Yate Central

THE election in Chipping Sodbury and Cotswold Edge ward had one of the most dramatic results of the night, with first and fourth place divided by just 40 votes and the Conservatives making their only gain of the night, at the expense of the Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dems Adrian Rush and Patricia Trull were both sitting councillors defending their seats.

But while Adrian Rush topped the poll, with 1,687 votes, second place and the other council seat went to Conservative Becky Romaine, with 1,680 votes.

Just two votes behind her was fellow Tory candidate Roisin Hall, who received 1,678 votes.

Patricia Trull, who had won her seat by just 12 votes back in 2019, was another 33 votes behind in fourth.

Labour candidate Ian Lowe polled 336 votes in fifth place.

Afterwards Becky said: "I would like to thank everybody who supported my campaign and every single voter who put their trust in me to represent them on the Council.

"While the Conservative Group no longer controls the Council, and while my ability to influence events will therefore be limited, I will do all I possibly can to progress these initiatives and support the residents of Chipping Sodbury and Cotswold Edge.

"The hard work starts here."

Full result:

Adrian Rush (LD): 1,687

Becky Romaine (Con): 1,680

Roisin Hall (Con): 1,678

Patricia Trull (LD): 1,647

Ian Lowe (Lab) 336

IN Dodington ward, which covers an area of south Yate and Chipping Sodbury, the Liberal Democrats took both seats with an increased margin of victory.

Louise Harris and Cheryl Kirby were elected with 1,479 and 1,432 votes respectively - the third-placed Conservative, Rachel Welch, was 915 votes behind, with 517.

In 2019 the second-placed Lib Dem candidate was 867 votes ahead of the leading Conservative.

Louise Harris was a sitting councillor, while Cheryl Kirby is a town councillor and the current Mayor of Yate.

The two Tory candidates were separated by just one vote, with National Housing Party candidate Callum Leat 288 votes behind the Conservatives.

Full results:

Louise Harris (LD): 1,479

Cheryl Kirby (LD): 1,432

Rachel Welch (Con): 517

Jo Nicholson (Con): 516

Callum Leat (Nat Housing): 228

Yate North

THE Liberal Democrats kept hold of both seats in the Yate Central ward.

Sandra Emms topped the poll with 1,269 votes, followed by fellow Lib Dem John Davis, with 1,231.

Both are new to the ward, although John Davis was a councillor in neighbouring Yate North ward before the election.

The margin between the second-placed Lib Dem and leading Conservative Marian Gilpin, in third, was 647 votes - slightly lower than the 799-vote difference in 2019 but on a smaller turnout of 3,820 voters, compared with 4,145 last time.

Full result:

Sandra Emms (LD): 1,269

John Davis (LD): 1,231

Marian Gilpin (Con): 584

Joanne Lewis (Con): 470

Christopher Jackson (Grn): 266 councillor, Ben Nutland, had 2,228 votes, two behind Yate town councillor Chris Willmore, with 2,230.

Leading Conservative candidate Sonia Williams was 1,469 votes behind, in what was a straight contest between three Lib Dems and three Tories.

The margin of victory for the third-placed Lib Dem over the fourth-placed Conservative was almost double the 2019 figure of 774: Between them the three Lib Dem candidates received three times as many votes as the three Tories.

Full result:

Mike Drew (LD): 2,282

THE Liberal Democrats retained all three seats in the Yate North ward, with a hugely increased margin of victory.

Mike Drew, a sitting South Gloucestershire councillor, topped the poll with 2,282 votes. The other sitting

Chris Willmore (LD): 2,230

Ben Nutland (LD): 2,228

Sonia Williams (Con): 759

Matt Lewis (Con): 734

David Williams (Con): 733