A REMARKABLE turnout for a town council poll of more than 45% saw the Conservatives narrowly hold the East division on Felixstowe Town Council in yesterday's by-election.
Graham Dines
A REMARKABLE turnout for a town council poll of more than 45% saw the Conservatives narrowly hold the East division on Felixstowe Town Council in yesterday's by-election.
The high vote is explained by anxiety and anger at possible plans to build 2,000 homes on green fields off Candlet Road. Suffolk Coastal district council is to decide whether it will support the proposals, which form part of the Government's strategy for an extra 508,000 homes across the six counties of the East of England by 2025.
An independent candidate Gillian Mason stood under the banner Save Felixstowe Countryside and gained 404 votes.
Tory Graham Newman, who is already a county councillor, polled 535 votes and had a majority of 62 over the Liberal Democrats. When the seat was last contested in 2007, the Tory majority was around 800.
Result in detail: Graham Newman (Con) 535, Bernard Price (Lib Dem) 473, Gillian Mason (Save Felixstowe Countryside) 404, Hattie Bennett (Lab) 84.
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