Lib Dems take control of Winchester City Council

4.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Jun 2010

Winchester Lib Dems celebrate gaining control of Winchester City Council

At the elections on May 6th, the Lib Dem team won overall control of Winchester City Council for the first time since 2002.

New Lib Dem leader of the Council, Kelsie Learney said "After four years of Conservative control there's a lot we need to do to sort out the Council's finances. It's a top priority for us to keep council tax down, and we also need the council to do more on the environment and anti-social behaviour. The Conservatives used Council reserves to balance the books, and even without the loss made in Icelandic banks, the cupboards are just about bare."

Unfortunately, local Lib Dem campaigner, Martin Tod, narrowly lost the battle to be the area's MP.

Martin Tod added: "I'm grateful to everyone who supported me, particularly the many people who worked so hard on the campaign. Obviously I'm disappointed at the result, although encouraged that many of the things I campaigned for look set to be done by the new Government. On the day, I got more votes than 458 of the MP's elected, but unfortunately it wasn't enough."