So, as one of my last posts as your District Councillor I am pleased to update you on the election results in Horndean, our adjacent villages and the wider picture at EHDC.

After the polls closed late this evening the ballot boxes were taken to Petersfield where the votes were validated (counted to make sure the right number of used and unused ballot papers are there) which takes about 2 hours. The wards are then finally counted – a process that takes about 4 hours.

This is however a very tense period… The votes are put onto the tables and counted and checked by a second party. During this the candidates and their agents are able to witness the process – usually with clipboards making notes on the numbers of votes they can see to get an early view of the result.

Trust me. After a number of years working hard in our community you want to know you were worth voting back in again. If you weren’t then…

The formal counting process is lengthy and with 40 to 50 counters and managers supervising the process it is fast moving and difficult to keep track of.

Yesterday EHDC had 43 conservative and 1 independent as the makeup and this has long been overdue for redress. It is time that there was an effective opposition. Previously our opposition has been fellow Councillors paddling in the wrong direction. Tonight a few of these members found their selves out of office.

So, what were our local results?

Sara Schillemore (Conservative) Horndean Catherington Lovedean – uncontested

Tony Denton (Conservative) takes on Downs Ward

Chris Hatter (Conservative) takes on Hazleton Blendworth ward

David Evans (Conservative) secures Hazleton Blendworth ward

Elaine Woodward (Liberal Democrats) wins Horndean Murray ward from Lynn Evans

Ken Moon (Conservative) Clanfield

Chris Hatter (Conservative) Clanfield

Malcolm Johnston (Conservative) Rowlands Castle

A very hearty congratulations to everyone who was re-elected and whatever the party politics hopefully they will represent the local community first and foremost.

At the wider EHDC the votes were as follows:

Conservative Party 32 seats

Liberal Democrats 7 seats

Labour 2 seats

Independent 2 seats

Some of the interesting outcomes of the evening…

We knew that there was a large Anti-Government feel with the way Brexit is being handled. This was reflected not only in the vote but also in the number of ‘spoiled ballots’ where ballot papers are used not to cast a vote but instead to write a message giving a view on the candidate, or in this case politics in general. Some of the spoiled ballots were very carefully thought out with their remarks. In some cases the number of spoiled ballots exceeded the number of candidates votes…

The Green party had a large number of candidates in the elections and started to gather a number of votes in some wards.

The turnout at the polls was about 30% to 35% which is larger than was anticipated.

Whoever you voted for thank you for voting – and hopefully the newly elected members will look after our interests well!

Best wishes

Guy.