Liberal Democrat candidate Stuart Gourley wins Newbury Town Council by-election

THE Liberal Democrats consolidated their hold over Newbury Town Council today after Stuart Gourley won the by-election for the Clay Hill ward.

Mr Gourley secured 705 (40.5 per cent) votes following a turnout of 35 per cent, beating former Kennet headteacher and Conservative candidate Paul Dick, who finished second with 656 (38 per cent) votes.

Green candidate Ed Cawley came in third with 269 (15.5 per cent) votes and Labour candidate Lee McDougall finished fourth with 111 (6 per cent) votes.

Speaking immediately after the result, Mr Gourley said it was a “validation” of the work done by the town council.

He said: “It’s fantastic – 49 votes is a decisive victory in the end considering there was only nine votes in this seat last time round.

“It’s a clear validation of the work the Liberal Democrats are doing at Newbury Town Council, so I’m really chuffed.

“I’ll bring a different perspective – I’m a big believer in having many points of view.

“We do already have a good, strong presence of Liberal Democrats in the ward and Newbury Town Council – we may share the same values and beliefs but we all have different life experiences.

“I’m really hoping to bring energy, passion and also a different set of perspectives to the council and Clay Hill.”

The result means the Liberal Democrats now hold 19 of the 23 town council seats.

The Greens have two town councillors and the Conservatives one, while former Liberal Democrat councillor Olivia Lewis stands as an independent due to a new job requiring her to be politically neutral.

Mr Gourley will join Conservative councillor Jeff Beck and Liberal Democrat councillors Phil Barnett, Sue Farrant and Pam Lusby Taylor in representing Clay Hill.

A by-election for the ward was announced in December last year after Conservative councillor Jeff Cant was removed from the council after not attending any meetings for six months.

For more reaction and photos, see next week’s Newbury Weekly News.