Tories win seats to knock control from Lib Dems (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

No overall majority at St Albans District Council

5:58pm Friday 6th May 2011 in News By Manisha Mistry

THE balance of power at St Albans District Council was shifted at today's election as the Liberal Democrats lost control.

Voters took to the polls yesterday to make their selection for the district's 20 wards.

The Tories gained five seats - just one short of the number required for an overall majority.

The Green Party's candidate Simon Grover also celebrating a victory after gaining the party's first seat on the district council in the St Peters ward.

Speaking after the results were announced former leader of the council Robert Donald said yesterday's national picture gave him reasons to worry.

Councillor Donald added: "Even when the results were coming in last night you could see there were other factors at work here not just local policies.

"So I came in this morning thinking we may not be able to win it."

He said the rebuild of Westminister Lodge, which has been subject to criticism, is something that the people want.

He added: "The fact is had we had a 50 metre pool we would have lost money."

Conservative group leader Councillor Julian Daly said the party would be looking into how the new setting could work.

He said he stands by his words to reverse the Lib Dems' "luxury" plans for Westminster Lodge.

The full results of today’s election count are listed below. Winners are in bold.

Batchwood

• Oliver Dowden (Conservative) 743
• Gerry Foster(Independent)168
• Martin Leach (Labour) 1,128
• Naomi Love(Green Party) 47
• David Partridge (Liberal Democrats) 675

Verulam

• Altun Dursun (Conservative) 1,289
• Miriam Foster (Labour) 375
• Martin Freason (Liberal Democrats) 1,187
• Margaret Grover (Green Party) 235

Sopwell

• Catherine Barron (Liberal Democrats) 647
• Eileen Harris (Labour) 1,133
• Kate Metcalfe (Green Party) 217
• Bruce Snell (Conservative) 510

Cunningham

• Robert Donald (Liberal Democrats) 990
• John Paton (Labour) 500
• Greg Riener (Green Party) 159
• Jim Vessey (Conservative) 741

Ashley

• Chris Baker (Conservative) 741
• Iain Grant (Labour) 806
• Graham Ward (Green Party) 245
• Iqbal Zia (Liberal Democrat) 867

Clarence

• Sheila Burton (Liberal Democrat) 1.021
• Andrew Dixon (Labour) 551
• Jack Easton (Green Party) 267
• Michael Rock (Conservative) 899

Marshalswick South

• Salih Gaygusuz (Conservative) 1,433
• Ruari McCourt (Labour) 560
• Jill Mills (Green Party) 303
• Heather Teare (Liberal Democrats) 776

London Colney

• Simon Calder (Conservative) 1,105
• Vibs Nazeri (Liberal Democrats) 215
• Jacob Quagliozzi (Labour) 1,220
• Mary Warren (Green Party) 203

Marshalswick North

• Geoff Churchard (Liberal Democrats) 1,076
• John Foster (Conservative) 1,031
• Richard Harris (Labour) 355
• Rosalind Mary (Green Party) 173

Park Street

• Steve Bowes-Phipps (Conservative) 1,105
• Nicola McAlister-Baillie (Liberal Democrat) 1,078
• Janet Smith (Labour) 389
• Miriam Vincken (Green Party) 125

St Peters

• John Baker (Labour) 634
• Alec Campbell (Conservative) 795
• Paul Davies (Conservative) 718
• Simon Grover (Green Party) 751
• Daniel Jordan (Green Party) 376
• Liz Needham (Liberal Democrats) 684
• Jack Pia (Liberal Democrats) 652

St Stephen

• Lesley Baker (Green Party) 181
• Alex Breed (Labour) 290
• Dick Downs (Liberal Democrats) 698
• Gordon Myland (Conservative) 1,467

Wheathampstead

• Nigel Huddleston (Conservative) 1,242
• Chris Oxley (Liberal Democrats) 1,220
• Gillian Patrick (Green Party) 131
• Peter Woodhams (Labour) 198

Redbourn

• Maxine Crawley (Conservative) 1,334)
• Tom Hardy (Green Party) 155
• Colin O'Donovan (Liberal Democrats) 791
• Gavin Ross (Labour and Co-operative) 252

Harpenden North

• Gordon Burrow (Liberal Democrats) 491
• Bert Pawle (Conservative) 1,591
• Rosemary Ross (Labour and Co-operative) 369
• Annett Tate (Green Party) 226

Harpenden East

• Lorna Hann (Green Party) 220
• Andy Upton (Liberal Democrats) 661
• Mike Wakely (Conservative) 1,445
• Vivienne Windle (Labour) 346

Harpenden South

• Brian Ellis (Conservative) 1,893
• Tony Grover (Green Party) 165
• Maria Moyses (Liberal Democrats) 388
• Linda Spiri (Labour) 332

Harpenden West

• Daniel Chichester-Miles (Conservative) 1,992
• Lydia El-Khouri (Green Party) 172
• David Lawlor (Labour) 379
• Alison Steer (Liberal Democrat) 585

Colney Heath

• Robert Barton (Green Party) 397
• Chris Brazier (Liberal Democrats) 1,191
• Jane Hobday (Labour Party) 234
• Jonathan Marks (Conservative) 467

Sandridge

• Sheila Clegg (Liberal Democrats) 397
• Jane Cloke (Labour) 307
• Frances Leonard (Conservative) 1,087
• Ian Troughton (Green Party) 158