LIVE updates from the Malvern Observer team, Geoff Berkeley and Jonny Bonell, at The Bank House Hotel where we will find out the results of the 2015 Malvern Hills District Council Election.
The live update has now finished.
A long, long day comes to a close at The Bank House where the Conservatives – despite losing their leader – have increased their majority and retain the administration. Former leader David Hughes was ousted from his Alfrick and Leigh seat in the biggest story of the day but overall the Conservatives ended with 23 seats. Independents were next in line with seven, Liberal Democrats scooped five and the Green Party ended with three. A meeting is believed to be held tomorrow to decide the next leader of Malvern Hills District Council. Thanks for following.
9pm: Result:
Wells
Paul Bennett (Conservative Party) – 766
Jill Campbell (Independent) – 828
Chris O’Donnell (Conservative Party) – 885
Jackie Smethurst (Green Party) – 781
76.23% turn out
One Independent hold. One Conservative hold.
8.08pm: Result:
West
Jennie Kelly (Conservative Party) – 968
Harry Lofthouse (Conservative Party) – 747
John Raine (Green Party) – 1,421
Julian Roskams (Green Party) – 1,346
76.3% turn out.
Two Green Party holds.
8.02pm: Result:
Pickersleigh
Caroline Bovey (Liberal Democrat) – 766
Leanne Halling (Conservative Party) – 710
Ian Hopewood (Conservative Party) – 692
Lynne Lambeth (Labour Party) – 639
Patrick Terrace Mewton (Conservative Party) – 595
Val Myatt (Liberal Democrat) -701
Brian Pilcher (Liberal Democrat) – 593
David Scrimshaw (Ukip) – 600
Daniel Walton (Labour Party) – 626
56.87% turn out
2 Liberal Democrat holds. One Conservative gain.
7.45pm: That result sees the Conservatives take their seats up to 21, an overall majority with three wards still yet to declare.
7.41pm: Result:
Upton and Hanley
Doug Guest (Ukip) – 491
Andrea Morgan (Conservative Party) – 1,082
Mike Morgan (Conservative Party) – 980
Tim Perry (Independent) – 744
Les Roberts (Labour Party) – 358
Robin Whitebeam (Green Party) – 301
78.82% turn out.
One Conservative hold, one Conservative gain.
7.37pm: Conservatives currently stand on 19 seats (2 unopposed) so need just one more to claim a majority and retain the administration.
7.20pm: Result:
Priory
Hannah Campbell (Conservative Party) – 962
Will Chaundy (Liberal Democrat) – 637
Malcolm Delingpole (Ukip) – 251
Robert John Dowler (Green Party) – 520
Roger Hall-Jones (Conservative Party) – 727
Graham Myatt (Liberal Democrat) – 566
Melinda Platt (Green Party) – 477
74.8% turn out
Two Conservative holds
6.50pm: Results:
Tenbury
Phil Grove (Conservative Party) – 1,414
Jonathan Pryce Morgan (Labour Party) – 618
Tony Penn (Conservative Party) – 991
66.07% turn out.
Two Conservative Holds
6.45pm: Results:
Powick
David Barrie (Ukip) – 343
Sarah Beard (Conservative Party) – 711
David Bicknell (Conservative Party) – 624
Elaine Newman (Liberal Democrat) – 1,001
Tom Wells (Liberal Democrat) – 1,536
77.29% turn out
Two Liberal Democrat holds
6.40pm: Result:
Woodbury
Paul Cumming (Conservative Party) – 1,097
Steve Main (Green Party) – 226
81.43% turn out
Conservative hold
6.30pm: Jack Hegarty, chief executive at MHDC, has just informed us there will be a re-count on the Pickersleigh ward.
6.04pm: Former leader David Hughes has told The Observer he is ‘absolutely convinced’ the planning controversy surrounding him is the reason he didn’t get re-elected.
6pm: Result:
Teme Valley
Andrew Dolan (Ukip) – 306
Gill Farmer (Conservative Party) – 797
75.76% turnout
Conservative Hold
5.45pm: As it stands the Conservatives currently lead the way with 11, Independent’s follow in second with 6, Liberal Democrats and Green Party both have one while Labour and Ukip are still searching for their first seat.
5.40pm: Result:
Kempsey
Christopher Burrows (Labour Party) – 268
David Harrison (Independent) – 1,398
Richard Michael (Independent) – 1,136
Barbara Morgan (Conservative Party) – 594
Adam Rea (Conservative Party) – 696
74.84% turn out
Two Independant Gains
5.39pm: Kwai Hung Chan becomes the first Chinese councillor in the history of MHDC, and the Lib Dems first seat of the day.
