It was pretty much as you were for North Herts in yesterday’s Herts County Council elections – with the Conservatives gaining a seat from Labour to maintain their dominance in the district, but losing one to the Liberal Democrats.
Polling stations closed at 10pm with ballots counted overnight – with the overall turnout for the district 36.90 per cent.
It was a good night for the Conservatives who kept hold of seven of their seats, as well making a gain from Labour in the Letchworth North division as Doug Swanney – standing in place of Lorna Kercher – lost to Simon Bloxham.
The one disappointment for the Tories was slightly further afield in the Royston West and Rural division, where North Herts Liberal Democrats group leader Steve Jarvis beat Tony Hunter by 62 votes.
Labour did hold one of their two North Herts seats, with Judi Billing elected in Hitchin North.
There was also one seat contested for North Herts District Council in a Hitchin Priory by-election, with Raymond Shakespeare-Smith holding the seat for the Conservatives.
For the full results and turnouts see below.
Herts County Council seats in North Herts:
• Baldock and Letchworth East – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
Brian Alderton (UKIP) – 223
Rosemary Bland (Green) – 243
Anne Holland (Lab) – 767
Michael Muir (Con) – 1,850 ELECTED
Richard Winter (Lib Dem) – 716
Turnout: 3,807 (35 per cent)
• Hitchin North – LABOUR HOLD
Judi Billing (Lab) – 2,223 ELECTED
Barbara Clare (TUSC) – 35
Sam Collins (Lib Dem) – 550
David Leal-Bennett (Con) – 1,215
Mario May (Green) – 321
Turnout: 4,355 (37.45 per cent)
• Hitchin Rural – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
David Barnard (Con) – 1,970 ELECTED
Mary Marshall (Green) – 338
Neill Sankey (Lab) – 729
Carol Stanier (Lib Dem) – 426
Turnout: 3,471 (34.06 per cent)
• Hitchin South – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
Derrick Ashley (Con) – 1,884 ELECTED
Paul Clark (Lib Dem) – 1,770
Angela Griggs (Lab) – 618
Diana Newson (Green) – 274
Turnout: 4,563 (42.65 per cent)
• Knebworth and Codicote – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
Richard Downey (Lab) – 494
Rebecca Leek (Green) – 219
Richard Thake (Con) – 2,090 ELECTED
Terry Tyler (Lib Dem) – 934
Turnout: 3,749 (37.45 per cent)
• Letchworth North – CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM LABOUR
Simon Bloxham (Con) – 1,753 ELECTED
Elizabeth Hancock (Green) – 301
Sean Prendergast (Lib Dem) – 356
Doug Swanney (Lab) – 1,646
Turnout: 4,071 (34.38 per cent)
• Letchworth South – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
Jean Andrews (Lab) – 874
Maryla Hart (Green) – 202
Terry Hone (Con) – 2,125 ELECTED
Barry Neale (Lib Dem) – 707
Sidney Start (UKIP) – 215
Turnout: 4,134 (36.98 per cent)
• Royston East and Ermine – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
Karen Harmel (Green) – 192
Fiona Hill (Con) – 2,244 ELECTED
Mark Hughes (Ind) – 277
Hugh Parker (Lib Dem) – 633
John Rees (Lab) – 479
Turnout: 3,890 (35.18 per cent)
• Royston West and Rural – LIB DEM GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE
Christoper Arquati (UKIP) – 162
Dean Lee Cartwright (Green) – 145
Kenneth Garland (Lab) – 380
Tony Hunter (Con) – 1,914
Steve Jarvis (Lib Dem) – 1,976 ELECTED
Turnout: 4,590 (38.98 per cent)
North Herts District Council by-election
• Hitchin Priory – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
John Hefford (Lib Dem) – 394
Jacqueline McDonald (Ind) – 277
Raymond Shakespeare-Smith (Con) – 717 ELECTED
Des Stephens (Green) – 114
Dave Winstanley (Lab) – 219
Turnout: 1,727 (46.44 per cent)
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