It’s a week since the local elections in Herefordshire, and talks are ongoing between groups to decide who will lead the council. 

The Conservatives are in a strong position with the largest number of seats (21), with other parties such as the Lib Dems (12) and the Green Party (9) holding an improved number of seats in comparison to the last term.

Your Herefordshire understands that discussions have taken place between a number of different groups and that these talks have been ‘positive’.

Meanwhile, Sir Bill Wiggin (Conservative MP for Herefordshire North) has claimed that it will be a difficult task to ‘undo the damage done by the independent-green coalition’, leading to a heated debate on social media, with many pointing at Conservative Central Government cuts for many of the problems Herefordshire faces.

Speaking after the count, Sir Bill said:

“It is encouraging to see such a good number of capable Conservative candidates elected to Herefordshire Council. I know this result will be a relief to those who have grown frustrated with the decisions of the previous administration.”

“For far too long the Independent-Green coalition have neglected our potholes, bypass, wasted our money and let down our children.

“The people of Herefordshire have reflected their concerns at the ballot box. I look forward to the new Councillors working with the Conservative group to address these issues.”

This election saw the Conservatives unseat previously prominent cabinet members at Herefordshire Council, including Bruce Baker winning in Hampton and Dan Hurcomb, Chairman of the North Herefordshire Conservative Association, in Bircher.

Sir Bill commented:

“I would like to congratulate all newly elected Councillors on a well fought and successful campaign.

“It will not be an easy task to undo the damage done by the Independent-Green coalition, however I am confident that the newly elected Conservative councillors can work together to start to form a brighter future for Herefordshire.”  

Results in full:

Final results by Ward:

Arrow Ward

CIOLTE, Dan – Liberal Democrats – 181

PHILLIPS, Roger James – Local Conservatives – 950 (E)

WHITELEGG, John – Green Party – 174

Aylestone Hill Ward

DAVEY, Anna – Liberal Democrats – 177

SPENCER, Adam – Labour Party – 379 (E)

STOKES, Fiona Mary – Reform UK – 28

TYLER, Ange – Independent – 256

WALSH, Alexander – The Conservative Party Candidate – 160

Backbury Ward

BIGGS, Graham Russell – Local Conservatives – 394 (E)

HARDWICK, John – Independent – 341

VIDLER, James – Liberal Democrats – 385

Belmont Rural Ward

COOPER, Andy – The Conservative Party Candidate – 207

DYKES, Mark Eden – Liberal Democrats – 315 (E)

ELY, Nigel – Reform UK – 67

JONES, Alan – Independent – 199

PERCIVAL, Rachael – 93

Birch Ward

AGYEMAN, Michael Nkansah – The Conservative Party Candidate – 533

FAGAN, Toni Anne – Green Party – 562 (E)

GRIFFITHS, Alex – Liberal Democrats – 151

Bircher Ward

BOWEN, Sebastian – Independent – 516

HURCOMB, Dan – Local Conservatives – 754 (E)

POPE, Angharad Beverly – Liberal Democrats – 126

SMITH -WINNARD, Tessa – Green Party – 137

Bishops Frome and Cradley Ward

CHOWNS, Ellie – Green Party – 801 (E)

FRANKLIN, Mark – Local Conservatives – 316

TURNER, Robert Henry – Liberal Democrats – 45

Bobblestock Ward

BUTLER, Clive Richard – The Conservative Party Candidate – 241

CODA, Anna – Labour Party – 143

OWENS, Rob – Liberal Democrats – 244 (E)

PRICE, Tim – Independent – 202

Bromyard Bringsty Ward

HOBBS, Clare – Liberal Democrats – 115

PAGE, Roger William – Independent – 139

ROCK, Karen Dawn – Green Party – 370

STODDART, Peter John – Local Conservatives – 562 (E)

Bromyard West Ward

DAVIES, Clare – 412 (E)

HARPER, Paul Christopher – Local Conservatives – 116

HOLMAN, Liam Frank Dylan – Labour Party – 86

WEST, Clare – Liberal Democrats – 48

Castle Ward

HIGHFIELD, Robert Arnold – Local Conservatives – 346 (E)

RIMMER, Rob – 316

SHAW, Scott – Liberal Democrats – 203

WATKINS, Alan Richard – Independent – 345

Central Ward

GENNARD, Catherine Ruth – Green Party – 413 (E)

GRAY, Michael Edward Peter – The Conservative Party Candidate – 210

WILLIAMS, Mal – Liberal Democrats – 268

College Ward

HEY, Kath – Labour Party – 222

PROCTOR, Ben – Liberal Democrats – 230 (E)

SKYRME, Ian Mark – Independent – 73

TAYLOR, Rachel Louise – The Conservative Party Candidate – 209

YILMAZ, Amanda Jane – Independent – 46

Credenhill Ward

CHAMBERS, Paula Bessie – Liberal Democrats – 137

JOHNSTON, Gareth Edward – Local Conservatives – 308

MATTHEWS, Bob – Independent – 351 (E)

