There were no shocks in Altrincham wards last night as the Conservatives retained overall control of Trafford Council.
Council leader Sean Anstee held on to Bowdon with a comfortable majority of over 1,500, while Alex Williams defended his Altrincham seat with Green Party candidate Daniel Jerrome in second.
Patrick Myers held on to Hale Barns for the Conservatives, as did Denise Haddad in Hale Central.
The Conservatives missed out however on target wards including Broadheath – where Denise Western pipped Neil Ferguson by just 176 votes – and Timperley, where Jane Brophy held the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
In the Village ward, Conservative candidate Thom Carey fell more than 400 votes short of Liberal Democrat Ray Bowker.
Council leader Sean Anstee told the MEN: “I’m really pleased, I’m disappointed not to win the seats we were targeting but to be able to retain majority Conservative control is a positive.
“We have had a vote of confidence on the way we have run the borough and the vision we have for the place and now we have an opportunity to deliver.”
Labour leader Andrew Western said he was “absolutely delighted” to have held Broadheath and Timperley, while Lib Dem leader said the night “sets the foundation for the rebuilding of this Liberal Democrat party”.
The overall balance of power in Trafford is now: Conservative 34, Labour 26, Lib Dem 3.
Altrincham – Conservative HOLD
Alex Williams (CON) 1,533
Daniel Jerrome (GREEN) 777
Amy Whyte (LAB) 763
Julian Newgrosh (LIB DEM) 207
Bowdon – Conservative HOLD
Sean Anstee (CON) 2,090
Charlie Mayer (LAB) 452
Kirstie Davidson (LIB DEM) 235
Daniel Wadsworth (GREEN) 168
Broadheath – Labour HOLD
Denise Western (LAB) 1,817
Neil Ferguson (CON) 1,641
Pauline Cliff (CON) 204
Owain Sutton (GREEN) 152
Stephen Farndon (IND) 105
Hale Barns – Conservative HOLD
Patrick Myers (CON) 2,030
Barbara Twiney (LAB) 509
Richard Elliott (LIB) 225
Deborah Leftwich (GREEN) 141
Hale – Conservative HOLD
Denise Haddad (CON) 1,614
Beverley Harrison (LAB) 684
Wayne Harrison (LIB DEM) 278
Giulio Forcolin (GREEN) 201
Timperley – Liberal Democrat HOLD
Jane Brophy (LIB DEM) 2,176
Carol Mounfield (CON) 1,388
Mo Ahmed (LAB) 436
Jadwiga Leigh (GREEN) 173
Village – Liberal Democrat HOLD
Ray Bowker (LIB DEM) 1,482
Thomas Carey (CON) 1,050
Tony O’Brien (LAB) 616
Matthew Westbrook (GREEN) 123