Local Elections Deal Blow to Council

Friday, 15 October 2010 10:08

As the Underhill Ward election results are released, giving victory to John Lewer, the sitting council are dealt a clear message from the electorate that the residents of Underhill are unhappy. By-elections, even on the micro scale of Shaftesbury, are an insightful barometer of public opinion and in this election the two candidates stood on very clear, opposite, platforms. John Lewer made his feelings known that he was against the actions of the current council while Laurence Malden described recent negativity towards the council as saddening.

Since Mr Malden lost it is fair to say that the people of Shaftesbury disagreed strongly, the recent comments that have saddened Mr Malden are a populous unhappy with the lack of transparency, which Shaftesbury Town Council have spent years being criticised for, with little apparent progress and it surprises me that anyone would seriously stand on a platform of criticising locals for making their voices heard.

That said, local government is often limited to those who wish to participate and it is both refreshing and welcome to see two new names on the ballot, it is one thing for so many to complain but quite another to put your name (and time) towards trying to make things better. Thank you from Underhill for both participating and best of luck on the council to Mr Lewer.

Update here are the results:
John Lewer 230 votes
Laurence Malden 124 votes
2 spoilt votes
Votes cast: 356
Electorate: 1304
Turn out: 27.3%