TAYLOR, Charlie – 120

Dinedor Hill Ward

DAVIES, David Eirian – The Conservative Party Candidate – 401 (E)

HORNSEY, Cat – Liberal Democrats – 370

SUMMERS, David – It’s Our County: Independent, Organised, Capable – 260

Eign Hill Ward

FOXTON, Elizabeth Mary – Independent – 440 (E)

POTTS, Sam – Liberal Democrats – 261

THOMPSON, Anthony Stephen Geoffrey – The Conservative Party Candidate – 207

WOOLLEY, Steven William – Labour Party – 238

Golden Valley North Ward

HEWITT, Jennie – Independent – 492

JENKINS, Brett Lewis – Liberal Democrats – 178

PRICE, Philip David – The Conservative Party Candidate – 584 (E)

Golden Valley South Ward

GREENOW, Dave – The Conservative Party Candidate – 400

JINMAN, Peter Charles – Independent – 594 (E)

STARLING, Duncan James – Liberal Democrats – 142

Greyfriars Ward

CLARK, Neil Christopher – Independent – 92

FARMER, Keith – Conservative Party Candidate – 214

LANE, Matt – Liberal Democrats – 261

TOYNBEE, Diana – Green Party – 398 (E)

Hagley Ward

ANDREWS, Paul Michael – Independent – 223

POWELL, Ivan Glenn James – Independent – 407 (E)

SMITH, Josh – Local Conservatives – 381

WILLIAMS, Stephen – Liberal Democrats – 224

Hampton Ward

BAKER, Bruce Allen – Local Conservatives – 545 (E)

HARRINGTON, John Dennis – Independent – 420

MOTLEY, William – Liberal Democrats – 268

Hinton and Hunderton Ward

CHAPMAN, Jeremy Walter Alastair – The Conservative Party Candidate – 126

MARTIN, Amanda Suna – Independent – 80

TILLETT, Kevin – Liberal Democrats – 417 (E)

Holmer Ward

CORNTHWAITE, Frank – The Conservative Party Candidate – 366 (E)

PHIPPS, John Charles – Independent – 159

STEVENS, Paul Nicholas – Liberal Democrats – 315

TANNATT NASH, Stephen Edward – Independent – 205

WEADEN, Mark Lee – 51

Hope End Ward

HEATHFIELD, Helen Ruth – Green Party – 856 (E)

JAMES, Kim Marie – Liberal Democrats – 122

PIERI, Keith John – Local Conservatives – 461

Kerne Bridge Ward

COLE, Simeon Wood – The Conservative Party Candidate – 442 (E)

FOWLER, Katie Lousie – 280

FREER, Sarah Caroline – Liberal Democrats – 300

TERRY, Andrew Julian – Independent – 85

Kings Acre Ward

ANDREWS, Graham – Independent – 240

HOBBS, Debbie – Liberal Democrats – 236

MURPHY, James William – Independent – 93

WILLIAMS, Robert Geofrey Charles – The Conservative Party Candidate – 270 (E)

Kington Ward

HAMILTON, Helen Elizabeth – Green Party – 304

HAWKINS, Fred – 115

JAMES, Terry – Liberal Democrats – 487 (E)

SAUNDERS, Natasha Victoria – Local Conservatives – 98

Ledbury North Ward

FELLOWS, Cole Raymond Thomas Michael – Local Conservatives – 136

HARVEY, Liz – It’s Our County: Independent Organised Capable – 424 (E)

MURRAY, Gem – Liberal Democrats – 172

SINCLAIR, Ewen John – 231

Ledbury South Ward

EAKIN, Matthew John George – Liberal Democrats – 241

HOPKINS, Will – Labour Party – 82

I’ANSON, Helen Ruth – Local Conservatives – 352

SIMMONS, Stef – Green Party – 424 (E)

Ledbury West Ward

BROWNING, Jonathan Christopher- Labour Party – 91

F. FINCH, Rachael Anne – Local Conservatives – 218

HOWELLS, Phillip – Liberal Democrats – 194

PEBERDY, Justine Anne Haslewood – Green Party – 431 (E)

Leominster East Ward

BARTLETT, Jenny – Green Party – 452 (E)

DONEGAN, Simon Patrick – Local Conservatives – 315

MURRAY, Marcus – Liberal Democrats – 137

Leominster North and Rural Ward

JOHN, Bryony Clare – Green Party – 456

SPRINGER, Mary Jemima Caroline – Liberal Democrats – 89

STONE, John – Local Conservatives – 524 (E)

Leominster South Ward

CHATWIN, Lorraine – Liberal Democrats – 104

COMLEY, Nick – Labour and Co-operative Party – 98

LOGAN, Angeline – Local Conservatives – 262

WOODALL, Mark Alexander – Green Party – 379 (E)

