Tories take control of Vale Royal Borough » Local Government » 24dash.com

Tories added to their haul of councils when they took overall control of Vale Royal Borough, Cheshire.

In a contest delayed from May 3 by a candidate's death they held two seats at Davenham and Moulton while Liberal Democrats defended the third.

This gives Conservatives a majority of one seat on the authority, which was previously under no overall control.

Tories gained from independent at Lower Culm, Mid Devon District and Llanyblodwel and Pant, Oswestry Borough, Shropshire.

Labour lost to independent at Featherstone and Shareshill, South Staffordshire District.

But elsewhere in Staffordshire the party chalked up a huge swing to hold a vacancy at Hednesford South, Cannock Chase District where it had come third in 2004 in the contest for the ward's other seat.

Tommy Woodward, candidate for the separate Liberal Party, won from independent at Pickering East, Ryedale District, North Yorkshire.

Analysis of six comparable results suggest a projected 5.1% nationwide lead for Tories - in line with earlier contests showing a slip since May's main polls..

A calculation based of four wards fought both times by the three major parties gives a line-up of C 39.3%; Lab 38.3%, Lib Dem 15.4%.

RESULTS: Cannock Chase District - Hednesford South: Lab 397, C 243, Lib Dem 117, Ind 114 . (June 2004 - C 528, Lib Dem 379, Lab 338). Lab hold. Swing 16.4% C to Lab..

Gravesham Borough - Meopham North (two seats): C 681, 662, Lib Dem 200, 178, Green 104, Lab 59, 57 . (May 2003 - Two seats C 892, 887, Lab 243, 216, Green 190). C hold two seats. Swing 5% Lab to C.

Mid Devon - Lower Culm: C 422, Lib Dem 287, Ind 181, Ukip 75 . (May 2007 - C unopposed, Ind unopposed; May 2003 three seats Ind 1106, 941, Green 492, Lib Dem 443, 142, 129). C gain from Ind.

Oswestry Borough - Llanyblodwel and Pant: C 254, Ind 91, Ind 81, Ind 34 . (May 2007 - Ind unopposed; May 2003 two seats Ind 472, 435, C 265, Lib Dem 99). C gain from Ind.

Oxfordshire County - Carterton South West: C 934, Lib Dem 348, Lab 102 . (May 2005 - C 2095, Lib Dem 1103, Lab 728, Green 128). C hold. Swing 8.9% Lib Dem to C.

Ryedale District - Pickering East: Liberal Party 577, C 313, Ind 185. (May 2007 - Lib Dem unopposed; May 2003 two seats Ind 486, Lib Dem 466, C 360, Lab 165, 120). Liberal Party gain from Ind.

South Staffordshire District - Featherstone and Shareshill (two seats): Ind 557, 383, C 310, Lab 242, C 211, Lab 168, Ukip 115 . (May 2003 - Two seats Lab 429, Ind 412, C 368, Lab 332, C 277, Ind 170). Ind gain one seat from Lab and hold one seat. Swing 5.5% Lab to C.

Suffolk County - Stowmarket North and Stowupland: C 628, Lib Dem 431, Lab 317, Green 296, Ukip 185, Ind 132. (May 2005 - C 1743, Lab 1468, Lib Dem 804, Green 400). C hold. Swing 5.7% C to Lib Dem.

Vale Royal Borough - Davenham and Moulton (three seats): Lib Dem 758, C 680, 642, 612, Lib Dem 525, Lab 489, Lib Dem 479, Ind 412, Green 168. (May 2003 - three seats Lib Dem 771, C 734, 672, Lib Dem 576, Lab 552, 433). Lib Dem hold one seat, C hold two seats. Swing 0.4% Lib Dem to C.

West Oxfordshire District - Carterton North East: C 427, Ind 133, Lab 50. (May 2006 - C 486, Ind 297). C hold.

Copyright Press Association 2007

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