It’s ten out of ten for Ashfield Independents
THE Ashfield Independents have won all 10 available seats across the district in the county council elections.
The party, which also controls Ashfield District Council, secured victories across all areas of the district, including in Hucknall where they unseated the Conservatives.
The party won by a margin of just 11 votes in the hotly contested Selston ward, with talk of a recount during the day due to the close margin of ballots.
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, who won his Ashfield ward with 1,901 votes, said: “I’m delighted obviously, especially when you look at the national picture where the
Tories are having an amazing day.”
“Here in Ashfield I think voters have rejected both parties and said they want something different, and the Ashfield Independents have been able to show that we do this.
“I think for places like Ashfield, the Conservatives who are clearly going to win the county council know that they can’t take us for granted anymore.
“We are a strong block there, all ten seats who are going to be fighting every day for all of our towns and villages to make them better.”
Significant figures to lose their seats in the election include former Nottinghamshire County Council chairman Kevin Rostance, who was unseated by John Wilmott.
Phil Rostance also lost out in Hucknall West, where Dave Shaw won by a margin of 603 votes.
Senior Ashfield Independents figures including councillors Tom Hollis, Helen-ann Smith and Samantha Deakin all retained their seats, while the party also picked up victories in the Skegby and Annesley Woodhouse district council by-elections.
The Skegby byelection was called following the death of the then-ashfield District Council chairman Tony Brewer, who died from Covid-19 in April 2020.
Councillor Will Bostock, who won the Skegby vote for the Ashfield Independents, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to be honest with you. “I was doing this in honour of Tony who passed away last year.
“And for my dad, Clive. So I’m doing it in honour of both of them. “It’s even more of an honour and a privilege to be able to do it for the community. “I’m going to be very, very loud. “I’m not a politician, far from it, but what I am is a person who can stand their ground and make sure the right voices are heard.”
I think voters have rejected both parties and said they want something different
Jason Zadrozny