Allerdale Borough Council elections 2011 results

RELATED: Town and parish council results

RELATED: Replay of the local government elections 2011

Despite the Labour group, which had been in opposition, gaining six extra seats, they fell one short of the 29 required for an overall majority as the results were announced yesterday.

The Conservatives lost five seats, taking their total to 12, while 10 people were elected as independents and six with no party.

It will now be down to talks between those elected to decide what kind of alliance is formed to lead the council.

Labour's first major victory of the day came as former council leader Mark Fryer made a comeback, taking the Stainburn seat from Conservative councillor and current Allerdale mayor Bob Hardon with only a two-vote difference.

The result, which followed a recount, has raised questions about whether Mr Fryer will take back the leadership of the Labour group from Alan Smith.

Mr Fryer told the crowd: "In the next four years let me tell you I'll represent Stainburn ward to the very, very best of my ability."

Labour election organiser Barbara Cannon said: "I'm personally delighted that one of my closest friends has made a return to the authority.

"I think the council will be better for it."

As the last result to be announced Workington's St Michael's ward also proved contentious, prompting three recounts before the three new councillors were confirmed.

As the Labour group, which by then had 25 seats, waited with baited breath to see whether the numbers would even up, the party's Carl Holding, Billy Miskelly and Mary Bainbridge were announced as the winners.

It was a bad day for the Liberal Democrats as they lost all four seats they had previously held.

With only one extra person needed to provide an overall majority, Labour look most likely to take control but it is possible one of its members could defect to join the Conservatives and non party councillors.

Current Labour group leader Alan Smith confirmed that his party would be seeking at least one other member to join them to lead the council.

He added: "I feel absolutely euphoric and over the moon.

"The people out there think the Labour party councillors will be there for them because we are the voice for the people in tough times."

Existing council leader Tim Heslop said he was disappointed in the result.

He added: "My guess is it will probably be a Labour administration but we are going to have to see about that."

The decision over the council's adminstration must be made by the council's annual general meeting on May 18, at which the leadership of the council will be formally confirmed.

There has been no overall control of the council since 2003.

For the last four years the council has been run by an alliance of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and seven independents.

The four years before that saw a Labour-led alliance in control, with Labour in control for three terms before then.

In Cockermouth, there was significant Labour gain, with Len Davies and Christine Smith taking seats in All Saints as current town mayor Alan Tyson lost his seat.

Previous ward councillor Sam Standage moved to Christchurch ward, where Conservatives held both seats after a recount.

Recounts were also held for Broughton St Bridgets, where the two main parties each lost a seat to independents as Labour's John Ardron was voted and Conservative Eric Nicholson moved to Crummock.

Aspatria's votes were also recounted, with independent David Wilson retaining his seat and fellow independent Bill Finlay taking the place of Audrey Tinnion, of no party.

In Workington, Labour husband and wife Phil and Celia Tibble made a comeback to the council, with Celia regaining the Seaton seat she stood down from eight years ago and Philip being elected for Clifton eight years after being voted out in Moorclose.

There was disappointment for the 20-year-old Seaton candidate Andrew Lawson, who came fourth, 55 votes behind elected independent Miriam Gainford.

St John's ward brought a shock for Conservative Mike Davidson, who lost his seat to Labour after eight years.

Labour's Joe Holliday retained his seat, while Michael Heaslip and Konrad Hansen were newly elected for the party, after Gerald Humes retired.

Mr Davidson said: "I'm clearly disappointed. I thought we were doing a good job.

"I think the Labour party have got a very good machine and they turned it onto full power and rolled over us."

There was also a change of Labour councillor in Moorclose, where Joan Wright took the seat previously held by Nik Hardy.

In Harrington, the Liberal Democcrats lost both their seats, previously held by Ian Francis and retiring Allan Caine, as independent Hilary Harrington and Labour Marjorie Rae were elected.

In Maryport's Netherhall ward, businessman and independent George Kemp took a seat from Labour as Jeff Gardner was voted out.

The Green Party had seven candidates and spokesman Jill Perry, who also stood for Crummock, said that despite not winning any seats the party had made progress since the last election.

The fact that it beat the Liberal Democrats in three seats suggested the Green Party was becoming more mainstream.

The overall turnout was 46.19 per cent.

There were celebrations in the parish and town council elections, with Labour taking control of Cockermouth for the first time in at least 50 years and Mr Lawson becoming the youngest ever Workington town councillor, representing St Michael's.

Boltons: Joe Mumberson, no party: 504; Graham Ellis Sadler, Cons, 257. Majority: 247. Turnout 53.6% HOLD.

Broughton St Bridget’s, 2 seats: John Mason Ardron, L, 648. Brian Campbell, L, 578. Nicky Cockburn, I 715. Tony North, I 675. Turnout: 51.24% IND GAIN

Clifton. Phil Tibble, Lab, 364. Heather McIntosh, 197. Majority: 167. Turnout: 45.53% LAB GAIN.

