The Conservative Party maintained control of Swindon Borough Council albeit with a reduced majority, following yesterday’s local election.
19 seats up for election with just two changing hands, Labour taking Eastcott from the Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats then taking Wroughton & Wichelstowe from the Conservatives leaving the Conservatives with 29 seats, Labour with 26 and the Liberal Democrats with two seats.
The Conservatives held on to seats in Blunsdon & Highworth (Steve Weisinger), Chiseldon & Lawn (Brian Mattock), Covingham & Dorcan (Kevin Parry), Haydon Wick (Garry Perkins), Lydiard & Freshbrook (Tim Swinyard), Priory Vale (Emma Faramarzi), Shaw (Mary Martin), St Andrews (Rahul Tarar) and St Margaret & South Marston (Roger Smith).
Labour held seats in Central (Ali Junab), Gorse Hill & Pinehurst (Carol Shelley), Liden, Eldene & Park South (Janine Howarth), Mannington & Western (Jim Robbins), Old Town (Nadine Watts), Penhill & Upper Stratton (Claire Crilly), Rodbourne Cheney (Peter Watts) and Walcot & Park North (Abdul Amin).
This year’s election attracted attention throughout the country with Swindon chosen as one of five areas to take part in a trial of the use of voter ID.
Despite a large campaign by the Council to make sure residents were fully aware of the ID requirements being trialled some residents still complained at being turned away from the polls.
