Independent candidate wins Central Beds Council seat

Independent candidate Alison Graham has won the Silsoe and Shillington seat on Central Beds Council.

She won 527 votes, followed by second place Conservative candidate Martin Hawkins with 236 votes, UKIP’s Steven Wildman with 73 votes, Liberal Democrat candidate Janet Nunn with 66 votes and the Green Party’s Gareth Ellis with 56 votes.

Mrs Graham stood as an independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats earlier this year.

She said: “I found the policies coming out of Whitehall did not sit comfortably with my own views and values.

“I’m looking forward to representing the people of Shillington, Silsoe and Gravenhurst who were very keen for me to stand in this election.”

Over-development in the villages, policing and climate change will all be priorities for Mrs Graham when she returns to Central Beds Council.

She added: “We have had problems with companies building new developments in the area with affordable housing but not paying any Section 106 money so the community does not really benefit.”

Turnout was 27.95 per cent out of a total electorate of 3,449.

The by-election was held after former ward Councillor Iain McKilligan resigned his seat earlier this year.

For further coverage see www.bedfordtoday.co.uk and the Bedford Times & Citizen of Thursday, November 22, 2012.