CHERWELL: Small inroad for Labour (From The Oxford Times)

CHERWELL: Small inroad for Labour

2:58am Friday 4th May 2012 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

LABOUR has made a small inroad into the Conservative controlled-Cherwell District Council tonight.

The party picked up two of the 17 Conservative seats that were up for grabs.

Surinder Dhesi regained Banbury Neithrop from Conservative Martin Weir and Sean Woodcock took Banbury Ruscote.

Both Independents, Colin Cockshaw and Tony Walton, standing in Bicester North and Caversfield respectively, on the anti-eco town card came second in their respective wards.

Labour's constituency chairman Terry Davis said: “I am very pleased with the result.

“We targeted two wards in Banbury and won both of them.

“On top of that we came very close in several other wards.”

Overall, the Conservates have 41 seats out of the 50 seats.

Cherwell’s leader Barry Wood: “Naturally I’m disappointed to lose two valued comments, but compared to the national picture I think the Conservatives have done very well.”

Overall turnout for Cherwell is 26.5 per cent.