2/5/2008

Local News in Fleet

ELECTION VIDEO: Rushmoor a deeper shade of blue

A DRAMATIC election count saw the Conservatives strengthen their hold on Rushmoor Borough Council.

The party took the three vacant Farnborough seats, Cove and Southwood, St John’s, and Empress, where 23-year-old Gareth Lyons became Rushmoor’s youngest ever councillor.

The Tories now hold 29 seats, the Lib Dems have eight and Labour control five.

Click here for a full list of results on the council's website.

Cove and Southwood Lib Dem candidate Anoop Verma stormed out of the count at Aldershot’s Princes Hall before his comprehensive defeat to Tory Sue Carter was officially declared.

The far right British National Party (BNP) finished second in Fernhill where Cheryl Glass polled 200 votes, beating Lib Dem Josephine Murphy by 10 ballots, but she lagged behind 906-vote Tory winner John Marsh.

BNP candidates in West Heath, Grange and Mayfield failed to make much impression, where Tories Steve Smith and Steve Masterson and Lib Dem Charlie Fraser-Fleming won easily.

Knellwood Tory Paul Taylor won the biggest overall majority in the borough, attracting 1,153 votes against Lib Dem challenger Derek Purdey, who got 395 ballots, and 105-vote Bill Toothill of the Labour Party.

New parking charges in St Mark’s proved decisive as Tory Nigel Baines lost his seat to Lib Dem Crispin Allard.

Voters in St Johns had the task of selecting two representatives due to the January death of Tory Graham Tucker.

Party colleague Jacqui Vosper replaced him while Conservative group leader Peter Moyle retained his seat.

In Aldershot meanwhile, Lib Dem Paul Bowers defeated Labour’s Terry Bridgeman in Heron Wood, bringing an end to the red rose domination of the ward and an absence for his party in Aldershot since George Paparesti’s defection to the Tories in 2006.

Cllr Bowers attracted 564 votes, Mr Bridgeman 404, and 19-year-old Tory Simon Poole came a close third with 380.

Wellington saw the closest borough contest with 50 votes separating Tory victor Neil Watkin and Labour’s Alex Crawford.

Just 19.8% of those eligible decided to use their democratic right in the town centre ward, the lowest in Rushmoor.

Former mayor David Welch sprinted to victory in Tory-dominated Rowhill, with the town’s largest individual majority, 711, over Lib Dem Pete Pearson, who won 217 ballots.

Cllr Paparesti easily triumphed in Manor Park. His 869 votes beat the 399 for Lib Dem Laura Kilburn and Labour’s Lesley Pestridge, who won 140.

Labour’s Sue Dibble romped home in North Town defeating Tory Sabaah Salim Choudhary by 885 votes to 446. Lib Dem Nick Burfield got 149 ballots.

The 33.7% borough turnout was down nearly three points on last year.

See Friday’s News for a full round-up and analysis of the local elections.

First printed in: The News and Mail Series