Leominster West Ward

HANNA, Jill Valerie – Green Party – 267

THOMAS, Clive – Liberal Democrats – 109

WILLIAMS, Allan Merlyn – Local Conservatives – 371 (E)

Llangarron Ward

SETCHFIELD, Michelle – Liberal Democrats – 551

SWINGLEHURST, Elissa Jane – The Conservative Party Candidate – 652 (E)

Mortimer Ward

COOMBER, Callum William – Green Party – 217

GANDY, Carole – Local Conservatives – 562 (E)

ROBERTS, Susan Jane – Liberal Democrats – 246

Newton Farm Ward

CARWARDINE, Jacqui – Liberal Democrats – 277 (E)

EMMETT, Joe – Labour Party – 201

JONES, John – The Conservative Party Candidate – 142

Old Gore Ward

DAVIES, Gemma Nicola – Independent – 372

DELVES, Linden – Liberal Democrats – 285

DURKIN, Barry Alan – Local Conservatives – 524 (E)

Penyard Ward

BRAMER, Harry – The Conservative Party Candidate – 738 (E)

WINDER, John James – Liberal Democrats – 547

Queenswood Ward

CROCKETT, Pauline Elizabeth – Independent – 346 (E)

ENTWISLE, Nicholas Mark Warwick – Local Conservatives – 290

FRY, Tim – Liberal Democrats – 196

WILLIAMS, Colin David – Independent – 277

Red Hill Ward

POWELL, Dan – Liberal Democrats – 539 (E)

WILLIAMS, Steve – The Conservative Party Candidate – 302

Ross East Ward

BOYLAN, Milly – Independent – 258

FIELDING, Adam Martin Andrew – 24

O’DRISCOLL, Ed – Liberal Democrats – 417 (E)

RICHMOND, Nick – Labour Party – 152

WALSH, Becky – The Conservative Party Candidate – 293

Ross North Ward

BARTRUM, Chris – Liberal Democrats – 350 (E)

COKER, Valerie Elizabeth Anne – The Conservative Party Candidate – 153

HODGES, Melvin Brian – Labour Party – 111

LISTER, Daniel William Edward – Independent – 313

Ross West Ward

GIBBS, Nigel Thomas – The Conservative Party Candidate – 240

PHILPOTT, Edward Victor James – The Labour Party – 106

STARK, Louis – Liberal Democrats – 423 (E)

TAYLOR, Rob – Independent – 207

Saxon Gate Ward

COUGHLIN, Daniel Joseph – Reform UK – 50

JONES, John – 123

NORMAN, William John – The Conservative Party Candidate – 135

OLIVER, Aubrey – Liberal Democrats – 363 (E)

Stoney Street Ward

CUTTER, Phillip Grenfell Haydn – The Conservative Party Candidate – 374

HITCHINER, Christopher David – Independent – 406 (E)

HOWERSKI, David Ludwig – Liberal Democrats – 371

Sutton Walls Ward

HAMBLIN, Peter Bryce – Local Conservatives – 483 (E)

RICHARDSON, Scott Justin – Liberal Democrats – 192

WHITCHURCH, Taylor Sebastian – Green Party – 197

WILLIAMS, Steve – Independent – 183

Three Crosses Ward

COOPER, Duncan – Liberal Democrats – 142

LESTER, Jonathan Guy – Local Conservatives – 763 (E)

TULLY, Rebecca Siobhan – Green Party – 461

Tupsley Ward

BOARD, Liz – Independent – 335

BROOKS, Hugh Stephen Arthur – Liberal Democrats – 142

KENYON, Jim – Independent – 556 (E)

PYTKA, Patrick – The Conservative Party Candidate – 125

Weobley Ward

ASHTON, Barry – Liberal Democrats – 304

JONES, Mike – Independent – 404

MASON, Nicholas – Local Conservatives – 450 (E)

Whitecross Ward

BARNSLEY, Marsha Elizabeth – The Conservative Party Candidate – 143

BOULTER, Dave – It’s Our County: Independent Organised Capable – 212 (E)

KUPELI, Billie – Labour Party – 122

MAYES, Emma – Liberal Democrats – 185

SMITH, Richard Barrington – Reform UK – 50

Widemarsh Ward

ANDREWS, Polly – Liberal Democrats – 233 (E)

BARRINGTON, Neil – The Labour Party Candidate – 204

GUNNER, Mick – Reform UK – 49

HANDBY, Kathy – The Conservative Party Candidate – 113

Wormside Ward

CRIBB, Robert John – Reform UK – 73

DAVIES, Simon – Independent – 362

HICKIE, Edward John – Liberal Democrats – 242

THOMAS, Richard John – The Conservative Party Candidate – 481 (E)