5.30pm: Result:
Link
Kwai Hung Chan (Liberal Democrat) – 1,162
John Gallagher (Labour Party) – 715
Robert Kerby (Conservative Party) – 1,004
Will Richards (Ukip) – 793
Clive Smith (Independent) – 798
Mike Soley (Independent) – 764
Jerry Thomas (Conservative Party) – 970
David Watkins (Conservative Party) – 1,095
Martin Willis (Labour Party) – 737
68.82% turn out.
Two Conservative Holds and a Liberal Democrat Gain
5.22pm: Result:
Ripple
Jeremy Owenson (Conservative Party) – 589
Roger Sutton (Independent) – 535
77.79% turn out
Conservative Gain
5.19pm: Result:
Dyson Perrins
Tony Baker (Conservative Party) – 1,033
Chris Reed (Green Party) – 971
Jeanette Sheen (Ukip) – 724
Les Williamson (Independent) – 796
68.75% turn out
Conservative Gain, Green Gain
5.16pm: Result:
Chase
Melanie Baker (Conservative Party) – 1,272
John Blewitt (Green Party) – 589
Jan Dyer (Green Party) – 624
Simon Gill (Liberal Democrat) – 799
Cathy Jackson-Read (Liberal Democrat) – 811
Rebecca Massey (Conservative Party) – 1,127
James O’Donnell (Conservative Party) – 1,030
Jill Smith (Labour Party) – 504
Richard Spencer (Ukip) – 714
Fran Victory (Green Party) – 574
Josie Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat) – 742
71.87% turn out
Three Conservative Hold
4.40pm: Result:
Morton
Nigel Caldicott (Independent) – 88
Roger Cousins (Conservative Party) – 327
Mike Davies (Independent) – 856
76.84% turn out
Independent GAIN
4.30pm: The big news to come out of the district council election so far is that former leader, David Hughes, has been ousted from his seat in the Alfrick and Leigh ward. Sarah Rouse (Ind) topped the poll with 992 votes while Anthony Warburton (Ind) was close behind with 950.
4.27pm: We have heard the Pickersleigh ward is incredibly close at the minute, and a source has told The Observer they would not be surprised to see a re-count.
4.06pm: Result:
Martley
Malcolm Gordon Victory (Green Party) – 115
Lisa Walton (Labour Party) – 220
Barbara Williams (Conservative Party) – 768
78.69% turn out
Conservative Hold
4.05pm: Former District Council leader David Hughes loses his seat.
4pm: Result:
Alfrick and Leigh
Peter Hawkins (Conservative Party) – 858
David Hughes (Conservative Party) – 695
Sarah Rouse (Independent) – 992
Mike Savage (Ukip) – 421
Anthony Warburton (Independent) – 950
77.86% turn out
Two Independant Gains
3.45pm: Result:
Broadheath
David Chambers (Conservative Party) – 1,095
Douglas Godwin (Conservative Party) – 877
Neville Mills (Liberal Democrat) – 535
Aubrey Tarbuck (Independent) – 724
75.12 per cent turn out.
Two Conservative Hold
3.30pm: Result:
Longdon
Bronwen Jane Behan (Conservative Party) – 890
John Humphreys (Liberal Democrat) – 394
77.34% turn out
Conservative Hold
3.15pm: All gone quiet on the results front here. Still waiting for the next ward to be announced.
3.02pm: A 2 minute silence has just been held to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
2.40pm: Result:
Hallow
Dean Clarke (Independent) – 851
Tony O’Donnell (Conservative Party) – 330
78.4% turn out
Independent Gain (Mr Clarke stood and won as Lib Dem in 2011)
2.30pm: Sources say result for the Hallow ward could be soon.
2.20pm: 48 counters have come out today. Here they are just before the count started.
2.07pm: Jack Hegarty, chief executive at MHDC, officially opened the count and said patience could be key as there is about 54,000 papers to count.
2.05pm: THE COUNT FOR MHDC IS UNDERWAY
2.02pm: The count will be suspended at 3pm for a two minute silence to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
1.50pm: Plenty of counters and budding councillors starting to gather in the hall ahead of the count.
13.31pm: Today is set to be a record-breaking year with a total of 94 candidates seeking election to MHDC, which is up from 74 who fought for seats in the 2011 poll. There was also an increase in the number of contested wards this time around as people have had the chance to vote in 20 of the 22 wards compared to just 16 four years ago.
13.08pm: If you are yet to catch up to speed, Harriett Baldwin MP retained her Conservative West Worcestershire seat at 4.30am this morning. A snip of our interview with Mrs Baldwin – in the aftermath – can now be viewed below.
12.51pm: For a look ahead of the thoughts and feelings of the political leaders heading into today’s elections, click here.
12.20pm: After the dramatic events this morning, a few hours sleep and an energy drink, all eyes now turn to the district council elections where the current Conservative-led administration will look to retain power.
12.16pm: Welcome to our live coverage of the 2015 MHDC election, where we will keep you up to speed with the goings on at the district council count.
