New members of South Holland District Council give their reaction
It was a big night for the South Holland Independents after gaining seats but bitter sweet for the Conservatives who just managed to cling onto control with a small majority.
The national state of the Tory party and the requirement for the identification at the polling stations were thought to be among the reasons why candidates believe voters have moved away from the Tories.
Leader of the council Gary Porter lost his seat along with other senior councillors such as Roger Gambba-Jones, Rodney Grocock and former deputy leader Peter Coupland.
Spalding Castle is one of the town seats retained by the Tories after Gary Taylor (335 votes) won the seat. He was competing against Martin Blake (Green – 185 votes).
Speaking after the result announced Coun Taylor said: "I would like to thank the residents that have put their trust in me."
He also said: "Hopefully voter id was not an issue but if was it needs to be addressed."
Coun Jo Reynolds (Con) was also thrilled to retain Gedney ward but did state that the turnout in this local election had been 'very low'. She polled 289 votes while opponent Matthew Stancer (SH Ind) took 187.
She said: "It is a central government thing. As I have been saying this is (what’s happening) on your doorstep, not what is going on with central government.”
Laura Eldridge (Con) said she was 'overwhelmed' to win The Saints seat from previous councillor Mick Seymour. He was standing as an Independent after not being selected.
She said: "I am really looking forward to getting my teeth stuck in and representing and helping out on any issues where I can."
Coun Eldridge was pleased with the 32% turnout in the ward.
Paul Barnes (SH Ind) said he was 'buzzing' after winning the Fleet ward (373 votes) from the Conservatives after knocking out Edward McNally (196 votes). The seat had previously been held by Peter Coupland who had not been selected to contest the seat and fought in Sutton Bridge.
Coun Barnes said: "I am delighted with the turn out and the support that has been given and all the positive comments while I was campaigning.
"I am looking forward to doing the best I can for the Fleet parish."
Spalding Monks House is once again held by the Independents after being won by Sam Chauhan (604) and Ingrid Sheard (524), who had seen off a challenge by the previous candidate Stephen Timewell (Con), who was elected at the end of last year following the death of Angela Newton (Ind). Anthony Cronin (Ind) did not stand.
Coun Sheard said: “It is amazing and I can’t wait to get started.
“We have big shoes to fill and we are to do our best.”
Coun Chauhan said that his election had fulfilled a promise he had made to Coun Newton.
He said: “When were were driving back from when Angela got her MBE she asked me to stand. So I said yes that I would and three weeks later she passed away and I felt that I had made a promise to her and that I would honour it.
“I am happy but I am thankful for the residents and it is for them we are here.”
Manzur Hasan (SH Ind) has retained his seat at Spalding St John’s ward with 732 votes and is joined on the council by running mate James Le Sage (SH Ind) who received 611 votes. They had been competing against Conservatives Ann Savage and Edward Sneath.
Coun Hasan said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the representative for Spalding St John’s again. Residents have voted and given me great responsibility. I am committed to work hard for the betterment of our community and listen to their concerns.”
New councillor James Le Sage added: “I am very happy to be elected and very glad that the people of St John’s ward have trusted me with their vote. We have four years to prove that we can make a difference to people.”
Spalding St Mary’s ward provided the biggest shock of the evening when it was won by Mark Le Sage (559 votes), who is joining his brother James on the council, and Dave Ashby (472) for South Holland Independents – knocking out former leader Lord Gary Porter and William Hayes, son of MP Sir John.
Coun Mark Le Sage, who thanked his family, said: “I am very grateful for the fact that they turned out to vote for myself and Dave. I would like to thank Gary and William for a well run campaign.
“It was a bigger result than I expected – I thought it would be closer than it was.”
Coun Ashby, who is returning to the council, said: “It feels fantastic after spending three weeks knocking on people’s doors. The feedback I got from the doorstep was shown in the results in the election.”
Pinchbeck and Surfleet was a glimmer of hope for the Tories after it was held by James Avery (886) Liz Sneath (904) and Sally Slade (780). It had been contested by Terry Moore (Ind) and Simon Jenkins (Green).
Coun Avery, who thanked his family and his dog Mabel in his acceptance speech, said it was a night of mixed emotions given some of the other results.
He said: “We worked really hard with our campaign and it paid off.”
Coun Avery, who held the seat since 2007, said that the trio of Conservative councillors worked well as a team and praised Mr Moore for a fair and honest campaign.
The evening’s results was referred to as a ‘night of the long knives’ by Coun Sneath.
She said: “Change has to come and everything will settle down in time I am sure . We have some really good councillors and it will work.
“We always push ourselves (to the electorate) as local council but all that with the Prime Ministers last year damaged us of course.”
Coun Sneath also said: “I am very pleased to have been re-elected. We work really hard James, Sally and I. We work well together and that has shown.”
While Coun Slade was also delighted to be re-elected. She said: “The residents know that we have the experience.”
Two new faces will be representing Holbeach Town ward on the district council. New Conservative councillor Nanette Chapman (557 votes) and South Holland Independents Sophie Hutchinson (734 votes) will joining Coun Tracey Carter (Con) on the council. The ward had also been previously held by Francis Biggadike and Graham Rudkin.
Coun Carter, who received 959 votes, said she was delighted to be re-elected. She added: “I would like to say thank you for the support and the votes and I look forward to another four years of hard work.
“I think we ran a good strong positive campaign throughout and I think that is really important but obviously national matters have had an impact on local votes which is a big shame.”
Coun Chapman had not prepared an acceptance speech as she was surprised to have won.
She said: “I am really quite proud.
