The Conservatives have held Lincolnshire County Council after last week’s election, while there were some impressive results for South Holland Independents.
The Tory party won 54 of the 70 seats in total, four down from the previous elections in 2016, and six of the nine wards up for grabs in this district.
Those three were claimed by the newly formed South Holland Independents group who now have as many seats as the Liberal Democrats and are just one behind Labour on the county council.
They had a brilliant morning at the local election count at the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding where three wards were counted at a time throughout the day.
With social distancing measures in place, the count was more low key than usual with less people allowed in, candidates not on stage for the results and no speeches made.
The big gains for the South Holland Independents saw Jane King take the Donington Rural seat from Rodney Grocock and Rob Gibson oust the previously county council cabinet member Eddy Poll from the Spalding East seat by just 36 votes.
A delighted Coun Gibson said: “I was expecting it to be close. I think as an independent you’re about 200-300 votes behind a Conservative candidate before you start so I’ve tried to show what I’ve done working as a district councillor and in the community and that’s what I hope to do going forward as a county councillor.”
Coun King said of her win by 116 votes: “I’m a bit shell shocked. It’s been brilliant and I’m amazed to be honest. I’m quite humbled at the amount of support and the people that turned out to vote. I can’t thank them enough for placing their trust in me.”
The Conservatives, who increased their vote share across the county by 1.9 per cent to 55.4 per cent, fought back in the afternoon.
A big boost for them was Jack Tyrrell winning The Suttons seat held by Independent candidate Chris Brewis for the last 16 years.
“I’m delighted,” Coun Tyrrell said. “I’ve always wanted to be on the county council.
“I’m originally from a civil engineering background so I’ve always wanted to be involved in Highways. I feel I’ve got a lot to offer there.
“We all moan about those people in charge of the roads and now they can moan at me.
“Chris Brewis has done a great job. He’s done his best and I feel for the bloke as it’s his whole world.”
“It’s life,” responded Brewis. “I’ve done my best for the last 16 years and I hope Jack does his best, I’ve fought for South Holland at Lincoln.”
Gary Taylor held the Spalding South seat vacated by Christine Lawton for the Conservatives despite the strong challenge by South Holland Independent Manzur Hasan.
“It’s been a tiring few weeks but we’ve remained positive and listened to the serious issues that have been raised with us and we’re serious about addressing them,” Coun Taylor said. “We need to get more police and more resources for the area as well as fairer funding. I knew it was going to be a tough fight against very respectable other candidates including a well known and respected businessman, so it was a relief to be able to win this battle.”
There were few surprises elsewhere.
Despite a slight recent hiccup where he accidently sent leaflets out using fake stamps and thereafter had to refund constituents, Nigel Pepper comfortably saw off only opponent Richard Fairman.
“I’m delighted,” he said after securing 58 per cent of the vote. “I would like to give credit to my opponent Richard Fairman. He contacted me to say he was standing which I thought was a nice touch.
“We’ve not attacked each other and hopefully we shall remain friends.”
Winning a third term as the representative of Spalding Elloe was an emotional one for Coun Elizabeth Sneath whose dad Peter Bray served four terms on the county council.
“It’s really important to me continuing on the family tradition,” she said. “He died in the last couple of years and would be so proud.”
Another current district councillor also voted on to the county is Tracey Carter who held Nick Worth’s old Holbeach seat.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” she said. “I’m already looking forward to working hard and I want to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me. Let the good times roll.”
There were also comfortable wins for Peter Coupland in Holbeach Rural and Angela Newton in Spalding West.
Angela said: “I was thrilled to be re-elected with such a substantial majority and sincerely thank the people of Spalding West for their faith in me.
“I will continue to work have for all residents in the ward, and district and support my fellow councillors.”
The turnout county wide was 31 per cent.
There was plenty of praise for how organised the count in South Holland was.
The returning officer Christine Marshall said: “I’m very pleased with how it’s gone in very difficult circumstances.
“A large amount of preparation has to go into it and I think all the staff involved helped throughout the process have been exceptional.”
* Elsewhere Sir John Hayes’s son William stood for the Conservatives in the election to Newcastle City Council where he’s at university.
He finished second in the Monument ward with 19 per cent of the vote.
Speaking at the count in Spalding, Sir John said of William: “He did really well.
“He was up in a very strong Labour seat but greatly increased the Conservative share and moved the party up from fourth to second, finishing above the Green and Liberal Democrat candidates.
“He didn’t expect to triumph but it’s a really good first step for him.”
The full local results:
Holbeach: Tracey Carter, Conservative – 1,646; Paul Foyster, South Holland Independent – 400; James Thomas, Labour – 196.
Donington Rural: Martin Coleman, Green – 138; Rodney Groccok, Conservative – 956; Jane King, South Holland Independents – 1,072.
Crowland: Richard Fairman, Independent – 588; Nigel Pepper – Conservative 2,102.
Spalding East: Robert Gibson, South Holland Independents – I,003; Eddy Poll, Conservative – 967.
Holbeach Rural: Christopher Clark, Green Party – 401; Peter Coupland, Conservative – 1910; Edward McNally – 287.
Spalding Elloe: Douglas Dickens, Independent – 254; Rebecca Longbottom, Labour – 171; Elizabeth Sneath, Conservative – 1,284; Heather Violett – 206.
The Suttons: Chris Brewis, Independent – 1015; Jack Tyrrell, Conservative – 1231.
Spalding West: David Denman, Conservative – 390; Angela Porter (Newton), SH Independents – 1627.
Spalding South: Gary Taylor, Conservative – 995; Manzur Hasan, South Holland Independents – 835; Martin Blake, Green Party – 109; Nicholas Brown, Labour – 209.
