It was a blue wave in the first-ever Bucks Council unitary elections, as the Conservatives swept numerous wards in the central and northern areas of Buckinghamshire.
The Tories dominated a large majority of the county, despite several Liberal Democrat candidates winning seats in their respected areas.
During a long and drawn out day at the Gateway Office in Aylesbury on Saturday, May 8, numerous candidates were ‘too tense to talk’ as the votes were being counted.
The calm before the storm
Not long arrived at Aylesbury’s Buckinghamshire Council offices for the #ElectionResults2021. Several people are already here and the first results should be revealed at around 11ish #LE2021 pic.twitter.com/iBA24t93oX
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) May 8, 2021
This lead to several people having to leave the building for fresh air due to the ‘pressure of the result’.
However, it was revealed that out of the 16 areas, the Conservatives had 35 elected candidates, the Liberal Democrats had 14, whilst Labour and the Green Party only had one each.
One of the newly-elected councillors was Richard Gaster, who won a seat in the Aylesbury East ward, as he managed to achieve 1,232 votes.
He told the Free Press: “I’m really pleased.
Bill Chapple after winning his ward
Bill Chapple of Aston Clinton & Bierton: “I’ve always seen myself as a representative of the people and if anyone has got a problem, I will try and deal with it. If you call me, I’ll see you in 24 hours as the sooner I know the problem, the quicker I can deal with it.” #LE2021 pic.twitter.com/cmz9SwDBWZ
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) May 8, 2021
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“It was my first time running so you don’t know what to expect.
“I went to school and grew up in the ward so for me, taking a step to represent the ward is an honour and it has also been a nice journey up to this point.
“I have always said that once I have got my routes and settled down in Aylesbury, which I am now as “I am married and have two kids, I started to get more in the community.
“I have always had an ambition to get involved in the local council, get involved with the schools and do more with school governments, but, it has always been an interest of mine to have a say and influence in my community.”
From a fresh-faced councillor to a veteran in the community, Bill Chapple, who is also a cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change, also spoke to the Free Press, after he secured a seat in the Aston Clinton & Bierton ward, with 1,939 votes.
Angela Macpherson of Grendon Underwood
Angela Macpherson of Grendon Underwood (Conservative): “It has been a well-fought and battling campaign, and we have worked really hard in our area.
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) May 8, 2021
“There are many issues and we are trying to solve for our residents across a wide area.” #LE2021 pic.twitter.com/ZnhmbkFUlC
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He said: “I am very relieved.
"I have represented Aston Clinton for over 40 years and I was very pleased to be able to continue with the work I’m doing there.
“I’m well known in the area and I hope I can look after the residents the best I can and it is nice to know that they have got confidence in me.
“I’ve always seen myself as a representative of the people and if anyone has got a problem, I will try and deal with it.
“If you call me, I’ll see you in 24 hours as the sooner I know the problem, the quicker I can deal with it.
“A lot of people have come up to me and have said, ‘I have come to you as a last resort, and I say, ‘why, didn’t you get in touch with me first?’
“I love the work, the people, the atmosphere of walking around the villages and protecting the people who live in the area.
The Tories won several wards
The results for Aylesbury South East are in:
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) May 8, 2021
Sue Chapple (Conservative) - 1,511 votes
Denise Summers (Conservative) - 1,408 votes
David Thompson (Conservative) - 1,389 votes#LocalElections2021
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“In the last council, I was a cabinet minister for climate change and the environment, so I have started a strategy to become carbon neutral – I will be here to look after the people.”
Out of the 16 wards, there were only three areas in which the Conservatives did not secure any seats, as they were all taken by Lib Dem candidates.
The only Labour victory
The results for Aylesbury South East are in:
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) May 8, 2021
Sue Chapple (Conservative) - 1,511 votes
Denise Summers (Conservative) - 1,408 votes
David Thompson (Conservative) - 1,389 votes#LocalElections2021
These were in Aylesbury West, Aylesbury South West and Aylesbury North respectively.
To see all the elected councillors in the Aylesbury wards, look below.
