TWO Conservatives councillors have been elected after Beaconsfield went to the polls in yesterday’s town council by-election.

Patrick Hogan narrowly took the seat in the west ward by only 13 votes from Sarah Smalley of the Beaconsfield Independent Electors.

And Roy Foster cruised to victory in the south ward, with more than twice as many votes as second place independent candidate Frank Armstrong.

Ukip came third in both wards.

The controversial by-election was triggered when two independent councillors handed in their resignations in June after moving away from the area.

The move was called irresponsible by Cllr Alan Walters, who said the by-election was an unnecessary cost to taxpayers as the council could function perfectly well without them.

Beaconsfield Mayor Steve Jones said of the result: “I am obviously pleased that the two Conservative candidates got elected. But I’m still disappointed at the cost incurred to the town by having a by-election so close to a general election.

“The turnout wasn’t too bad for a last minute by election, and we won the west ward by only 17 votes so it was a close call.”

The full breakdown of results is as follows:  

South ward

Vacant Seats: 1 - Electorate: 2690 Ballot Papers Issued: 630 Turnout: 23.42%

ARMSTRONG, Frank Beaconsfield Independent Electors Association  - 166

DREELAN, Paul UK Independence Party (UK I P) -  110

ST JOHN-FOSTER, Roy Jolyon Local Conservatives - 352 Elected

The number of ballot papers rejected was 2, for being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty

 

West ward

Vacant Seats: 1 Electorate: 2421 Ballot Papers Issued: 558 Turnout: 23.05%

HOGAN, Patrick Robert John Local Conservatives - 241 Elected

SMALLEY, Sarah Joanne Beaconsfield Independent Electors

Association - 224

SMITH, Graham Geoffrey UK Independence Party (UK I P) - 92

The number of ballot papers rejected was 1, for being unmarked or wholly void for