THE Conservative Party seized control of Salisbury City Council in a decisive victory at the polls on Friday.

Voters ousted most of the opposition, including leader Andrew Roberts (Ind), as the Tories took 17 of the 23 seats.

Conservative group leader Matthew Dean looks set to become the next city council leader at the first full council meeting on June 5.

He said he was delighted with “a very strong result” which was an endorsement for the Conservatives. “It’s a very exciting time for the city council,” he said, adding: “I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

John Lindley (Con) will be the city’s 757th mayor after retaining his seat.

“This is my tenth election and I’ve only won three,” he said.

“I’m happy to have survived.”

Labour retained five of their seven councillors, including all three in Bemerton.

Ian Tomes (Lab, St Martins and Cathedral) said: “When Conservatives have outright control, normally they become arrogant and that arrogance often leads to their downfall.”

The Lib Dems now have just one councillor, Brian Dalton (Harnham) while the Independents and Greens were wiped out entirely.

It means the Conservatives can now form an administration, whereas before there was no overall control on the council.

Margaret Willmot (Ind) said she had very much enjoyed being a councillor but it was unlikely she would stand again in 2021.

Michael Pope (Green) said: “I’m ready for retirement. I’ve got plenty to get on with.”

Andrew Roberts (Ind) said: “I have enjoyed running the council for the last four years.”

James Robertson (Lib Dem) said: “The next four years, frankly, with the decline in central government grants to local authorities, are going to be a pretty rough ride for those who get in.”

Salisbury City Council results in full. Those in bold were elected.

Bemerton
Corbin, Caroline Susan, (Labour), 651, 54.11%
Corbin, Tom, (Labour), 650, 54.03%
Osment, Mike, (Labour), 547, 45.47%
Barrett, Gavin, (Conservative) 473, 39.32%
Richardson, Julia, (Green), 260, 21.61%
Palethorpe, Dean, (UKIP), 215, 17.87%
Turnout    1,205 (27.38%)


Fisherton and Bemerton Village
Walsh, John, (Labour), 592, 43.37%
Nettle, Jeremy (Conservative) 455, 33.33%
Moody, Frogg (Conservative) 407, 29.82%
Willmot, Margaret (Independent), 384, 28.13%
Sage, Debs (Labour), 347, 25.42%
Vitorino, Ruby, (Conservative) 312, 22.86%
Jennings, Alastair (Lib Dem) 312, 22.86%
Cliffe, Gavin (Lib Dem) 275, 20.15%
Raws, Alex (Green) 245, 17.95%
Oubridge, Brig (Green) 170, 12.45%
Singh, Paddy (UKIP) 101, 7.40%
Turnout    1,368 (39.69%)

Harnham
Dalton, Brian (Lib Dem) 983, 51.12%
Jackson, Simon (Conservative) 874, 45.45%
Berry, Stephen (Conservative) 803, 41.76%
McGarry, John (Conservative) 713, 37.08%
Alexander, Grahame (Lib Dem) 641, 33.33%
O`Sullivan, Catherine (Lib Dem) 593, 30.84%
Matthews, Peter (Green) 309, 16.07%
Holroyd, Merrin      (Labour) 213, 11.08%
King, Naomi (UKIP) 121, 6.29%
Turnout    1,925 (44.29%)

Salisbury St Edmund and Milford
Hoque, Atiqul (Conservative) 682, 43.00%
Foster, Amanda (Conservative) 545, 34.36%
Sirman, Liz (Conservative) 521, 32.85%
Foster, Rebecca (Lib Dem) 483, 30.45%
Price, Glenn (Lib Dem) 456, 28.75%
Robertson, James (Lib Dem) 445    , 28.06%
Pope, Michael  (Green) 433, 27.30%
Wright, Sue (Green) 392, 24.72%
Vincent, Clive (Labour) 346, 21.82%
Turnout    1,590 (43.60%)

Salisbury St Francis and Stratford
McClelland, Mark (Conservative) 851, 46.76%
Daley, Kevin Stuart (Conservative) 832, 45.71%
Rogers, Charles (Conservative) 825, 45.33%
Sullivan, Georgina (Lib Dem) 812, 44.62%
Bayliss, Alan (Lib Dem)    683, 37.53%
Bolton, Richard (Green) 622, 34.18%
Wadsworth, Steven (Labour) 323, 17.75%
Turnout    1,828 (44.63%)

Salisbury St Marks and Bishopdown
Brown, Derek (Conservative) 366, 55.04%
Baber, John (Conservative) 358, 53.83%
Oubridge, Linda     (Green), 230, 34.59%
Mettyear, Tom (Labour) 177, 26.62%
Turnout    665 (35.70%)

Salisbury St Martins and Cathedral
Hocking, Sven (Conservative) 862, 43.47%
Tomes, Ian (Labour) 833    , 42.01%
Broom, Jo (Conservative) 794, 40.04%
Mason, Laura (Conservative) 730, 36.81%
Podger, Patricia (Labour) 617, 31.11%
Treslove, Tim (Labour) 480, 24.21%
Condliffe, Gregor (Lib Dem) 376, 18.96%
Fallon, Teresa (Green), 284, 14.32%
Davis, Andrew (Lib Dem) 241, 12.15%
Steel, Robert (Lib Dem) 225, 11.35%
Turnout    1,983 (47.43%)


St Pauls
Dean, Matthew (Conservative) 652, 45.12%
Farquhar, John (Conservative) 542, 37.51%
Lindley, Terence John (Conservative) 488, 33.77%
Clegg, Paul (Labour) 385, 26.64%
Sample, Paul (Lib Dem)    366, 25.33%
Layzell, John (Green) 330, 22.84%
Goddard, Anita (Labour) 326, 22.56%
Roberts, Andrew (Independent) 326, 22.56%
Foster, Sam (Lib Dem) 263, 18.20%
Hopson, Alexander (Lib Dem) 218, 15.09%
Turnout    1,446 (38.87%)