Welcome to your local community website...

Liberal Democrats win Colville

Posted by Ellie Dyer on Jul 23, 09 01:29 PM in News

The Liberal Democrat party has claimed its first elected council seat in Kensington and Chelsea, after triumphing in the Colville ward by-election last night.

Long-term Notting Hill resident and campaigner Carol Caruana claimed 634 votes during yesterday's election to be named the successor of Labour's Cllr Marianne Alapini, who resigned after being hospitalised with stress.

The Lib Dem win is thought to be the first in the borough's history.

However, Cllr Caruana is not the first councillor to represent the party. In 2003, Cllr Jenny Kingsley defected to the group from the Conservatives.

Ms Caruana gained more votes than both the Labour and Conservative candidates put together.

The Tories won 330 votes and Labour trailed in third place with 300. The Green party gained 77 ballots and the independent candidate just 10.

The new councillor said: "Local authorities need a good opposition. It's vital for democracy. But in Kensington and Chelsea for too many years there has been a vacuum instead.

"I will work hard in Colville to address this and make sure the residents have a strong voice in the Town Hall."

Voter turn out was 24.6 per cent.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos