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By-Election Success for Lib Dems
November 25, 2005 3:50 PM
Thursday's by-election in Guildford's Friary and St Nicolas Ward saw a resounding victory for Liberal Democrat Caroline Reeves, who gained 61% of the vote, nearly double that of her Conservative opponent on 33%. Residents braved bitter cold and hail showers to turn out to vote after the most hard-fought election campaign in the ward for many years. The Lib Dem vote increased by 8% compared to the 2004 by-election in the same ward, with the Conservatives down 2% and Labour down 2%. The by-election followed the retirement from the council, due to ill-health, of Dr Robert Blundell, who had served as councillor for 33 years. Caroline Reeves will be the first female councillor in the ward for over 30 years.
The campaign was dominated by local issues including residents' parking and Conservative plans to spend over £1 million on a new reception area at the Millmead Council Offices.
Speaking after the count, Caroline Reeves said "I am honoured that local people have chosen me to take over the baton from Robert Blundell, and I am looking forward to working with my Lib Dem ward colleagues David Goodwin and Rupert Sheard. We will make a formidable team for Friary and St. Nicolas, working together to improve council services in our area, and to stop the waste of council tax-payers money on prestige projects."
Welcoming his new ward colleague, Lib Dem Councillor David Goodwin said "We are delighted to have Caroline on our team, and I am sure local residents will benefit hugely from her energy and enthusiasm. This tremendous result shows that Guildford people have decisively rejected the Conservatives and their money-wasting schemes."
Full Result:
Caroline Reeves - Lib Dem 1123
Conservative 602
Labour 74
Independent 43
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