As Tories collapsed across the country and across the county they managed to cling on here in Sedgemoor but with a heavily reduced majority. Labour regained 2 seats in Bridgwater with new candidates Hilary Bruce. knocking out out Tory Chairman Mike Cresswell from his Fairfax ward, and Alexia Bartlett, kicking out UKIP from Dunwear. Also new on the District scene is former Mayor Diogo Rodrigues who won the top placed seat in Dunwear.
Other Labour councillors new on district included Julie Cordiner in Victoria, Tony Heywood and Li Gibson in Eastover and Liz Leavy in Hamp.
A hard fought battle on the Hamp estate saw Labour’s Leigh Redman see off 2 former colleagues now calling themselves ‘independents’.
Experienced Labour councillors Kath Pearce & Brian Smedley held their Westover seats while Graham Granter and Alec Glassford brushed all opposition aside in Fairfax. However, Labour Leader Mick Lerry fell short by just 10 votes in the bitterly contested Victoria ward which nevertheless maintained its 1-1 Labour-Tory balance.
Labour across the District
Labour once again failed to make headroads outside of Bridgwater while nevertheless putting in strong campaigns with Ali Borman in West Polden, Liam Tucker in Huntspill, Gemma Shanahan in Cannington & Wembdon, Lianne Vessier in King’s isle, Julia Timothy in Axe Vale, Jean Buckler in Knoll, Graham McLelland in Wedmore, Amit Shah in Berrow and Nick Persaud in Cheddar all taking on the Tories single handedly.
Crucially Labour made little impact in Highbridge where Tory right winger Janet Keen won-despite her husband Roger standing against her as an independent, but as elsewhere in the Burnham area, Lib Dems made the running, but not enough gains to breakthrough the Tory lines. 2 Lib Dems grabbed seats in Highbridge, 1 in Burnham Central and 1 in Burnham North leaving just 4 Tories in the Burnham area. Corey Mitchel and Andy Ballard flew the Labour flag in Burnham while John Fones, Sue Park and Joji Mathew did the same in Highbridge.
Lib Dem gains
A hard fought battle in North Petherton saw Lib dems taking 2 of the tory seats there and knocking Tory Alan Bradford into 3rd place while Labours Linda Hyde failed in her bid to gra a seat there. The Lib Dems also swept the Tories aside in Cheddar, grabbing 2 seats while a town independent Paul Fineran took the 3rd making Cheddar a Tory free zone for the first time since Sedgemoor was established.
Tory leader Duncan McGinty faced a scare in his East Polden lair when strong challenges from Stephen Oxbrow from Labour and an independent gave him a 1 vote majority over the pair of them while in Woolavington & Puriton, senior Tory Mark Healey held on in the face of a strong challenge from Labour’s Chelsea Chadwick and Gary Tucker.
Special praise has to go to Labour’s Maggy Layton who took on Tory grandees Mike Caswell and Julie Pay single handedly on the blue Quantocks and gave them a fright with an energetic campaign and a sharp rise in the Labour vote.
The new Sedgemoor Council is 28 Tory 12 Labour 7 Lib Dem and 1 Independent giving the Tories a majority of just 8.
