Lib Dems now the largest political grouping on Torridge District Council

Chris Wheatley and Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin at the election count on Friday

After last Thursday's elections, the Liberal Democrats have emerged as the largest political grouping on Torridge District Council, quadrupling their seats from two to eight and overtaking the Conservatives, who now have just six. In fourth and fifth places, the Greens now have four seats and Labour two. Independent councillors now number sixteen, down from nineteen.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, won Shebbear and Langtree alongside running mate Chris Wheatley with 64% of votes cast and a high turnout. Commenting on the spectacular results, Councillor Cottle-Hunkin said:

'We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made the effort to go out and vote, even in the pouring rain! Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged us including our active and growing Lib Dem team. We had lots of positive conversations on the doorstep and were heartened by the support we received across the area, including from the farming community. We look forward to working together and representing you all at Torridge District Council.'

Also elected for the Liberal Democrats were Lyndon Piper, who topped the poll in Holsworthy, and Shirleyann Andrews, who achieved a similar resounding endorsement in Hartland, while all three Torrington seats went to Liberal Democrats. Chris Bright, who has been representing the town since 2019, is now joined by his wife Lauren and Torrington mayor Doug Smith. In Bideford North, longstanding district and town councillor Trevor Johns took one of the three seats, coming second to the well-known historian and columnist Peter Christie, and pushing Doug Bushby, who has been chairing the council for the independents, into third place.

Liberal Democrat constituency chair Steve Middleton said:

'The message voters have sent has been heard loud and clear. They want real change, greater investment in public services, and competence and honesty from their politicians. People are recognising that it is the Lib Dems who will work for them and their communities and we won't let them down.'

Simon Hobson, the Liberal Democrats' Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Torridge and West Devon, hailed the Liberal Democrats as the big winners of the elections, both locally and nationally, saying:

'The results reflect a positive story of people wanting change and moving towards a party with the energy and a local team who share their hopes for their communities. Voters sent a clear message that they no longer have confidence in the Conservatives, whose MPs have consistently supported water companies' activities of dumping sewage on to our beautiful Devon beaches. Local people know that, here in Torridge and West Devon, only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservative MP at the next general election.'