VOTERS across the Burnham-On-Sea area flocked to polling stations to vote in the General Election yesterday. Here’s the latest from the count:
Friday 11.20am Burnham has a new Conservative MP – James Heappey. The results have been announced for the Wells constituency as follows:
Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat)
18662
James Heappey (Conservative)
26246
Helen Hims (UKIP)
5644
Chris Inchley (Labour)
3780
Jon Cousins (Green)
2331
Gypsy Watkins (Independent)
76
Paul Arnold (Independent)
83
Dave Dobbs (Birthday Party)
81
Friday 10.30am The counting goes on! Meanwhile, Jon Cousins, the Green Party candidate, looks back at a busy election campaign for the party:
Friday 9.55am Still counting the votes here in Shepton Mallet. The Conservatives’ James Heappey is expected to be named the winner of the seat, with a clear majority over Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt.
Friday 7.23am The UKIP candidate Helen Hims, pictured watching the election count a few moments ago, tells Burnham-On-Sea.com she is pleased with how the election has gone. “I’ve had good support in Burnham and Highbridge and am hopeful that we have secured a third place after the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.”
Friday 6.41am The turnout across the Wells constituency, including Burnham and Highbridge was 57,093 – or 71.9% – which is the highest for three elections.
The final result is now expected at around 8.30am, with the formal count now underway.
Friday 6.25am James Heappey is in a bouyant mood as he tells Burnham-On-Sea.com in the video below that’s he’s optimistic that he has won the election. He thanks voters in the Burnham and Highbridge area for their support.
Friday 6am The count continues to be underway at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet. A cheerful looking James Heappey has just entered the room to watch the count while a glum-faced Tessa Munt watches on.
Friday 5.30am All indications are that Tessa Munt has not secured the Wells seat – she is giving interviews to media talking about her expectations of a loss following overnight Lib Dem losses nationally.
Friday 3.50am The count is underway at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet, as pictured below. The large turnout means the count is taking more time than expected.
Thursday 10.45pm The count of votes is getting underway as votes come in from across the Wells constituency. There has been a high turnout in Burnham and Highbridge, according to those at polling stations.
Thursday 10pm Polls close across the Burnham and Highbridge area. The General Election votes are being taken to Shepton Mallet for the count. the result is expected at around 6am on Friday – check for updates here on Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Thursday 7.15pm Polling stations have been busy all day in Burnham and Highbridge with queues forming outside as residents flocked to cast their votes. Waits of up to one hour were reported at several polling stations. Burnham tennis club club is pictured here.
Thursday 7pm With up ten candidates needing to be picked on three ballot papers, voters are taking longer than normal to complete their choices. Burnham’s Jaycroft Road is pictured below.
Thursday 2pm The results for the parliamentary elections are expected to be announced on Friday morning (8th May) at around 6am, but the timing may change. The District Council results will be announced on Friday afternoon, while the Town council results will be announced on Saturday (9th May) afternoon.
Thursday 11am Voters area heading to the polls across the area, above in East Huntspill and Highbridge.
Thursday 10am Tessa Munt, the Liberal Democrats candidate, has cast her vote in the election.
Thursday 9am Here’s the General Election result from 2010 when the Conservatives were beaten by Tessa Munt by just 800 votes.
Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrats)
24,560
David Heathcoat-Amory (Conservative)
23,760 Andy Merryfield (Labour)
4,198 Chris Briton (Green Party)
631 Richard Boyce (British National Party)
1,004
Jake Baynes (UK Independence Party)
1,711
Thursday 7am Polling stations opened across the Burnham-On-Sea area with voters choosing between the eight candidates that have put themselves forward to become MP of the Wells constituency in the General Election. Voters are also electing district and town councillors.
