THE GREEN Party has made gains over the Conservatives while Labour holds steady following the conclusion of local elections in Reading.
While counts continue from yesterday’s elections around the UK, the Greens have gained a seat in Katesgrove while Labour took Conservative stronghold ward Emmer Green.
Labour maintains its majority in the council and the Green Party has solidified its position as the main opposition party in Reading.
Overall, turnout in the borough hit its lowest level for five years, with fewer than a third of the electorate casting their vote (32.03%).
Abbey
Labour’s David Stevens was elected in the Abbey ward seat, with 820 votes.
Conservative candidate Santosh Kumar Batchu garnered 594 votes, while the Green Party candidate Jamie Whitham received 250, and Liberal Democrat David Wright received 177.
Thirteen spoiled ballots were submitted, and the ward had a turnout of 27.75%
Battle
Battle Ward has re-elected Labour’s Wendy Griffith, who received 1290 votes.
Conservative Abdoulaye Diouma Sow received 210 votes, Green Party candidate Tahira Kulsoom received 386, and Liberal Democrat John Grout received 138.
Of the ballots received 24 were spoilt, with a turnout of 26.77%
Caversham
Caversham ward has elected Labour’s Matt Yeo, Labour, with 1,603 votes.
Conservative Grace Taylor received 494 votes, Green Party candidate Anthea West received 441, Liberal Democrat Christopher Burden received 305, and TUSC candidate Chloe-Ann Stoakes received 59.
Of the ballots received, 14 were spoilt, with a turnout of 38.39%.
Caversham Heights
Caversham Heights has elected Labour’s Jenny McGrother with 1412 votes.
Conservative Paul Carnell received 1183 votes, Green Party candidate Danny McNamara received 597, and Liberal Democrat Vania Costa-Krol received 225.
Of the ballots received 22 were spoilt, with a turnout of 45.72% — the highest of any ward in the borough.
Church
Church ward has re-elected Labour’s Andrew Hornby-Smith, who received 1,241 votes.
Conservative Adam Phelps received 453 votes, Liberal Democrat Mark Cole received 143, and Green Party candidate Brent Smith received 263.
Of the ballots received, 17 were spoilt, with a turnout of 32%.
Coley
Cllr Liz Terry has been re-elected in Coley ward, with 1232 votes.
Conservative candidate Casey Byrne received 444 votes, while Green Party candidate Isobel Hoskins received 287, Liberal Democrat Jon Hill received 190, and Sadiqua Khan, of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, received 96.
Twelve spoilt ballots were submitted, with a turnout of 31.59%
Emmer Green
Emmer Green ward has elected Labour’s Daya Pal Singh in one of the first flipped wards of the night.
Daya Pal Singh was elected with 1148 votes, just over 100 more than Conservative Simon Howard Robinson, with 1035.
Green Party Candidate Wendy Jane Rooke received 376 votes, while the Liberal Democrats’ Pieter De Boiserie received 258.
The ward saw 21 spoilt or inadmissible ballots, with a turnout of 37.18%, the second highest of any ward.
Katesgrove
Katesgrove ward has elected Kate Nikulina, of the Green Party, with 1045 votes.
Labour’s Navjit Kaur Gill received 861 votes, Conservative John Angus received 240 votes, and Liberal Democrat Margaret McNeil received 115.
TUSC’s Sam Church received 25 votes, independent candidate Jean-Louis Pascual received 27, and independent candidate Michael Jeffrey Turberville received 18.
Of the ballots received 9 were spoilt, with a turnout of 29.9%.
Kentwood
Kentwood has been held by Labour after Mark Keeping was re-elected, having received 1,136 votes.
Conservative Nick Fudge received 852 votes, Green candidate Caroline Hearst received 240, and Liberal Democrat Ricardo Mancuso-Marcello received 134.
Of the ballots received 13 were spoilt, with a turnout of 35.34%.
Norcot
Norcot ward has elected Labour’s Naz Mamuna, with 1100 votes.
Liberal Democrat Marie French received 303 votes, Conservative Lizzy Sheppard received 306, and Green Party candidate Richard Walkem received 215.
Reform UK’s Alan Gulliver received 182 votes, while the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition’s Jen Bottom received 36, and the Local Liberal Party’s Stephen Anthony Graham received 39.
Four spoiled ballots were submitted, with a turnout of 28.67%.
Park
Park ward has elected Sarah Magon, with 1569 votes.
Labour’s Ollie Williamson received 915 votes, Conservative James Mwaniki Mugo received 157, and Liberal Democrat Chris Dodson received 71.
The ward saw 13 spoiled ballots, with a turnout of 38.72%
Redlands
Dave McElroy, Green Party, has held his seat in Redlands ward with 1478 votes.
Labour’s Sunila Lobo received 921 votes, Conservative Richard Williams received 182, Liberal Democrat Francis Jakeman received 101, and TUSC’s Melanie Dent received 42.
Of the ballots submitted 19 were spoiled, with a turnout of 32.79%
Southcote
Southcote ward has remained a Labour hold after Graeme Hoskin was elected with 1,354 votes received.
Conservative Alison Carnell received 439 votes, Green candidate Josie Downey received 247, and Liberal Democrat Benjamin Sims received 212.
Of the votes received, 18 were spoilt, with a turnout of 29.23%
Thames
Richard Davies has been elected in Thames ward with 1015 votes.
Conservative Shivraj Hawaldar received 357 votes, Green Party candidate Mike Harling received 315, and Liberal Democrat Jo Ramsay received 235.
Of the ballots submitted 8 were spoiled, with a turnout of 31.88%
Tilehurst
Tilehurst has remained a Liberal Democrat hold as James Moore was re-elected with 1,186 votes.
Labour’s Elliot Gardiner received 480 votes, Conservative Ben Blackmore received 436, and Green candidate Gabriel Berry-Khan received 154.
Of the votes received, 19 were spoilt, with a turnout of 31.39%.
Whitley
Labour has held Whitley ward after Mickey Leng was re-elected with 1,091 votes.
Conservative Vani Goel received 401 votes, Green candidate Kathleen Smith received 179, Liberal Democrat Thomas Weir received 175, and TUSC’s Saffi Hussam received 36.
Of the ballots received, 10 were spoiled, with a turnout of 23.71%
