THE Conservative Party has retained overall control of Hampshire County Council, with Floss Mitchell elected to the Grayshott and Liphook ward vacated by Ferris Cowper, who stood down in March, last year forcing a by-election.

Following the county council election last Thursday, the Tories gained 56 of the 78 seats, amounting to 52 per cent of the vote as the support for UKIP?which had seen them pick up 10 seats four years ago, evaporated.

Labour’s share of the vote was halved giving them just two seats as the Tories recorded a 14 per cent increase on the 2013 election when they won 45 seats. 

The Liberal Democrats won 19 seats – an increase of two on the 2013 results, as UKIP lost seven of its 10 seats it had on the council following the 2013 election.

In the Liphook, Headley and Grayshott ward, Conservative candidate Floss Mitchell was re-elected after receiving 3,021 votes, (63 per cent of those cast), while Liberal Democrat Trevor Maroney polled 1,353 votes, a 28 per cent share.

Labour’s John Tough only managed 347 votes, representing seven per cent and Eddie Trotter, who stood for the Justice and Anti Corruption Party, got the lowest votes with just 89, representing two per cent of voters.

The turn out was 37 per cent from a total of 13,159 electorates.

Mrs Mitchell, who polled 2,201 votes at last May’s by-election, when Mr Maroney picked up 1,321 votes, told The Herald: “I want to pay tribute to the other candidates who worked hard during the campaign.

“I also want to thank the staff who ran the five polling stations and the teams responsible for the amazing efficiency of the count on Thursday night.

“The three parishes I am lucky enough to represent are great communities and it’s been a privilege to serve them over the last year.

“My campaign slogan was ‘working together to serve our community’ and I am looking forward to continuing the work we have started together over the next four years.”

With an overall turnout of 36 per cent across Hampshire, the votes were counted overnight at Petersfield Festival Hall. 

County returning officer John Coughlan, who is the county council’s chief executive said: “The majority party will now meet to consider its key appointments.

“The annual general meeting of the council on May 25 will appoint the chairman, vice-chairman and leader of the county council. The newly elected leader will make appointments to the cabinet ahead of its first meeting, on June 19. 

“I look forward to working with all of Hampshire County Council’s members in serving the county’s 1.3 million residents over this next administration period – delivering important public services; from education, roads, highways and social care for vulnerable children and adults, to access to the countryside and libraries.”

He added: “The county council elections have run very smoothly and I would like to thank all of the staff in the district and borough councils, and the county council for their contribution in the process.”