Lib Dems come out on top in ward

The Liberal Democrats came out on top in the new Twyford, Ruscombe and Hurst ward as Wokingham Borough Council held its biggest local election for decades.

Local councillors gathered at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on Friday to await the results of who would be elected in the new wards in Wokingham Borough.

This election marks the first time all 54 councillors were up for election since 2004.

Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), from this month, the number of wards in Wokingham has reduced from 25 to 18, with each ward represented by three councillors.

Previously, the breakdown of the wards saw Charvil, Sonning, Twyford and Hurst as their own separate wards, alongside the ward of Remenham Wargrave and Ruscombe.

However, since the change Twyford, Hurst and Ruscombe has become a separate ward and Charvil, Sonning and Wargrave all fall under the new Thames ward.

In the Twyford, Hurst and Ruscombe ward, Liberal Democrats Martin Alder and Martijn Andrea have been elected with 2,027 and 2,008 votes respectively.

Current council leader Liberal Democrat Cllr Stephen Conway, who was councillor in the previous Twyford ward, has also been elected with 2,456 votes.

In the new Thames ward, Conservative councillor Sam Akhtar, who was a councillor in the previous Charvil ward, was elected with 1,416 votes.

Alongside him, Liberal Democrat Katrin Harding was elected after gaining 1,217 votes.

Also elected was Conservative councillor Wayne Smith, who was a councillor in the previous Hurst ward, and gained 1,284 votes.

The final results mean that council remains with no party having overall control.

The Liberal Democrats currently hold 27 seats, the Conservatives have 19 and Labour has eight.