Winning Night For Borough Lib Dems

2.35.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th May 2006

Councillors Nick Charsley, Shirley McKay, Henry Rogers and Michael Headley After their Successful Elections

Liberal Democrats emerged clear winners after last nights Borough Council elections.

Gains from both the Conservatives and Better Bedford means that the Liberal Democrats made the most gains. Lib Dems held seats in Kingsbrook, Putnoe and Wootton and gained seats in Goldington and Harrold.

Speaking after the results had been announced, Lib Dem Group leader Michael Headley said:

"It was a great night for local Lib Dems. We've gained seats from the both the Tories in Harrold and Better Bedford in Goldington. Added to that we held all our existing seats, unlike all of the other parties. Support for Lib Dems crosses all borders with councillors elected in rural and urban wards, both north and south of the river. With Labour, Tories and Better Bedford all losing seats we were the real winners on the night. This will give us great momentum heading towards the Mayoral election next year. Last time around Christine McHugh took second place, on the back of these results we will be fighting for a win next time round."

The full list of election results is as follows:

Brickhill Ward:

Brian Anderson (Lab) 235 votes

Peter Hand (Con) 1639 votes

Charles Royden (Lid Dem) 1491 votes

Bromham Ward:

David Gallagher (Lib Dem) 244 votes

Nicholas Luder (Lab) 233 votes

David Maxwell (Green) 129 votes

Roger Rigby (Con) 1782 votes

Castle Ward:

Lynda Aylett-Green (Lib Dem) 321 votes

Apu Bagchi (Ind) 857 votes

Laurence Evans (Lab) 527 votes

David Fletcher (Con) 509 votes

Saul Keyworth (Green) 164 votes

Cauldwell Ward:

Bob Elford (Lab) 1038 votes

Andrew Gerard (Lib Dem) 306 votes

Kitty Stacey (Con) 546 votes

Goldington Ward:

Martin Bartlett (Better Bedford Indep) 321 votes

Colin Crane (Con) 439 votes

Marilyn Leask (Lab) 393 votes

Henry Rogers (Lib Dem) 977 votes

Harpur Ward:

Brian Dillingham (Con) 744 votes

Jennifer Foley (Green) 156 votes

Penny Nicholls (Lab) 719 votes

John Ryan (Lib Dem) 218 votes

Alberto Thomas (Better Bedford Indep) 102 votes

Harrold Ward:

David Billington (Con) 507 votes

Martin Bridgman (Indep) 126 votes

Lucy Bywater (Green) 35 votes

Nick Charsley (Lib Dem) 575 votes

Stephen Poole (Lab) 37 votes

Kempston East Ward:

Nicky Attenborough (Con) 726 votes

Kay Burley (Lab) 589 votes

Joan Slater (Lib Dem) 205 votes

Kempston North Ward:

Desmond Clarke (Lib Dem) 143 votes

Susan Oliver (Lab) 724 votes

Mark Smith (Con) 592 votes

Kempston South Ward:

Ben Foley (Green) 81 votes

Timothy Hill (Lib Dem) 192 votes

Shan Hunt (Lab) 622 votes

Angela Parker (Better Bedford Indep) 242 votes

Jas Parmar (Con) 775 votes

Kingsbrook Ward:

Frank Garrick (Lab) 607 votes

Mohammed Kabir (Con) 529 votes

Shirley McKay (Lib Dem) 1044 votes

Newnham Ward:

Edward Davey (Better Bedford Indep) 265 votes

June McDonald (Lab) 255 votes

John Mingay (Con) 629 votes

Stelios Mores (Lib Dem) 467 votes

Mark Steinhardt (Green) 60 votes

Oakley Ward:

Franca Garrick (Lab) 36 votes

Patricia Olney (Indep) 686 votes

Jacqueline Smithson (Lib Dem) 63 votes

Putnoe Ward:

Peter Allen (Con) 743 votes

Michael Headley (Lib Dem) 1716 votes

Raymond Hostler (Better Bedford Indep) 478 votes

Rosemary Roome (Lab) 229 votes

Queens Park Ward:

Parvez Akhtar (Con) 1013 votes

Neal Bath (Lib Dem) 172 votes

Michael Bonito (Better Bedford Indep) 306 votes

Mohammad Yasin (Lab) 1087 votes

Riseley Ward:

Terence Carroll (Lab) 42 votes

Ian Clifton (Indep) 1027 votes

Patricia Grieve (Indep) 87 votes

Paul Stekelis (Lib Dem) 46 votes

Wilshamstead Ward:

Barry Huckle (Con) 821 votes

Justina McLennan (Green) 71 votes

Jan Owen (Lab) 132 votes

Malcolm Whiteman (Lib Dem) 523 votes

Wootton Ward:

Adrien Beardmore (Lab) 84 votes

John Bojczuk (Better Bedford Indep) 331 votes

Judith Cunningham (Lib Dem) 864 votes

Catherine Dale (Con) 549 votes