremont ward and was Mayor of Blackpool in 2012-13.

She died in 2021, aged 82.

Williams said Taylor's "record of public service is extraordinary, but those of us who knew Ivan will remember far more than the years he served".

"He loved meeting residents, hearing their stories and doing everything he could to help."

Salford City Council's David Lancaster MBE is thought to be the longest serving councillor in England historically, having served for 60 years. He died earlier this year.

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