“Today is quite an important day. My work is going to be for Holbeach as that is what I promised I would do.”
Whaplode and Holbeach St John’s ward was retained by Coun Paul Redgate (555 votes) and Coun Allan Beal (615), who are both Conservatives.
Coun Redgate said of his win: “I would say that I am relieved but it shows that we need to listen as councillors more and I am pleased to be re-elected. The hard work starts now.”
Coun Beal said that the evening’s results show that being on the council is about being active in the local community.
He said: “We put ourselves in the hands of the electorate and I think it has to be said from a national prospective we have had a difficult year.”
Sutton Bridge remains in the hands of Coun Michael Booth (SH Ind), who has been a councillor for 54 years, and Coun Chris Brewis (SH Ind), who has served for 47 years.
Coun Booth said: “I would like to thank the people of Sutton Bridge for putting their trust in us more again.”
His sentiments were echoed by Coun Chris Brewis, who said: “We will keep trying to represent Sutton Bridge vigorously and fairly.”
Coun Bryan Alcock (Ind) will continue to represent Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas – a seat he has held for more than 40 years. He received 757 votes.
He said: “I am delighted to be back to serve on the district council. I genuinely think that the next four year are going to be extremely difficult.
“I think the financial side is going to be tight and the devolution issue will cause a great deal of work.”
Coun Jim Astill retains the seat for the Tories after receiving 770 votes and is joined by fellow Conservative Angie Harrison, who secured 577 votes.
Coun Astill said it was great to get two Conservatives over the line during a difficult night for the Conservatives.
He said: “I would like to thank the people who voted for me and will hopefully represent them to the best of my ability.
“It is a difficult one as the Conservative vote in Spalding appears to have collapsed but not so much in the rural areas.”
Coun Harrison said she was pleased to be back on the council after losing her seat in the 2019 election.
She said: “I have missed it so much over the last four years as I love helping people.”
Moulton, Weston and Cowbit continues to be held by Anthony Casson and Andrew Woolf for the Conservatives but senior councillor Rodney Grocock lost his seat to new boy Thomas Sneath (SH Ind).
Coun Casson, who received 1,006 votes, said: “I am excited to be back again.”
While Coun Woolf (958 votes) said he was happy to be re-elected and thanked everyone that came out to vote.
He said: “The three of us (Woolf, Casson and Grocock) have been working together for 14 years but that has come to an end. We look forward to welcoming Thomas in.
“I think there is a message (from last night) which should go back to Westminster that normal Conservative voters are not happy.”
Coun Thomas Sneath, who received 976 votes, said that this was a ‘great opportunity’ to make a difference.
He said of Mr Grocock’s departure: “It is never a happy feeling when someone has lost the job they have been doing for so many years but I am thankful that the residents have the confidence in me to take the baton on from him.”
Donington, Quadring and Gosberton now have two Conservative councillors, Coun Henry Bingham (737 votes) and Coun Margaret Geaney (631 votes).
However Coun Jane King has retained her seat for the South Holland Independents thanks to gaining 856 votes.
Coun King, who was related to Coun Newton, said of last night’s Independent success: “She would have been proud.
"I want to thank my kids Jess and Dan who have been incredibly supportive throughout.
"I also want to thank Rob Gibson who has worked his socks off to ensure this was a nice and fair election."
Coun Geaney said she was over the moon to have gained a seat after previously serving on a council in Milton Keynes.
She said: “I just hope that we can work to keep South Holland as well as we have done.”
Coun Nick Worth is now the longest serving Conservative councillor and has been Gary Porter's deputy for 20 years.
He said: "I have slightly mixed feelings. It's great to be reelected but it is on the backdrop of the loss of a lot of seats. We are going to be in a different place."
He felt the Tories' tough night was 'undoubtedly' down to the party's national struggles.
He said: "I think a lot of Conservative supporters have decided not to vote.
"I don't think it's a surprise with everything that has gone on over the last 18 months nationally."
He said it was a 'real shame' that the impact of national party was felt by local councillors, adding: "It's not a slight on the local politicians."
Spalding Wygate is now held by Jan Whitbourn (Con) and Aaron Spencer (SH Ind). Another long-standing councillor, Roger Gambba-Jones, lost his seat.
Coun Whitbourn said:" "I am shocked - I wasn't expecting it.
"It was really really close and now I just want to continue to work in the community.
"For 20 years I have been working in the community with different groups and charities and I have enjoyed it.
"I don't think a lot will change other than taking on the things that people in the ward want me to work on."
Coun Whitbourn paid tribute to outgoing councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, who lost his seat in the ward.
She said: "I lost four years ago and I know how he feels.
"Roger has such a lot of knowledge - that's what people will miss."
The three seats in Long Sutton were one of the final results to be declared last night but there is no change with Coun Andrew Tennant (Ind), Coun David Wilkinson (Ind) and Coun Jack Tyrrell (Con) all retaining their seats.
Coun Tyrrell, who received 967 seats, said he felt good and hoped that his running mate David Thompson would try again in the future.
He said: “It was a difficult night for the Tories. I am hoping that with we can work together.”
Coun Andrew Tennant said his late father, Dennis, who held the seat for many years, would be proud. He polled 982 votes.
He said: “I am very pleased and happy.
“I think for the last four years in terms of the council there has been too much focus on breaking up the partnership with Breckland and forming the partnership with East Lindsey and Boston.
“Now we need to move on and start to look at what we do. It has been well covered in the press that we have spent a fortune on strategic advisors and consultants.
“There’s some fantastic staff at the council and we need to look at what we can do to improve services.”