Final results for Sedgemoor District Council election May 2nd, 2019
| As at 3nd May, 2019 | Previous composition
(2015-2019) |
|
| Conservative | 28 | 35 |
| Labour | 12 | 10 |
| Lib Dem | 7 | 1 |
| UKIP | 0 | 2 |
| Independent/no party | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 48 | 48 |
The overall turnout was 34.56%
Axevale Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 44.96%
| Conning, Stewart Frances | Green Party Candidate | 357 |
| Godwin-Pearson, Graham Roger | Conservative Party Candidate | 513 elected |
| Hasler, Rosemary Joan | Liberal Democrat | 360 |
| Scott, Liz | Conservative Party Candidate | 581 elected |
| Timothy, Julia Catherine | Labour Party Candidate | 158 |
| Wardman, Ann Mary | Liberal Democrat | 287 |
Berrow Ward (1 councillor)
| Baum, Richard | Liberal Democrat | 126 |
| Grimes, Tony | Conservative Party Candidate | 348 elected |
| Shah, Amit Shantilal | Labour Party Candidate | 52 |
Bridgwater Dunwear Ward (2 councillors) – turnout 25.20%
| Aujla, Suria | Conservative Party Candidate | 222 |
| Barnes, Pele | Conservative Party Candidate | 199 |
| Bartlett, Alexia Christine | Labour Party Candidate | 233 elected |
| King, Lorna Ann Philippa | Liberal Democrat | 89 |
| Rodrigues, Diogo | Labour Party Candidate | 344 elected |
| Scammell, Richard Gordon | U K Independence Party | 189 |
Bridgwater Eastover Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 22.08%
| Bristowe, Susan May | Conservative Party Candidate | 168 |
| Fraser-Howells, Jonathan | Conservative Party Candidate | 151 |
| Gibson, Li | Labour Party Candidate | 359 elected |
| Heywood, Tony | Labour Party Candidate | 371 elected |
| Shaw, Toran Jorane | Liberal Democrat | 77 |
Brigwater Fairfax Ward (3 councillors) – ward turnout 20.13%
| Baker Sarah Victoria | Liberal Democrat | 243 |
| Bruce Hilary Joan | Labour Party Candidate | 355 elected |
| Cresswell Mike | Conservative Party Candidate | 312 |
| Glassford Alex | Labour Party Candidate | 383 elected |
| Granter Graham John | Labour Party Candidate | 483 elected |
| Marsh Helen Julia | Conservative Party Candidate | 234 |
| Nickolls Adrian David | Liberal Democrat | 321 |
Bridgwater Hamp Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 22.26%
| Austen, Stephen Barry | 201 | |
| Filmer, David George | The Conservative Party Candidate | 104 |
| Leavy, Elizabeth Ann | Labour Party Candidate | 305 elected |
| Mills, Paul Francis | Conservative Party Candidate | 107 |
| Moore, Adrian John | 249 | |
| Redman, Leigh Paul | Labour Party Candidate | 382 elected |
Bridgwater Victoria Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 20.61%
| Cordiner, Julie Marie | Labour Party Candidate | 338 elected |
| Duddridge, Lance John | Conservative Party Candidate | 328 elected |
| Harwood, John | Conservative Party Candidate | 259 |
| Lerry, Mick | Labour Party Candidate | 318 |
Bridgwater Westover Ward (2 councillors) – 25.68 % ward turnout
| Asher, Michael | Conservative Party Candidate | 235 |
| Lee, Roland | Liberal Democrat | 123 |
| Lewis, Gareth Edwin | Conservative Party Candidate | 242 |
| Nickolls, Antony | Liberal Democrat | 168 |
| Pearce, Kathryn Elizabeth | Labour Party Candidate | 466 elected |
| Smedley, Brian David | Labour Party Candidate | 447 elected |
Bridgwater Wyndham Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 38.51%
| Johnstone, Peter Ian | Liberal Democrat | 260 |
| Lilley, Rachael Helen | Conservative Party Candidate | 603 elected |
| Palaram, Inika Raine | Labour Party Candidate | 196 |
| Ridewood, Stuart Adrian | Labour Party Candidate | 199 |
| Slocombe, Gill | Conservative Party Candidate | 694 elected |
| Waghorn, Dean | Liberal Democrat | 237 |
Burnham Central Ward (3 councillors) – ward turnout 35.16%
| Barber, Sue | Conservative Party Candidate | 553 elected |
| Clarke, Michael | Independent | 356 |
| Elrick, Alasdair Scott | Liberal Democrat | 499 |
| Gudka, Ganesh | Liberal Democrat | 491 |
| Harvey, Phil | Liberal Democrat | 580 elected |
| Hendry, Alistair | Conservative Party Candidate | 546 elected |
| Miller Corey | Labour Party Candidate | 206 |
| Rowley Edith | Conservative Party Candidate | 530 |
Burnham North Ward (3 councillors) – ward turnout 48.28%
