THE Conservatives tightened their grip on Welwyn Hatfield by increasing their majority in last week's district council elections.

They seized a Labour seat in the marginal ward of Hatfield West, where new councillor John Hawkins toppled the incumbent Roy Moss by 135 votes.

Triumphant council leader Russell Le Page said after Thursday night's count at the Hatfield Leisure Centre: "For the first time, Welwyn Hatfield Council has a plan for the future a Conservative plan.

"We will ensure it is better run than in all those terrible years of Labour councils."

Labour ambitions in Sherrards, another marginal ward, were frustrated when Tory John Burnapp held the seat with 123 votes to spare.

The result of the election in Handside was eagerly awaited by Liberal Democrats, who came within 22 votes of capturing the Tory ward last year.

This time round their candidate Daniel Cooke forced deputy council leader Dennis Lewis into a recount, but fell short by just 20.

He said: "I am disappointed but not surprised, as Dennis has been there 35 years.

"We are keeping up the momentum."

The ward, where both parties had campaigned heavily, had a comparatively high turn-out of 46.2 per cent, but overall participation fell by two per cent to 33.1, with one vote in four cast by post.

MP Melanie Johnson was at the count to watch her secretary Maureen Cook fight off a Liberal Democrat challenge in Hatfield Central, but jubilant Conservatives were claiming that they were on course to unseat her at the next General Election.

In the Conservative stronghold of Northaw, Councillor John Mansfield coasted home with more than ten times as many votes as his Labour opponent.

Labour leader Paul Orrett said it was normal for the party that was in power nationally to lose votes mid-term, and the swing in Welwyn Hatfield was one of the lowest in the country.

The low turnout some ballot boxes were almost empty gave the candidates, officials, party campaigners and tellers an early night, with the last result being declared at 12.35am.

Welwyn Hatfield Council now has 27 Tory members and 20 Labour, with one seat vacant.

The Conservatives took 45.3 per cent of the vote, Labour 32.4 and the Liberal Democrats 22.2.

Hatfield Town Council also fell to the Conservatives, who remain in control of Welwyn Parish Council.

May 7, 2003 13:00