December 8, 2005
Liberal Democrat Chris Williams wins seat on Burnham Town Council
Burnham-On-Sea Liberal Democrats were celebrating on Thursday night (December 8th) after their candidate, pictured, won the vacant seat on the town council.
Chris Williams, a former town and district councillor, polled 69 more votes than the Conservative’s Alan Miller to clinch the election to represesent Burnham East ward.
Despite a poor turnout, Mr Williams was declared the winner after attracting 197 votes to Mr Miller’s 128.
Mr Williams told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I’m very pleased to be back on the council. There’s a lot that can be done in Burnham East.”
He said he would be focussing his attention on pushing for better bus services and street cleaning in the area, plus staying in touch with residents across the ward.
Despite the Lib Dem victory, the Conservatives remain in overall control of the town council with 10 seats, while the Liberal Democrats and Labour both have four seats each.
The result came after a keenly-contested election in which Burnham-On-Sea’s MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, gave his backing to Mr Miller, who is chairman of the town’s rescue hovercraft. Mr Miller said on Thursday night he was “disappointed” not to have won.
The bye-election was called in October after Liberal Democrat Joyce Smith resigned her post in October to spend more time with her family.
She was elected to the post in February 2004 after defeating Conservative candidate Paul Taylor by 238 votes to 155. The Burnham East ward seat had previously been held by former Conservative Mayor Jacqui Richards.
RELATED LINKS:
Race to win council seat heats up as candidates hit the streets
Conservatives pick Alan Miller for council race
Town council by-election called
Lib Dem town councillor resigns