Aylesbury North West
Tuffail Hussain, Liberal Democrat 1,174 votes: 15 per cent
Anders Carl Christensen: Liberal Democrat: 1,156 votes: 15 per cent
Gurinder Wadhwa: Liberal Democrat: 888 votes: 11 per cent
Stone & Waddesdon
Paul Irwin: Conservative: 1,826 votes, 18 per cent
Ashley Waite: Conservative: 1,692 votes, 17 per cent
Mike Caffrey: Conservative: 1,515 votes: 15 per cent
Aston Clinton & Bierton
Mike Collins: Conservative: 1,939 votes: 18 per cent
Bill Chapple: Conservative: 1,860 votes: 17 per cent
Julie Ward: Conservative: 1,686 votes: 16 per cent
Aylesbury East
Mark Winn: Conservative: 1,547 votes: 17 per cent
Richard Gaster: Conservative: 1,232 votes: 14 per cent
Tom Hunter-Watts: Liberal Democrats: 1,121 votes: 13 per cent
Wendover, Halton & Stoke Mandeville
Steve Bowles: Conservative, 1,572 votes: 17 per cent
Peter Strachan: Conservative: 1,426 votes, 16 per cent
Richard Newcombe, Conservative: 1,200 votes, 13 per cent
Grendon Underwood
Angela Macphearson: Conservative: 2,152 votes: 22 per cent
Frank Mahon: Conservative: 1,882 votes: 19 per cent
Michael Rand: Conservative: 1,767, 18 per cent
Buckingham West
Robin Stuchbury: Labour: 1,716 votes: 18 per cent
Caroline Cornell: Conservative: 1,545 votes: 16 per cent
Patrick Fealey: Conservative: 1,439 votes: 15 per cent
Great Brickhill
Phil Gimm: Conservative: 1,889 votes: 17 per cent
Jilly Jordan: Conservative: 1,786 votes: 16 per cent
Iain Macpherson: Conservative: 1,664 votes: 15 per cent
Ivinghoe
Peter Brazier: Conservative: 1,834 votes: 18 per cent
Chris Poll: Conservative: 1,805 votes: 18 per cent
Derek Town: Conservative: 1,727 votes: 17 per cent
Wing
Ashley Bond: Conservative: 1,637 votes: 17 per cent
Diana Blamires: Conservative: 1,436 votes: 15 per cent
Peter Cooper: Liberal Democrat: 1,445 votes: 15 per cent
Buckingham East
Warren Whyte: Conservative: 1,385 votes: 18 per cent
Howard Mordue: Conservative: 1,226 votes: 16 per cent
Ade Osibogun: Conservative: 953 votes: 12 per cent
Aylesbury North
Tim North: Liberal Democrat: 1,309 votes: 15 per cent
Raj Khan: Liberal Democrat: 1,291 votes: 15 per cent
Susan Morgan: Liberal Democrat: 1,262 votes: 14 per cent
Bernwood
Gregory Smith: Green Party: 1,880 votes: 15 per cent
Cameron Branston: Conservative: 1,665 votes: 14 per cent
Nic Brown: Conservative: 1,541 votes: 13 per cent
Winslow
John Chilver: Conservative: 1,645 votes: 18 per cent
David Goss; Conservative: 1,595 votes: 17 per cent
Beville Stainer: Conservative: 1,311 votes: 14 per cent
Aylesbury West
Steven Lambert: Liberal Democrat: 1,395 votes: 19 per cent
Sarah James: Liberal Democrat: 1,353 votes: 19 per cent
Adam Poland: Liberal Democrat: 1,124 votes: 16 per cent
Aylesbury South West
Waheed Raja: Liberal Democrat: 1,142 votes: 16 per cent
Mary Baldwin Liberal Democrat: 1,063 votes: 15 per cent
Niknam Hussain: Liberal Democrat: 1,032 votes: 15 per cent
Aylesbury South East
Sue Chapple: Conservative: 1,511 votes: 18 per cent
Denise Summers: Conservative: 1, 408 votes: 16 per cent
David Thompson: Conservative: 1,389 votes: 16 per cent
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