The Conservatives are this morning celebrating a remarkable clean sweep of all the District and Town Council seats in Bradley Stoke.
The town’s five seats on South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) are now held by Conservatives after Ben Walker beat Jon Williams (Liberal Democrat) by a comfortable margin of 139 votes in Bradley Stoke North.
Bradley Stoke Central & Stoke Lodge was held with large margins by Brian Hopkinson and Sarah Pomfret, while John Ashe and Robert Jones comfortably held Bradley Stoke South.
Reflecting a national trend, Liberal Democrat candidates were beaten by both Labour candidates in Bradley Stoke Central & Stoke Lodge and by one of the two Labour candidates in Bradley Stoke South.
In South Gloucestershire Council as a whole, the Conservatives gained one seat, Labour gained six seats and the Lib Dems lost seven, leaving the overall picture unchanged, i.e. no party with an overall majority but the Conservatives having the most seats.
Conservative candidates won all 15 seats on Bradley Stoke Town Council, gaining two seats from the Lib Dems and one held by an independent. Jon Williams (Lib Dem), a Town Councillor for more than 17 years (excepting an 18 month break in 2007/08) failed to gain re-election, losing out to Keith Cranney in the Stoke Brook ward.
Photos from the count at the Leisure Centre: album; slideshow
Full results: Local Election (SGC)
Gazette: Lib Dems speak of ‘disappointment’ at local election losses
Gazette: Tory gain is down to ‘positive campaign’ says party leader
Interesting to read that the Lib Dems’ 2010 General Election candidate for Filton and Bradley Stoke was ousted from his Pilning and Severn Beach seat on South Gloucestershire Council.
Election turnout figures for Bradley Stoke:
* Bradley Stoke North: 42.2%
* Bradley Stoke Central & Stoke Lodge: 39.0%
* Bradley Stoke South: 41.8%