Tory clean sweep in Uckfield area
.jpg "Tory clean sweep in Uckfield area")
The Conservatives took all the seats in Uckfield in the Wealden District Council elections.
They gained two seats in Uckfield North, one in New Town and the other, the vacant Ridgewood seat, which until February had been held by the Lib Dems.
Conservative Claire Dowling retained the Uckfield Central ward with more than 61 per cent of the votes.
She defeated Paul Sparks (Liberal Democrats) who had sat on the old council as a member for the Uckfield North ward.
Result: Claire Dowling (Conservative) 749 (61.29% of the votes), Paul Sparks (Liberal Democrats) 319 (26.10%), Jason Scott-Taggart (Labour) 154 (12.6%).
The Conservatives gained Uckfield New Town from the Liberal Democrats. Result: Helen Firth (Conservative) 452 (48.39% of the votes), Sarah Hall (Liberal Democrats) 273 (29.23%), David Sudbery (Labour) 209 (22.38%).
The sitting member, Carol Sweetland (Lib Dem) stood down at the election.
In Uckfield Ridgewood, the town mayor, John Carvey, was elected to the district council. He won more than 61 per cent of the vote.
The seat was vacant following the resignation in February of Lib Dem councillor, Bob Sweetland.
Result: John Carvey (Conservative) 705 (61.73% of the votes), Dorothy Sparks (Liberal Democrats) 269 (23.56%), Vanessa Setford-Smith 168 (14.71%).
The Conservatives gained Uckfield North from the Liberal Democrats. Sitting members were Alan Whittaker, who came fourth in the poll, and Paul Sparks, who stood unsuccessfully in Uckfield Central.
Result: Two seats – Louise Eastwood (Conservative) 877 (31.11% of the vote), Michael Lunn (Conservative) 683 (24.23%), John Collins (Liberal Democrats 498 (17.67%), Alan Whittaker (Liberal Democrats) 493 (17.49%), Bruce Meredeen (Labour) 268 (9.51%).
Results from nearby villages:
Danehill, Fletching, Nutley, including Little Horsted: Two seats - Roy Galley (Conservative) 1593 (38.29 per cent of the votes), Peter Roundell (Conservative) 1284 (30.87%), Martha Whittle (Liberal Democrats) 979 (23.53%), Kirsten Morris (Labour) 304 (7.31%).
Mr Galley was a sitting member, along with Sylvia Martin, who retired at the election.
At Chiddlingly and East Hoathly, including Laughton, the sitting Conservative councillor, Barby Dashwood-Hall was re-elected. Result: Barby Dashwood-Hall (Conservative) 865 (67.68% of the votes), Barbara Holbrook (Liberal Democrats) 229 (17.92%), Jonathan Banatvala (Labour) 184 (14.40%).
The result for Buxted and Maresfield, including Hadlow Down saw Conservative sitting members Norman Buck and Ken Ogden returned. Result: Two seats - Norman Buck (Conservative)1485 votes (41.12% of the votes), Ken Ogden (Conservative) 1295 (35.86%), Dan Docker (UKIP) 437 (12.10%), David Neeves (Labour) 394 (10.91%).
In Framfield, sitting member Ann Newton retained the seat. Result Ann Newton (Conservative) 873 votes (75.91% of the votes), Linda Graham (Liberal Democrat) 146 (12.70%), Elisabeth Rumbold (Labour) 131 (11.39%).
Uckfield Town Council: There were no elections in any of the wards, with all candidates being returned unopposed.
See also:
Celebrations planned for signing of twinning charter in Uckfield
Uckfield community groups sought to help with town projects
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to hold charity dinner for Georgia
(Added to site Friday, May 6th, 2011)
