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. |