IT was a big night for independents at the local elections in Uttlesford – including a shock win in Saffron Walden for WeAreResidents.org candidate John Lodge.
Long-standing Conservative incumbent Robert Chambers saw his 1,700 majority from the 2009 Essex County Council election wiped out as Mr Lodge claimed a narrow victory by 48 votes.
But there was better news for the Conservatives elsewhere as Ray Gooding increased his overall majority in the Stansted division to 496 from Liberal Democrat Geoffrey Sell.
The Tories also held on to Dunmow and Thaxted with Susan Barker and Simon Walsh. But there was a swing in the number of votes for UKIP as the group took second in both divisions.
It was a torrid night for the Lib Dems, who were fourth in the Saffron Walden division behind Mr Lodge, the Tories and UKIP.
In the Uttlesford District Council by-election for the Newport ward, the Lib Dems also lost a seat to independent Joanna Parry, while Kenneth Swainsbury was elected to Hatfield Broad Oak Parish Council.
The full results are below. For more reaction, check the Reporter’s website later today.
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS - UTTLESFORD
SAFFRON WALDEN
Independent GAIN John Lodge wins with 2,079 votes
Robert Chambers (Conservative) 2,031
Jane Berney (Labour) 491
Richard Freeman (Lib Dem) 607
Trilby Roberts (Green) 244
Barry Tyler (UKIP) 609
DUNMOW
Conservative HOLD - Susan Barker wins with 2,661 votes
Alan Stannard (UKIP) 1,298
Terry Brandon (Labour) 482
David Morgan (Lib Dem) 398
Karmel Stannard (Green) 244
THAXTED
Conservative HOLD - Simon Walsh wins with 1,904 votes
Stuart Moore (UKIP) 890
Antoinette Wattebot (Lib Dem) 676
Barbara Light (Labour) 335
John Dunkley (Green) 248
STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET
Conservative HOLD - Ray Gooding wins with 2,262 votes
Geoffrey Sell (Lib Dem) 1,766
Peter Barclay (UKIP) 944
Ian Davies (Labour) 402
Martin Wybrew (Green) 186
Turnout
Saffron Walden - 38%
Total votes: 6,073
Dunmow - 28.1%
Total votes: 5,096
Thaxted - 29.4%
Total votes: 4,074
Stansted Mountfitchet - 37%
Total votes: 4,196
There were 51 rejected ballot papers.
Turnout 2009
Saffron Walden - 42.38%
Total votes: 6,540
Dunmow - 38.32%
Total votes: 6,228
Thaxted - 41.32%
Total votes: 5,572
Stansted Mountfitchet - 46.68%
Total votes: 6,326
There were 183 rejected ballot papers.
UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL BY-ELECTION RESULT
Newport ward - Independent GAIN - Joanna Parry wins with 428 votes
Peter Arscott (Conservative) 380
Howard Bowman (Lib Dem) 240
Denis Mongon (Labour) 125
Total votes: 1,173
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS
Hatfield Broad Oak
Kenneth Swainsbury wins with 201 votes
Christopher Roberts 161
Total votes: 362
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