IT WAS very much a case of as you were as candidates battled it out to represent Basingstoke and Deane as part of Hampshire County Council.

With 10 seats up for grabs, only one of those changed hands, and that was in favour of the Conservatives.

Newly elected councillor for the Tadley and Baughurst division, Cllr Derek Mellor narrowly edged out Liberal democrat representative Warwick Lovegrove to claim the only change in seat.

Only winning by 144 votes, Cllr Mellor said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to represent the people of Tadley and Baughurst.

“Throughout the campaign, it was driven by local issues rather than national and I will endeavour to make sure these issues are addressed, especially in terms of waste and recycling in Baughurst.”

Elsewhere the all the candidates who were standing for re-election managed to reclaim their seats, including Loddon division councillor, Cllr Elaine Still who received the most votes of the evening with 3,310 of a 32.4 per cent turn out.

Cllr Still said: "I am delighted that the people came out to show their support for me. 

"I will continue to represent my residents to the best of my ability and do what I can to shape a better community."

Even though the parties which held the seats remained the same, there will be some new faces among the county council numbers including new Basingstoke Central division councillor for Labour, Cllr Michael Westbrook, who has taken over from Criss Connor.

Cllr Westbrook said: "As a borough councillor I've built a reputation for finding solutions and I'm honoured to represent the residents as their county councillor.

“So whatever the issue we need a strong local voice in the county. We all believe in Basingstoke and Basingstoke deserves better.”  

See next week's Gazette for full coverage of the county council elections