Conservative Party retains its control of Gloucestershire

THE Conservatives won the Gloucestershire county council elections to retain power at Shire Hall.

The Tories have 28 seats ahead of the Liberal Democrats on 15, Labour with five and the Greens on four.

The Conservatives have made gains in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud but also suffered losses in the Forest of Dean.

They took Coney Hill & Matson from Labour – retiring councillor Kate Haigh’s former seat – and Leckhampton and Warden Hill from the Liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile Richard Boyles, former cabinet member for children’s safeguarding and early years lost his Tory seat in Blakeney and Bream to the Green party.

But Tory leader Mark Hawthorne said his group was pleased with the result.

“We’re delighted with the result. It’s been a difficult night for some of our colleagues who have lost their seats but we have made some fantastic gains in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud,” he said.

“We’ve done very well in some areas but we’ve also lost seats to the Greens and Liberal Democrats.

“We will continue to deliver for the people of Gloucestershire.”

The Liberal Democrats made gains overall and took seats from the Tories in South Cerney and Bishop’s Cleeve where they beat Tewkesbury council leader Robert Bird.

Joe Harris, who previously represented Cirencester Park, held Cirencester Beeches for his party.

He was pleased with the result but said progressive parties needed to wake up.

MARVIN REES

It was a mixed bag of results for Labour who hold as many seats as they did before the election.

Former MP David Drew gained Stroud Central from the Greens and they also regained Dursley from the Tories.

But they have lost former group leader Lesley Williams who stood for Coney Hill and Matson.

Cinderford Labour councillor Graham Morgan said: “There have been quite a few changes across the country but the red wall is still 10ft high in Cinderford.”