The Conservatives have lost their majority on Stone Town Council – and their leader lost his seat – as a strong performance from Stone Independents saw the group draw level with the Tories on nine seats each.
Before the election, the Conservatives held 13 of the 18 town council seats.
And the Stone Independents were within a whisker of outright victory, with Angie Burgess falling short by just four votes from getting a seat. in Walton South and giving the group a majority.
The Tories may have swept the huge majority of borough council seats in the town, and seen Sir Bill Cash re-elected as the constituency’s MP, but it was a different story in the town council election, with incumbent town council leader Philip Jones losing his seat in the St Michael’s ward.
Commiserations also go to veteran Labour councillor Harry Brunt and Conservatives Sue Shaw and Ann Tomlinson, who also lost their seats.
The Conservatives may well be ruing their decision not to put up any candidates in the Walton North ward, where three Stone Independents were elected uncontested.
A number of new councillors will be sitting on the town council for Stone Independents – Jim Davies, Elaine Mowatt and Andy Osgathorpe in the St Michael’s ward; Philip Leason returns to the town council in the Stonefield and Christchurch ward; Grahame Neagus wins a seat in Walton North; and Kristan Green is one of the councillors representing Walton North. Congratulations to all of them.
[button color=”black” size=”small” link=”https://alittlebitofstone.com/2015/04/27/town-council-election-stone-independents-pledges/” target=”blank” ]Stone Independents manifesto[/button]
[button color=”black” size=”small” link=”https://alittlebitofstone.com/2015/04/27/stone-town-council-election-conservative-manifesto/” target=”blank” ]Conservative Party town manifesto[/button]
RESULTS
WALTON NORTH
This ward was uncontested. Three seats were up for election but only three candidates stood (all Stone Independents).
So Jill Hood, Kristan Green and Grahame Neagus were elected uncontested
[divider]
WALTON SOUTH
Harry Brunt (Labour) – 617
Angie Burgess (Stone Independents) – 822
Margaret Goodall (Conservative) – 939 (E)
Mark Green (Stone Independents) – 1042 (E)
Drew Mowatt (Stone Independents) – 719
Tracey Neagus (Stone Independents) – 752
Jill Piggott (Conservative) – 892 (E)
Mike Shaw (Conservative) – 838 (E)
Sue Shaw (Conservative) – 773
Clive Thornicroft (Stone Independents) – 681
Mike Williamson (Conservative) – 825 (E)
- 2015 elections
- 2015 Stone Town Council elections
- Conservative Party
- Stone Independents
- Stone Town Council
3 comments
Andy Osgathorpe
Dear Mr. Jones,
If the whole of Stone were aware of this shenanigan in the chamber (- sounds like the House of Commons) then I’m not surprised you had difficulty finding conservative candidates, but this clearly isn’t the case is it Mr Jones? I will have to take your rather subjective opinion on these events, just indeed as I have had to do in the past.
Stone Independents fielded all 18 candidates because the group didn’t have any problems in fielding a “full complement” against a Conservative Party which is unpopular in Stone and that is why you lost their majority on the Town Council and you lost your seat; it’s a simple as that. The latter is a fact not subjective opinion. You know as well as I, that it is really important that all the people in Stone have representation all the time. That is democracy.
I and indeed others in our group, are local people who have become very disillusioned over the past 12 months with the way your party have governed Stone to such a degree that you have actually mobilised a normally “politically” dormant portion of the Stone population.
Unlike you, I was at the St Michaels Polling Station for about 8 hours to welcome the electorate should they make “eye contact” with me. Upon exit, I actually thanked most voters for voting, again if they “made eye” contact with me. So where were you?
It was quite an emotional day. I’ve witnessed, the frail and elderly and the infirmed struggle to get into the polling station whilst clutching a polling card and it was refreshing to see families bring their children to witness democracy in action. It does put a perspective on this democratic process; one which we often under value. Certainly, as a candidate, you become very aware of the trust and expectation people have in you and that at times is very humbling. You are indeed a servant of the people and it has been my privilege to participate in this process. You appear to have lost the electorates trust. Now that is democracy in action,
May I thank you for your service to the town Mr Jones.
Andy Osgathorpe (Stone Independent Group and elected candidate 2015: Stone, St Michael’s Ward)
Philip Jones
Dear Jamie
We tried very hard to find candidates for Walton North. Two prospective candidates lost interest when they witnessed the disorderly conduct of three independent members at the Council meeting on 29 January. And Cllr June Price will confirm that she decided not to stand again in the light of unpleasant behaviour. Will the Conservatives rue the day? Of course, but to howl down opposing views and thus dissuade good people from serving their town strikes a blow at democracy. I hope that the new independent members will impose restraint and orderly manners on the old ones.
Sincerely
Philip Jones
County Councillor, Stone
RGJ
During the fiery debate at last night’s meeting, Cllr Jones said that Jill Hood and Rob Kenney are “the Taliban of Stone” and that they were dictating to the people of Stone what they could and couldn’t have..?.as reported at the end of 2012 in this website….guess you have a short memory about the boundaries of unpleasant behaviour.