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Tonbridge and Malling council election results 2019

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Find out who has been voted in to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council with our election graphic showing the results as they come in.

Since 2015 Tonbridge and Malling council has been run by the Conservatives.

For all the results and reaction from across Kent follow our live blog and follow live updates from the Tonbridge and Malling count below.

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6.15pm

So that's the end of the borough council elections.

Despite struggling with elections in other boroughs, the Conservatives have kept their grip on TMBC, although it's been loosened a little.

The biggest shock of the day was undoubtedly the Green Party snatching two seats from the Tories in Judd ward.

Cllr April Clark said: "We're absolutely delighted we can't wait to celebrate and thank all of our volunteers.

"This was our target ward to win, we worked really hard. We were hoping win but we did not expect to win by such a landslide."

Cllr Mark Hood added: "The turnout is nearly 52%, compared to 30% in other wards, people were very engaged in the Judd ward. We were campaigning against the Local Plan, which has plans to build 480 homes in our green belt in our ward."

Green Party Cllr April Clark will represent Judd Ward. Picture: Andy Jones. (9604817)
Green Party Cllr April Clark will represent Judd Ward. Picture: Andy Jones. (9604817)

Also campaigning to protect green space were three independents in Borough Green.

Tim Shaw, Wendy Palmer and Mike Taylor will now represent the ward and continue their fight to stop a 3,000 home garden village being built on their doorsteps.

The group said: ""Residents have told us what they want, it's now our job to deliver on our promise to stop these homes.

Green Party's Cllr Mark Hood will represent Judd Ward. Picture: Andy Jones. (9604819)
Green Party's Cllr Mark Hood will represent Judd Ward. Picture: Andy Jones. (9604819)

"Based on our conversations with the planning inspectorate we remain quietly confident we can do that."

Elsewhere Labour can now see it is at least represented on the council after capturing one seat, while the Lib Dems have have a larger opposition with nine seats - five seats more than at the 2015 election.

Cllr Oakley said: "I think it's because we work very hard between elections. We don't just send a leaflet out two weeks before people go to the polls.

"Brexit probably helped, but over the last few weeks we've worked extra hard to show that the Lib Dems in Tonbridge and Malling work as a team for the interests of local people."

Altogether the Conservatives lost nine seats, reducing their total to 39 seats. The Liberal Democrats have nine seats, Labour one, Independents three and the Greens two.

Among the Tory casualties was Cllr Maria Heslop, cabinet member fro communities.

Husband and council leader Nicholas Heslop held his seat. He said: "I am very humbled that the residents of Tonbridge and Malling have returned a Conservative controlled borough council and against the background of the most challenging national picture.

"I am very sorry that a number of colleagues were not elected.

"I will miss them enormously and would like to thank them each for the service on the Borough Council and their own communities over the years. I am also disappointed for those Conservative candidates who were not successful.

"While the Conservatives are the largest group on Tonbridge and Malling, I recognise there are communities represented by other political parties.

"I will wish to listen constructively to the views of those members in how to deliver the best possible service for all our residents.

"We will work hard to ensure we continue to have an efficiently run council and deliver high quality local services."

Turnout was low across the board, lowest at Snodland East and Ham Hill where just 21% of people turned out to vote.

The ward falls into Tory MP Tracey Crouch's constituency.

Ms Crouch was at the count at Larkfield Leisure Centre, she said: "We're seeing a real resurgence of independent or minority parties as a means of bashing us over Brexit, I think it's a real mix.

"Turnout is incredibly low in some areas. In Snodland East and Ham Hill it's 21%. That's quite significant particularly given that's the ward where the KFC planning application is, you would think they would want a strong local council representation to defy that.

"It's an odd situation and turnout is disappointing but also given the national picture and what's happening across the country, not surprising either."

5.15pm

3.15pm

Borough Green and Long Mill has been a clean sweep for the Independents.

Tim Shaw, Wendy Palmer and Mike Taylor will now campaign to bring the 3,000 home Borough Green Garden Village scheme to a halt.

Speaking after the result, the group said: "We're quietly confident we can stop these homes.

Borough Green and Long Mill councillors Mike Taylor, Wendy Palmer & Tim Shaw (All Independent). Picture: Andy Jones (9601476)
Borough Green and Long Mill councillors Mike Taylor, Wendy Palmer & Tim Shaw (All Independent). Picture: Andy Jones (9601476)

"Residents have told us what they want, it's now our job to deliver on our promise to stop these homes.

"Based on our conversations with the planning inspectorate we remain quietly confident we can do that."

2.50pm

Results are in for the ward with the lowest turnout.

Snodland East and Ham Hill has been held by the Conservatives. Cllr Sue Bell had 413 votes and Ruth Lettington had 373. Labour's Wayne Mallard came second with 312 votes and Jane Ayers third for the Lib Dems with 220 votes.

Little more than 21% of locals turned out to vote in the ward.

2.20pm

Results have been coming in thick and fast. As it stands the Conservatives have 13 seats, the Liberal Democrats have four seats and Labour have gained one seat.

Notable casualties include Maria Heslop, cabinet member for community services, she lost her Vauxhall seat to the Lib Dems who have taken the ward from the Conservatives.

Council leader Nicholas Heslop has avoided an upset by retaining his seat in Cage Green, while Lib Dem leader Anita Oakley held her seat in Larkfield South.

Lib Dem councillors for Larkfield South Timothy Bishop and Anita Oakley (9597899)
Lib Dem councillors for Larkfield South Timothy Bishop and Anita Oakley (9597899)

Cllr Oakley said: "We've already made some gains, I think it's because we work very hard between elections. We don't just send a leaflet out two weeks before people go to the polls.

"Brexit probably helped, but over the last few weeks we've worked extra hard to show that the Lib Dems in Tonbridge and Malling work as a team for the interests of local people."

1.20pm

Aylesford South results are in with dozens of spoiled votes.

Conservatives held both seats with Steve Hammond retaining his seat with 636 votes. Colin Williams is now the second Tory councillor with 628 votes.

Labour was the only other party to stand in the election. Toni Beadle had 182 votes in her favour and Julie Taylor had 226.

There were 40 spoiled votes with 24.35% of the electorate turning out.

12.15pm

We have our first result proper. Sarah Hudson has held Wateringbury for the Conservatives with 325 votes. Independent Mark Burrows came second with 255 votes and Siobhan Sharp had 88 votes for the Liberal Democrats. Altogether 41.76% of the electorate turned out.

There were six spoiled votes.

Former City worker Cllr Hudson, who now owns a pool table business with her husband, said: "It's been a lot of hard work but been enjoyable.

Cllr Sarah Hudson will represent Wateringbury ward at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (9592588)
Cllr Sarah Hudson will represent Wateringbury ward at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (9592588)

"It's been nice getting out and talking to people. Hopefully now I can start putting into action the words.

"There's been a little bit stick with the uncertainties over Brexit but by and large everyone's been very supportive."

The new borough councillor is taking over from Simon Jessell. She campaigned on issues including speeding and traffic problems in the area and hopes to improve infrastructure as housing continues to grow in surrounding areas.

12pm

All of the wards' ballots have been verified and final counts are under way, provisional results are starting to come in.

Downs and Mereworth ward councillors are Conservatives Piers Montague and Frances Kemp after an uncontested election.

Cllr Montague is the first TMBC cabinet member to hold his seat. He is policy holder for housing.

6am

There is a little time to wait for results today, with counting not expected to get underway until about 9.45am.

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