Conservatives Gain Lyneham Ward Election by 1 vote!
25th August 2005
Lyneham Ward has turned totally blue, as Conservative candidate Mr Jim Elford gains the seat by the closest of margins after several recounts and votes checks. Shortly after 10pm the votes were declared and accepted as Mr Jim Elford 539 and Mr John Webb 538.

The Lyneham Ward election was a result of the recent Liberal Democrats Cllr Dennis Constable resignation as a result of moving to Northern Ireland.

Shortly after 9pm the ballot boxes were opened and the important vote started. Mr Bob Marshall North Wiltshire District Council Returning Officer announced that 1081 people in the Lyneham Ward voted today which was 29.46% of the 3669 electorate, which is slightly higher that the last Lyneham ward election in May 2003.

Speaking to the Conservative Candidate Mr Jim Elford while the count was being carried out, he was pleased with the turnout at the polling stations today and was very optimistic of the result tonight. "We have nothing to lose, but we are offering a lot to the public, that's what counts"

Cllr Allison Bucknell who holds the other Lyneham Ward seat of the North Wiltshire District Council was waiting with anticipation as the votes were being recounted. "We have nothing to lose, a gain would truly reflect what Lyneham needs".

As the final result was announced; I Claire Beckley being the Deputy Returning Officer at the District Council Elections for the Lyneham Ward held on 25th August 2005, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each Candidate is as follows: ELFORD James Sidney William The Conservative Party Candidate 539 votes and WEBB John Allen Liberal Democrats 538 votes and I hereby declare that Mr Jim Elford is duly elected Councillor for the Lyneham Ward.

St Michael and All Angels Church Hall, the Lyneham village polling station, was fairly full with waiting electorate who duly congratulated the newly elected Cllr Jim Elford. Speaking after the closest winning margin, Mr Elford thanked the many people of Lyneham ward for their support and passed his sincere appreciation to the Liberal Democrat candidate Mr John Webb. The counting team were also thanked for their patience with the recounts and vote checks. "This is an absolutely positive result for Lyneham Ward, we thank all the Conservatives for their support today, I pass my thanks to everyone who voted for me today. The closeness of this vote indicates what a close Ward we have and proves we can all work together to make it a closer and better community".

Cllr Allison Bucknell said "This is an outstanding result an indication of what Lyneham actually deserves and truly needs" Both Allison and Jim will now lead the Lyneham Ward with the issues affecting our local community in North Wiltshire District Council.

Mr John Webb, Liberal Democrat candidate spoke after the result, "We are very disappointed but there is always next time"

A Lyneham resident who lives in Pound Close, who did not want to be named, declared "I changed my vote today to Tory as they did not keep bombarding me for their vote. They know what is important on their manifesto. I was going to vote for Lib Dems as I was undecided, but they did contradict their proposed intentions. They said they would do more for the environment but kept pumping leaflet after leaflet though my door, how is that environmentally friendly? Then today I had three separate Lib Dem people coming to my door pleading for my vote. I got fed up with this"

Congratulations to Cllr Jim Elford, this is a truly fine achievement, especially after losing the last election by 39 votes. We look forward to your time in seat as councillor for the Lyneham Ward, knowing that you will work very close, along with the proactive Cllr Allison Bucknell on the issues that concern Lyneham Ward.