Guildford Liberal Democrats: The positive choice for Guildford

Liberal Democrat success in Guildford elections

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 5th May 2007

Councillor Alan Muhammed, Sue Doughty, Councillor Melanie Wilberforce (photography: Alan Muhammed)

Councillor Melanie Wilberforce, Sue Doughty & Councillor Alan Muhammed celebrate winning Stoke ward. There are no longer any Labour councillors in Guildford.

The Liberal Democrats' success in last week's elections to Guildford Borough Council, when they made a net gain of two seats, has strengthened their resolve to hold the ruling Conservative group to account on the waste of tax-payers' money and the fight against climate change. The Conservatives made a net gain of just one, taking the seat formerly held by an Independent.

The Lib Dems took both Stoke seats from Labour with convincing majorities, and gained two seats from the Conservatives in Onslow and Burpham. The Lib Dems missed taking the third seat in Holy Trinity by just 27 votes.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Fiona White said "These results show that Guildford people have confidence in our policies and want us to curb Conservative waste and push for real progress on recycling and combating climate change. Labour now have no seats in Guildford. People are looking to the Lib Dems to listen to them and continue to campaign to improve the quality of life for everyone in our borough. I am very proud to welcome our new Lib Dem councillors who have a wide range of abilities and huge enthusiasm which they will put to good use for the residents of Guildford."

Cllr Fiona White paid tribute to two experienced councillors who lost their seats by slim margins. She said "Vivienne Johnson has served the council and her residents in Christchurch with dedication and wisdom for 16 years, and will be sorely missed. Merilyn Spier has worked hard for Merrow residents since her by-election victory in 2003, particularly in planning and by her staunch defence of our green belt. I have no doubt that both Vivienne and Merilyn will continue to campaign hard on behalf of local people."

The balance of the council is now Conservatives 26 and Liberal Democrats 22, with no Labour councillors.

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