ELECTIONS to Mid Devon District Council saw the Liberal Democrats take control for the first time in nearly 25 years as the party won 33 out of the 42 seats.

The Lib Dems increased their seats by 21 from the 12 they previously held, while Conservatives dropped from 18 to five and Independents were left with a single councillor from the 10 they used to have.

Greens tripled their numbers to three, but Labour failed to win any representation on the council, which covers parts of the Wellington Weekly’s circulation area.

The past two Independent leaders of the council Bob Deed and Barry Warren lost their seats, as did Conservative group leader Clive Eginton.

The results mirrored the last set of elections for the former Somerset West and Taunton Council where the Lib Dems seized control in 2019 for the first time since the early 2000s, and last week’s first-ever elections for a town council in Taunton, which saw 19 Lib Dems and one Conservative elected.

Tiverton and Honiton Lib Dem MP Richard Foord said: “Even the most extreme optimistic view for the Liberal Democrats would not have forecast what we have achieved.

“This is a result of what we have been picking up on doorsteps in recent months, which is utter frustration not just with the district council and the way that that was being run, but also with national politics in Westminster.”

In Mid Devon, the result for the Upper Culm ward, which includes Hemyock, was:

James Bartlett (Conservative) 428

Natasha Bradshaw (Lib Dem) 807 ELECTED

Simon Clist (Lib Dem) 814 ELECTED

Michael Cooper (Conservative) 366

Terence Edwards (Labour) 127

The result in Lower Culm, which covers Culmstock and Uffculme, was:

John Bell (Labour): 236

Richard Chesterton (Conservative) 649

Cathy Connor (Lib Dem) 722 ELECTED

Bob Evans (Independent) 434

Andrea Glover (Lib Dem) 814 ELECTED

Brian Lane-Smith (Conservative) 461

John Poynton (Lib Dem) 673 ELECTED

Barry Warren (Independent) 403

Lewis Worrow (Conservative) 419

The result in Canonsleigh ward for the Holcombe Rogus and Westleigh areas, was:

Christine Collis (Conservative) 375

Jane Lock (Lib Dem) 786 ELECTED

Paul Osman (Conservative) 333

Gill Westcott (Green) 521 ELECTED