Crap Towns / Blackburn with Darwen / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against Blackburn with Darwen council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 32 complaints and enquiries about Blackburn with Darwen council, investigated 3 and upheld 3. That's an uphold rate of 100%, against 85% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 1.8 upheld, against 5.6 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 0% of upheld cases, against 13% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 3 cases, 3 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	3
Not upheld	0
Closed after first enquiries	14
Sent back to the council to sort out first	14
Advice given	0
Invalid or incomplete	1
All decided	32

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Education and children's services	13
Benefits and tax	6
Bins, environment and public protection	6
Highways and transport	6
Planning	5
Corporate and other services	4
Adult social care	3
Housing	1
Other	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Bury	9.0
Blackburn with Darwen	1.8
Ribble Valley	1.5
Rossendale	1.4
South Ribble	0.9
Chorley	0.0
Hyndburn	0.0