Archive - Wednesday, 8 May 2002


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Tories take over council

JUBILANT Conservatives are celebrating a resounding district council election victory which has given them overall control at Ebley Mill.

The Tories upped their representation from 24 to 29 members, while Labour numbers were driven down by a third.

It represents a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Stroud Conservatives, whose representation was in single figures during the mid-90s.

Thursday's result means the Tories now hold a majority of seven over all the other parties.

They will cut off the Liberal Democrats and Independents who they have shared power with for the last year and go it alone.

"It's a very satisfying figure and it shows we are on the move," said Tory council leader John Stephenson-Oliver.

"We have taken control but we will take on board the views of everybody."

Stroud district voters did not flood the polling stations on Thursday, although the turnout of 39.9 per cent beat the 2000 figure of 38 per cent, when only one third of the council was up for election. Nearly 70 per cent came out for last year's General Election, won by Labour MP David Drew.