Totnes Constituency Liberal Democrats cock-a-hoop over local election results.

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 2nd May 2003

Totnes Liberal Democrats were today congratulating themselves on an excellent set of election results in all three authorities represented in the constituency.

Torbay:

Wendy Burridge, George Porter and John Nicholls swept the board in Blatchcombe with George and John returning to the council after a three year absence.

Peter Killick and John Davis took the two seats in St. Mary's and Summercombe both receiving more than double the votes of their Tory opponents.

Chris Lomas secured one of the Three seats in Furzham with Berry Head

South Hams:

Cathie Pannell, Anne Ward and Geoff Date all retained their seats with Cathie doubling her majority and Anne topping the poll in Totnes Town. Chris Ramsay retained Eastmoor, previously represented by Mike Bonney, and there were gains for Marilyn Roadknight in Westville and Alvington, Julian Brazil in Saltstone and David Thorning, who returns to the Council after a four year absence, in Kingsbridge East.

Teignbridge:

John Holl gained a significant win in Ambrook.

Overall the number of people voting Liberal Democrat in the constituency increased by around 100% in the Torbay and South Hams seats and 56% in the Teignbridge seats. Representation has gone up from 5 to 14 councillors ( 7 on South Hams Council, 6 on Torbay Council and 1 on Teignbridge Council).

Commenting on the results Mike Treleaven, Totnes Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, said:

' This is an excellent set of results that reflects the disillusion that voters have with the way in which the Tories are running local government and the chaotic state of the party nationally. Torbay is now

under Liberal Democrat control, in Teignbridge we share power with the independent group and we have two more councillors on the South Hams Council to help oppose the Tory administration. In several other seats in the South Hams we came a very close second.' He continued 'There has been a huge increase in the overall Liberal Democrat vote compared to the last time the seats were contested. People are getting the Liberal Democrat message and it was very noticeable on the doorstep that voters are fed up with the unfair council tax that penalises pensioners and others on low incomes. The Liberal Democrat National Government policy of replacing Council Tax by local income tax based on the ability to pay was warmly welcomed.'