THE Tories suffered a major blow in their heartland of Mid Beds last week when they lost a seat on the district council. Residents in Houghton, Haynes, Old Warden and Southill went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new member for the district council af
THE Tories suffered a major blow in their heartland of Mid Beds last week when they lost a seat on the district council.
Residents in Houghton, Haynes, Old Warden and Southill went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new member for the district council after Conservative councillor Neil Capon resigned at the end of last year due to work commitments.
Since then Simon Gillett, who won the second seat in the ward through a by-election in 2004, has been representing the area.
The Conservatives had expected to easily hold on to the seat but Liberal Democrat Roger Baines from Broom took the seat with a majority of 186.
Mr Baines, 65, polled 741 votes against second placed Conservative Angela Barker of Haynes West End with 555 votes and Labour's Laurence Pollock third with just 44 votes.
It leaves the Tories still in firm control of the council with 37 members. The Lib Dems have 12 representatives and there are four independent members.
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