News from Rochford - we make no gains, but hold our seats with increased majorities

Election news:

We're pretty pleased with the election results in Rayleigh.

Chris Black and Chris Lumley both held their seats with increased majorities.

This was particularly good for Chris Lumley because the Tories tried very hard to defeat him, bringing in Tories from other parts of Rayleigh to canvass against him.

Elsewhere in Rayleigh, Pat Putt, Jackie Dillnutt, Keith Budden and Mark Pearson all came second. Jackie got 411 votes, which was the highest of any losing candidate in Rayleigh.

We are extremely grateful to them for standing, and of course we'd like to thank all our helpers and indeed everyone who voted for us.

In other parts of the district, the Tories made two gains. They won Hawkwell South simply because independent Heather Glynn has joined the Conservative Party. They also won in Rochford, with 24 year-old James Cottis defeating the last remaining Labour councillor, popular Maureen Vince, by 95 votes. However Residents' councillor James Mason defiantly held on to Hawkwell West with a majority of 132.

Full results are available from the District Council website but here are the results for where the Lib Dems stood:


Downhall & Rawreth Ward
Christopher Ian Black Liberal Democrats 900
Victor Charles Howlett Conservative 328
Turnout: 37.6%

Grange Ward
Christopher John Lumley Liberal Democrats 683
Roland Frank Adams Conservative 347
Turnout: 37.4%

Rayleigh Central Ward
Patricia Aves Conservative 654
Patricia Ann Putt Liberal Democrats 283
Christopher Richard Morgan Labour 135
Turnout: 32.7%

Trinity Ward
James Edward Grey Conservative 618
Keith John Budden Liberal Democrats 310
Neil Kirsh Green Party 76
Turnout: 34.8%

Wheatley Ward
Mavis Joan Webster Conservative 768
Mark Andrew Pearson Liberal Democrats 322
Turnout: 34.4%

Whitehouse Ward
Peter Frederick Arthur Webster Conservative 711
Jacqueline Dillnutt Liberal Democrats 411
Turnout: 37.1%