Back to business for Stallard as voters in Denmead and Hambledon stick with the Conservatives

PATRICIA Stallard will continue to represent Denmead and Hambledon on Hampshire County Council following her local election victory.

There were no shocks as the Conservative romped home with 71 per cent of the vote to retain her Winchester Southern Parishes seat.

The Denmead parish councillor nearly doubled her majority having won 3,011 votes compared to 1,618 in the 2013 county elections.

Labour made a slight gain as Alexander Graft finished third with 240 votes (six per cent), up 43 on the 197 that Sheila King secured four years ago.

But they were still well behind the Liberal Democrats as Simon Wernick collected 796 votes (19 per cent) while Davie Walker-Nix of the Green Party racked up 210 (five per cent).

Voter turnout was 36 per cent – up from 29 per cent in 2013 - with 4,257 out of a possible 11,754 paying a visit to their local polling station.

The battle was closer in the Meon Valley division but more than 1,400 votes still separated victorious Conservative candidate, Roger Huxstep, from Liberal Democrat contender, Vivian Achwal.

The candidates secured 58 and 30 per cent of the vote, respectively, after collecting 2,925 and 1,509 crosses apiece on the ballot paper.

Just 54 votes separated third-placed Green candidate, Anne Coleman, and UKIP’s Leslie Mitchell, who finished fifth.

The candidates, who picked up 217 and 163 votes, respectively, finished above and below Anne West with the Labour hopeful getting 208 votes.

Turnout was a respectable 42 per cent with 5,022 out of a possible 12,001 votes being cast.