Mary tops council election

AN independent candidate has been elected as a representative for Nantymoel on Bridgend County Borough Council.

Mary Hughes was elected with 437 votes and a majority of 122. The results were announced on Friday.

She said was “surprised and quite honoured” when she was elected to represent Nantymoel, where she has lived her whole life.

Mrs Hughes said when it is possible, she would like to gather people at her local community centre to highlight the key issues across the ward and identify how she, the council and local members of the Senedd can resolve them.

She is keen to improve the environment in Nantymoel, after collecting more than 300 littered plastic bottles within a month while out walking her dog.

“We might not change the world but we might change Nantymoel,” she said.

Mrs Hughes has worked in the youth service sector for more than four decades and recently retired. She hopes more young people will engage in politics and is keen to set up a non-political platform for young people to share their opinions in the community.

She has two children and a black labrador called George, named after Welsh Rugby Union player George North.

Full result:

■ Mary Hughes (Independent) 437 (54.7%)

■ Lee-Anne Hill (Labour) 315 (39.47%)

■ Claire Lewis (Conservative) 46 (5.76%)

The by-election took place after independent councillor David Owen was sentenced to three years in prison from March, 2020, for plotting to steal an off-road vehicle.