The Labour Party have remained dominant following the Stevenage Borough Council local elections – winning eight of the 13 seats contested yesterday.
Labour now have 26 seats on the council, while the Conservatives have nine and Liberal Democrats have four.
Although Labour retained control of the council – holding seven seats and gaining one from the Conservatives in Roebuck on the night – the party did have a net loss of one as their Old Town seat went to the Conservatives and Chells to the Lib Dems.
In the Old Town poll, Jody Hanafin beat Monika Cherney-Craw by just two votes to turn the seat from red to blue. The Conservatives’ other two seats – Longmeadow, where Councillor Doug Bainbridge had defected from Labour, and Woodfield – were held.
Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland described the Old Town win as a “stunning victory”.
As well as the gain in Chells through candidate Tom Wren, who told the Comet he was pleased with the result after a long and hard-fought campaign, the Lib Dems retained Manor.
Speaking to the Comet about her defeat in Chells, Labour’s former mayor Pam Stuart said: “I’m disappointed and shocked. The only thing I can think is that because I have been mayor I haven’t been able to do as much doorstep campaigning. I can’t think what else it could be.
“Every year the Lib Dems work Chells very hard. We have fought them off, but that’s the way they operate. It’s too soon to say if I will stand again. I must admit it will be nice to get a life back.”
Councillor Joan Lloyd kept hold of her seat in the Bandley Hill ward, a seat she has remained in for 42 years, and council leader Sharon Taylor also held her seat for Symonds Green.
Of Labour’s gain in Roebuck, winning candidate Sarah-Jane Potter said: “I’m very happy. I was quite shocked but I have worked hard to speak to as many people as possible.
“This is my first time standing as a councillor. I have always been involved in politics and decided now is the right time to stand myself.
“I’m really hoping to make a difference in Roebuck. I have so much enthusiasm and I’m so grateful to those who voted for me.”
The average turnout of voters across Stevenage was 34.6 per cent.
Bandley Hill:
Andrew Anderson, Lib Dems – 143
Nicholas Foster, Con – 715
Joan Lloyd, Lab – 772 (ELECTED)
Turnout: 32.01 per cent
Bedwell:
Michelle Frith, Con – 506
Lizzy Kelly, Lab – 1,001 (ELECTED)
Victoria Snelling, Green – 151
Turnout: 31.35 per cent
Chells:
Mayor Pam Stuart, Lab – 562
Tom Wren, Lib Dems – 796 (ELECTED)
Matthew Wyatt, Con – 360
Turnout: 34.65 per cent
Longmeadow:
Doug Bainbridge, Con – 789 (ELECTED)
Stephen Booth, Lib Dems – 185
David Wood, Lab – 665
Turnout: 36.31 per cent
Manor:
Matthew Clarke, Con – 400
David Martin, Lab – 370
Andy McGuinness, Lib Dems – 1,196 (ELECTED)
Turnout: 39.27 per cent
Martins Wood:
Joseph Barnes, Con – 518
Jill Brinkworth, Lib Dems – 382
Lloyd Briscoe, Lab – 639 (ELECTED)
Turnout: 33.48 per cent
Old Town:
Monika Cherney-Craw, Lab – 1,010
Jody Hanafin, Con – 1,012 (ELECTED)
Mason Humberstone, Lib Dems – 149
Elizabeth Sturges, Green – 194
Turnout: 37.65 per cent
Pin Green:
Charlie Laing, Con – 579
Vicky Lovelace, Green – 184
Lin Martin-Haugh, Lab – 811 (ELECTED)
Turnout: 32.89 per cent
Roebuck:
Nigel Bye, Lib Dem – 113
Alex Farquharson, Con – 706
Sarah-Jane Potter, Lab – 842 (ELECTED)
Martin Malocco, Green – 90
Turnout: 34.23 per cent
Shephall:
Paul Barber, Lib Dems – 68
Rob Broom, Lab – 727 (ELECTED)
Michael Hearn, Con – 482
Michael Malocco, Green – 84
Turnout: 29.79 per cent
St Nicholas:
Sandra Barr, Lab – 951 (ELECTED)
Naomi Collins, Green – 96
Matthew Snell, Lib Dems – 96
Amanda Tandi, Con – 690
Turnout: 34.87 per cent
Symonds Green:
Clive Hearmon, Lib Dems – 89
Sharon Taylor, Lab – 847 (ELECTED)
Richard Warr, Green – 81
Alex Young, Con – 602
Turnout: 36.36 per cent
Woodfield:
Phil Bibby, Con – 835 (ELECTED)
Neil Brinkworth, Lib Dems – 170
Irfan Javed, Lab – 543
Turnout: 36.37 per cent
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