Tories take control

The Conservatives have taken control of Nottinghamshire County Council for the first time in almost 30 years.

They gained nine seats to give them a total of 35 seats - a majority of three in Thursday’s elections. The Labour Party suffered badly losing 22 of their 35 seats including former council leader Mr David Kirkham (Sutton-in-Ashfield), deputy leader Mr Mick Storey (Retford East) and Mr Andy Freeman (Rufford) .

This leaves them with just 13 councillors including Mrs Stella Smedley who retained her Ollerton seat for Labour but with a much reduced majority of 160. She was re-elected with 1,202 votes just ahead of the Conservative candidate Mrs Mary Brown with 1,042 and Independent candidate Mr Mick McLelland with 716. The turnout was almost 35%.

Hers was the only Labour victory in Newark and Sherwood. Seven of the ten seats were retained by the Conservatives, while Independent councillors Mr Geoff Merry and Mr Les Ward snatched Blidworth and Rufford from Labour.

The Conservative victory was finally known yesterday evening when two seats in Hucknall were declared as Conservative gains.

The Liberal Democrats managed to increase their seats from five to nine. The rest of the council is made up of six MansfieldIndependent Forum; two Independents; one UK Independence Party and one Selston Area Independents.

Mr Keith Girling who kept his Newark West seat with an increased majority of 497, summed up the mood of the victorious Conservatives at the count at Kelham Hall.

"I am thrilled," he said. "What a wonderful result - a day of days."

Full reports and more photographs in Friday’ Advertiser.