THE Conservatives have won the majority of seats on Cotswold District Council, and leader Lynden Stowe said it had been a “remarkable” 24 hours for the party.

The district election count took place at Cirencester leisure centre this afternoon and the room was buzzing with excited candidates from Stow-on-the-Wold to Kempsford to Stratton.

Overall the Tories came away with the majority, winning 24 seats and the Lib Dems winning 10.

There are now only 34 seats in the District - 30 single member wards and 2 two member wards - following a reduction from 44 seats in line with a recent electoral review carried out by the local government boundary commission for England.

“We’re very pleased and look forward to getting on with commitments we made,” said CDC leader Lynden Stowe who was re-elected with 1,740 votes for his Campden and Vale ward.

“We look forward to working with new colleagues too and see what we can do for the people of the Cotswolds and Cirencester over the next four years."

In the general election, held last night, the Conservatives came away with the majority, which Lynden Stowe commented on.

“All in all it’s an absolutely remarkable 24 hours for Cotswold Conservatives. We were the 326th seat and the deciding constituency which helped Conservatives get their majority. This day will go down in history.”

Former mayor of Cirencester Joe Harris, of the Liberal Democrat party, was re-elected for St Michael’s ward in Cirencester and said it was “fantastic” news.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “We have worked really hard. I feel vindicated! We have done several campaigns recently, trying to cut parking charges and just getting a better representation of Cirencester in CDC. It’s really rewarding when people see results.”

Other notable seat winners included Conservative Sue Coakley who won one of the two available seats for the Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford south ward. Her colleague Stephen Andrews, also of the conservatives, won the second seat.

Lib Dem Tatyan Cheung, who used to own popular Chinese restaurant Tatyan’s, won 667 votes for his seat in the New Mills, Cirencester ward.

And Jenny Forde, also Lib Dem, beat Conservative David Broad by just two votes in a race for the seat in Chedworth and Churn Valley.

Jenny said she just could not believe it.

“I’m so excited. I’m excited because I’m quite a young woman, I’m a working mum, I’m a real person.

“This election has been so unpredictable. I think I’ll bring vibrancy to the council.”

See more photos and updates about the local count via our blog HERE

Happy or disappointed with the result? Email mar@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk to share your views!