| Ballard, Andy | Labour Party Candidate | 316 |
| Burnett, Cheryl | Conservative Party Candidate | 672 |
| Clayton, Peter Laurence | Conservative Party Candidate | 876 elected |
| Facey, Mike | Conservative Party Candidate | 762 elected |
| Groves, Helen | Liberal Democrat | 702 |
| Milner, Simonds Bev | Liberal Democrat | 685 |
| Murphy, Mike | Liberal Democrat | 781 elected |
Cannington and Wembdon Ward (2 councillors) ward turnout 43.24%
| Beasley, Janice Joanna Somers | Liberal Democrat | 403 |
| Bolt, Brian | Conservative Party Candidate | 733 elected |
| Dyer, Ian | Conservative Party Candidate | 898 elected |
| Shanahan, Gemma Grace | Labour Party Candidate | 297 |
Cheddar and Shipham Ward (3 councillors) ward turnout 30.01%
| Downing, Peter | Conservative Party Candidate | 618 |
| Fineran, Paul Robert | Independent | 728 elected |
| Hill, Dawn | Conservative Party Candidate | 649 |
| Methley, Lisa | Liberal Democrat | 816 elected |
| Persaud, Nick | Labour Party Candidate | 311 |
| Riches, Charlie | Liberal Democrat | 861 elected |
| Savage, Jeff | Conservative Party Candidate | 674 |
| Shaban, Neil | Liberal Democrat | 671 |
East Poldens Ward (1 councillor)- ward turnout 42.09%
| King, Camael | Independent | 207 |
| McGinty, Duncan | Conservative Party Candidate | 288 elected |
| Oxbrow, Stephen Richard | Labour Party Candidate | 80 |
Highbridge and Burnham Marine Ward (3 councillors) ward turnout 25.15%
| Bayliss, Nick | Liberal Democrat | 457 elected |
| Carey, Dawn | Liberal Democrat | 381 |
| Fones, John Fenton | Labour Party Candidate | 246 |
| Jones, Kathy | Conservative Party Candidate | 322 |
| Keen, Janet | Conservative Party Candidate | 454 elected |
| Keen, Roger | 345 | |
| Mathew, Joji | Labour Party Candidate | 212 |
| Matthews, Alan | Conservative Party Candidate | 384 elected |
| Park, Sue | Labour Party Candidate | 246 |
| Weavell, Victoria | Liberal Democrat | 246 |
Huntspill and Pawlett Ward (1 councillor) – ward turnout 33.50%
| Tucker, Liam | Labour Party Candidate | 137 |
| Woodman, John Charles | Conservative Party Candidate | 359 elected |
Kings Isle Ward (2 councillors) ward turnout 34.10%
34.10%
| Betty, Anthony | Conservative Party Candidate | 762 elected |
| Perry, Liz | Conservative Party Candidate | 676 elected |
| Senior, Mike | Liberal Democrat | 476 |
| Vessier, Lianne Michelle | Labour Party Candidate | 392 |
Knoll Ward (2 councillors) ward turnout 42.15%
| Buckler, Jean | Labour Party Candidate | 143 |
| Filmer, Bob | Conservative Party Candidate | 847 elected |
| Gilling, Andrew | Conservative Party Candidate | 704 elected |
| Gore, Tony | Liberal Democrat | 419 |
| Pleydell-Pearce, Mae | Liberal Democrat | 535 |
North Petherton (3 councillors) – ward turnout 37.51%
| Bradford, Alan Sydney Ernest | Conservative Party Candidate | 944 elected |
| Crow, Vanda | Conservative Party Candidate | 566 |
| Hickmet, Sue | Conservative Party Candidate | 598 |
| Hyde, Linda | Labour Party Candidate | 572 |
| Revans, Bill | Liberal Democrat | 1447 elected |
| Wong, Gary | Liberal Democrat | 1064 elected |
Puriton and Woolavington Ward (2 councillors) ward turnout 32.57%
| Ashby, James Peter | Liberal Democrat | 382 |
| Chadwick, Chelsea | Labour Party Candidate | 234 |
| Crow, Barrie | Conservative Party Candidate | 462 elected |
| Healey, Mark | Conservative Party Candidate | 525 elected |
| Tucker, Gary Andrew Derek | Labour Party Candidate | 196 |
Quantocks Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 44.56%
| Caswell, Michael | Conservative Party Candidate | 787 elected |
| Layton, Maggy | Labour Party Candidate | 495 |
| Pay, Julie | Conservative Party Candidate | 790 elected |
Wedmore and Mark Ward (2 councillors) – ward turnout 49.59 %
| Costello, Polly | Conservative Party Candidate | 845 elected |
| Human, Will | Conservative Party Candidate | 726 elected |
| Keen, Jo | Liberal Democrat | 649 |
| McLelland, Graham Paul | Labour Party Candidate | 117 |
| Prior, Claire Rowena | Liberal Democrat | 563 |
West Poldens Ward (1 councillor) – ward turnout 42.13%
| Borman, Alison | Labour Party Candidate | 227 |
| Kingham, Stuart | Conservative Party Candidate | 458 elected |