Almost 70% of the borough turned out to vote in last week’s local elections.
The Tories comfortably retained control of Basingstoke and Deane borough council on a day of few surprises at Queen Mary’s College. The Conservatives were unable to make any ground on Labour strongholds Norden, South Ham, Popley East and Popley West but welcomed Hayley Eachus easing to victory by more than 1,500 votes.
And the Liberal Democrats held their key seats in Eastrop, Grove and Whitchurch.
Councillor Brian Gurden was able to avoid the curse of the Mayor as he retained his Brighton Hill North seat by more than 600 votes. In the previous borough elections in 2008, Mayor Warwick Lovegrove lost his seat on a day of high drama but there was no such problem this time around. The percentage of residents voting for the borough council was higher than usual due to the general election falling on the same day.
Council leader Andrew Finney (Cons), who retained his seat in Oakley and North Waltham, told the Observer he was not too concerned at a failure to pick up key Labour seats.
“I think we came very close in some historically safe wards for the other parties, it is always disappointing when you don’t win but we made good progress and have some great new councillors joining us. I think we have got a Conservative team which can take Basingstoke and Deane forward, this is an endorsement of what we have been doing over the last couple of years so we are happy with what has been done.
“It has been a very high turn out, inevitably the national election colours the voting patterns a little but I am very pleased with the result. I am very proud to be a servant of Basingstoke and Deane and I am very pleased they have endorsed what we are doing.”
A total of 67.5per cent of residents voted in the local elections – up from 37% in 2008.
Labour group leader Laura James, who kept her Norden seat, told the Observer they fulfilled their key objectives. “It was what we expected,” she said. “We retained our four seats and that is what we wanted to do this year and it shows that the work we do is appreciated and the public have recognised that.
“It is great news that we have four more years within these wards. We will be campaigning and challenging this administration on issues including the neglect on our streets, parking and fees and charges.”
And Liberal Democrat leader John Shaw added: “We are pleased with how things have gone today. As a group we have done well to maintain our seats and will continue to provide effective opposition.”
