Wellington win for Gareth

Liberal Democrat candidate Gareth Williams was the clear winner of yesterday’s by-election to Wellington Town Council, taking the seat from Reform.

The election in the Wellington South Ward was caused by the resignation of former Mayor, Marcus Barr, who was Reform’s only councillor.

Gareth polled 471 votes with Andy Denison (Reform) second with 212.

Conservative candidate Alex Yates was third with 100, followed by Bethany Hill (Labour) with 26 and Keiran Harcombe (Independent) 12. The turnout was 37 per cent.

The result means the Liberal Democrats now have seven town councillors with four independents, three Labour and one Conservative.

Gareth said afterwards: “I’d like to thank everyone who voted. What I really enjoyed about the campaign was meeting fellow residents who have the same concerns as me and being able to collate those into a plan of action for what is now going to be my tenure as a councillor.

“It’s given me a really clear vision of what I need to do and the town council need to do in order to give Wellington the infrastructure it needs in the future.”

Gareth also paid tribute to the team who helped him get elected.

“I was immediately made to feel very welcome by the Liberal Democrats and it’s because of them and their hard work that I’m standing here as a new town councillor.”

Among supporters joining him at the count was Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington. He said afterwards: “Nothing beats listening and being willing to work hard for local people and I saw how hard Gareth worked, visiting residents in every part of Wellington South.

“That is what our Lib Dem team is all about but, first and foremost, Gareth will be a really dedicated champion of his fellow residents in Wellington.”
 

Full results of Wellington Town Council South Ward by-election, Thursday, 6 November:

• Liberal Democrats - 471 (57.4%)
• Reform UK - 212 (25.8%)
• Conservative - 100 (12.2%)
• Labour - 26 (3.2%)
• Independent - 12 (1.5%)