Greens for Greens â„¢

[From: The Lowestoft Journal]

WAVENEY has its first Green Party councillor following the local election last week but the Conservatives remain in overall control.

Graham Elliott won the Beccles North seat beating sitting Conservative councillor Brian Woodruff.

Mr Elliott said: “The Green Party victory in Beccles North ward was down to hard work and the willingness to listen to people on the doorstep. We took votes from all the major political parties but perhaps most pleasing of all we gained votes from people who have never voted before helping to make the turnout in Beccles higher than anywhere else in Waveney.

“I would like to thank the people of Beccles for their overwhelming support in the election and for giving me the mandate to start making Beccles a greener place to live and work.�

Mr Elliott said his priorities for Beccles were to start reducing traffic on the roads by making it safer and more attractive to cycle and walk and by campaigning for major investment in the East Suffolk railway line.

It was not all doom and gloom for the Conservatives in the town as Barry Bee, father of council leader Mark Bee, won in Beccles South, defeating sitting Labour councillor Michael Adams.

Independent councillor Norman Keable lost his seat at Harbour Ward where he was defeated by Labour’s Ian Graham.

The Liberal Democrats maintained their grip at Kirkley with Lowestoft mayor Gifford Baxter successfully retaining his seat.

Mark Bee, Conservative leader, said: “I am pleased with the results of the election overall although it is disappointing to lose Beccles North to the Greens.�

There were no major changes to the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on the council.

Although voters went to the poll on Thursday, May 3, the counting did not take place until the following morning.

Waveney District Council chief executive and election returning officer Glen Garrod said: “This election was a novel experience because the count took place on Friday during the day. This meant that both officers and candidates managed to get some sleep between Thursday and Friday.

“The experience of running the election this year has been particularly good with few issues to deal with and a speedy set of results from the 17 wards being contested.�

Sharon Shand, elections manager for the council, said: “The exciting atmosphere of a count remained but the tiredness and anxiety of all involved was reduced dramatically allowing for a very efficient, methodical and accurate count to take place. Everyone involved with the elections for Waveney District Council should be very proud.�

The new make-up of Waveney District Council is: Conservatives 30, Labour 12, Liberal Democrats 3, Independents 2, Green Party 1.