Cockermouth, All Saints, 3: Len Davies, L, 884. Juliet Margaret Henderson, LD 258. Hilary Margaret Hope, C 719. Kenneth Scales, C 663. Alan Smith, L 1062. Christine May Smith, L 848. Alan Tyson, C 751. Turnout: 52.45% LAB HOLD 2 GAIN 1

Cockermouth, Christchurch: Michael Geoffrey Baron, G 162. Andrew Robert Graham, L 543. Margaret Jackson, C 639. Julie Mary Laidlow, L 550. Eleanor Mary Snowden, LD 165. Sam Standage, C 583. Turnout: 50.65% CONS HOLD.

Crummock: Ann Stevenson Bales, Lab, 109. Eric Nicholson, Cons, 491, Roger Peck, LD, 84 Jill Perry, Green, 95. Majority: 407 Turnout 62% CONS HOLD.

Dalton. Flic Crowley, Green: 97; Chris Garrad, Ind, 456 Emma Holding, Lab 167. Majority: 359. Turnout: 50.52% INDEPENDENT HOLD.

Derwent Valley: Peter John Cross:, Lab, 167, Tim Heslop, Cons, 486. Majority 319. Turnout 53.23% CONS HOLD .

Ellen, 2: John Colhoun, L, 484. Mike Johnson, C, 277. Louise Elaine Maguire. L 391. Jeanette Martin, I 356. Geoff Smith, G, 193. Turnout 43.97% LAB HOLD

Flimby. Fiona Buchanan, Cons, 83. Peter Kendall, Lab 342, David Wilson, BNP, 56. Majority:256 Turnout: 39.13% LABOUR HOLD

Maryport, Ellenborough, 2: Dawn Charlton, B, 308 Janice Wood, L 693. Martin Wood, L, 674. Turnout: 38.28 LAB HOLD

Maryport, Ewanrigg, 2: Mark Hayhurst, I 182. Jennifer Alice Matthys, B 136. Carni McCarron-Holmes, L 679. Ashley Moore, L 604. Turnout: 38.68% LAB HOLD

Maryport Netherhall, 2 seats: Jeff Gardner, Lab, 387. George Kemp, no party listed, 483, Angela Kendall, L, 422, Andy Long, Ind, 273, Angus Matthys, BNP, 76, Dianne Standen, Green, 88 Turnout 44.23%. HOLD.

Seaton, 3: Trevor Fee, I, 1,055. Miriam Gainford, I, 641. Alistair Grey, G, 304.Andrew James Lawson, L, 586. Celia Tibble, L, 779. Turnout: 43.19% IND HOLD LAB GAIN

Solway: Marcus Damian Cosgrove, Lab, 230. Jim Lister, Cons, 365. Majority 135. Turnout: CONS HOLD.

Wampool: Stuart Armstrong Moffat, C, 472; Nathan Robert Wilson, L, 156. Majority: 316 Turnout: 46.62 CONS HOLD

Warnell: Duncan Fairbairn, cons, 679, Eric Wright, Lab, 217. Majority: 462. Turnout: 57.42% CONS HOLD.

Waver. Joe Cowell, Cons, 421, Lynda Ann Stephenson, Lab, 187. Majority 234. Turnout 41.92% CONS HOLD

Wigton, 3: Binky Armstrong, no party listed, 734 John Crouch, L 843. Sheelagh Delaney, L 458. Bill Goldsmith, L 402. George Scott, no party listed 756. Paul Stafford, BNP 195. Brian Thomas Warren, C 714. Turnout: 39.93% HOLD

Wharrels. Jacqueline Mounsey, Cons, 376.Brian Cope, Lab, 205.Helen Lettimer Graham, Green, 46,. Margarit Scott, LD, 38. Majority 316 Turnout 53.18% CONS HOLD.

Workington, Harrington, 2: Ian Francis, LD, 382. Hilary Harrington, I, 412. Jim Osbourn, L 345, Marjorie Rae, L 642. Turnout: 45.13 LAB AND IND GAIN

Workington, Moorclose, 3: Peter Bales, L, 719. Denis Robertson, no party listed, 608. Neil Anthony Schofield, L, 511. Stephen Stoddart, I, 526. Joan Wright, L, 629. Turnout: 42.74% HOLD

Workington, Moss Bay, 3: Carole Armstrong, L, 596. Bill Bacon, L, 572. John Bracken, no party listed, 395. Barbara Cannon, L 620. Turnout: 34.51% LAB HOLD.

Workington, St John’s, 3: Simon Howard Collins, C, 542. Michael Davidson, C, 589. Carl Edgar, BNP, 122,. Konrad Joseph Henry Hansen, L, 942. Michael Heaslip, L, 1,019. Joe Holliday, L 1156. Turnout: 56.6% LAB GAIN

Workington, St Michael’s, 3: Mary Elizabeth Bainbridge, L, 935,. Grahame Hayton, I, 444. Carl John Holding, L 690. Elsie Johnsen, I, 682. Billy Miskelly, L, 741. Turnout: 41.89%. LAB GAIN.

Workington Stainburn. Margaret Bennett, LD 33. Mark Fryer, L, 301, Bob Hardon, C, 299. Majority: 268, Turnout: 45.76% LAB GAIN

County council by-election for Keswick
Sitting Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Barraclough retired
Brian Cope, Lab, 464. Ron Munby, Cons, 827, Martin Pugmire, LD, 619, David Robinson, no party, 650. CONS GAIN.