Conservatives lose control of Herefordshire Council

The Conservative Party has lost overall control of Herefordshire Council which could put plans for a city bypass at risk.

The Tories won 13 seats in total, losing half the amount they previously held.

This result could mean a change of course for the local authority and its plans to build a new road to the west of Hereford.

The feeling among many of the Conservative candidates was that the national picture, and in particular the handling of Brexit had badly affected their results.

Some of the major upsets for the Tories included the loss of the infrastructure and contracts cabinet members Philip Price and Harry Bramer along with council and planning chairmen Brian Wilcox and Phil Cutter.

Speaking during the vote count, Mr Price said it had been a tough campaign.

“The reaction from people on the doorstep was positive but I think we’ve been overshadowed by what’s been happening at Westminster,” he said.

The Herefordshire Independents were the big winners on the day, up from nine to 16 seats, and while they support the principle of a bypass there are divisions in their group over which side of the city it should go.

Group leader Bob Matthews said he was very pleased with his party’s ‘excellent’ results.

“We will have a group meeting tomorrow and approach each group next week.”

He said his group would have a ‘long hard look’ at all of the options for a bypass.

Meanwhile, It’s Our County won eight seats and the Greens took seven.

IOC co-leader Liz Harvey said she was pleased with her group’s result.

“We’ve helped achieve a more diverse council and we will be talking with our Herefordshire Alliance colleagues about forming a coalition.”

Ellie Chowns, Green group leader, said she was extremely pleased with their results and said it showed that voters want a new form of collaborative politics.

Her group is against major infrastructure projects such as the Hereford bypass and Southern Link Road and instead favours a more integrated public transport system with better cycle and walking routes.

The Liberal Democrats tripled their number of seats up to six with two non aligned Independents also winning wards.

Their group leader Terry James said he was confident his party would do well.

The Lib Dems support plans for a bypass west of Hereford and believe its construction would lead to better cycle routes through the city and lower carbon emissions.

Former Hereford mayor Jim Kenyon, who believes there should be a river crossing to the east of Hereford, retained his seat and Independent Gemma Dean won the Saxon Gate ward.

The Labour Party and UKIP failed to win any of the county council seats.