The Liberal Democrats won back its overall majority and regained control of Three Rivers District Council.

A third of the council’s seats were up for grabs.

In the end, the Lib Dems secured eight seats whilst the Conservatives won four seats and Labour won one at the count held at Watersmeet, in Rickmansworth.

The council was in no overall control after Lib Dem Martin Brooks resigned from his seat in Leavesden earlier this year.

However, the party regained the seat, with new candidate Alex Turner receiving 954 votes for Leavesden ward.

Mr Brooks received 116 votes as an independent candidate in the same ward.

Leader of Three Rivers Council, Sara Bedford, was re-elected in Abbots Langley and Bedmond ward with an impressive majority.

Conservative leader Alex Hayward was re-elected in Chorleywood North and Sarratt Ward with 1,441 votes.

Labour’s Stephen King who was re-elected in South Oxhey, said: “We worked hard in South Oxhey with the regeneration. A big thank you to all the team and the voters.

“We're open to representing all voters in South Oxhey."

Labour’s Stephen King (left) who was re-elected in South Oxhey

Watford Observer:

Sara Bedford said she was “delighted” to see Lib Dem councillors re-elected with an increased majority attributing it to much “hard work”.

She added: “We need to ensure we continue to provide quality services which are value for money. We have seen cuts of £4 million a year in Government grants so we need to make sure what we spend is spent well. 

“I don’t think people want their councils to be spectacular but they do want decent services for their council tax. 

“In the next couple of years we will keep on doing what we’ve done well, but we need to become agile in providing excellent services for our residents.”

Paula Hiscocks, who was elected to lead Rickmansworth Town ward with 1,386 votes, said: “This has been a targeted campaign and there was obviously a lot of competition from the Green Party.

“In Ricky, this victory is most important because with so many issues such as parking, the bowls Club, the homeless shelter – I want to continue fighting for my residents.

“I was worried about pressure from the Greens – I took nothing for granted and spent a lot of time working for my residents.

“I want to thank everyone for their support.

Paula Hiscocks

Watford Observer:

New Conservative candidate, Donna Duncan, received 1,144 votes securing her leadership in Carpenders Park.

The beauty salon owner said: “Winning is quite surreal – I suppose you don’t think it will happen.

“Carpenders Park has some issues to address: pothole, parking and local buses that have changed their timetable affecting the elderly.

“I thought by becoming a councillor it was a way to help my district further.”

Here are the election results:

Abbots Langley and Bedmond Ward

Sara BEDFORD, Liberal Democrat 1,096 ELECTED

Andrew O’BRIEN, Conservative Party 456

Joanne COX, Labour Party 237

Bobbie CURRAN, Green Party 67

John APPLEFORD, UK Independence Party 59

ELECTORATE: 5,024 TURNOUT: 38.18%

Carpenders Park Ward

Donna DUNCAN, Conservative Party 1,144

Mandy SHUMAKE, Labour Party 397

Pam HAMES, Liberal Democrat 309

ELECTORATE: 5,364 TURNOUT: 34.60%

Chorleywood North and Sarratt Ward

Alex HAYWARD, Conservative Party 1,441 ELECTED

Frank MAHON-DALY, Liberal Democrat 320

Margaret GALLAGHER, Labour Party 144

Hazel DAY, UK Independence Party 39

ELECTORATE: 5,846 TURNOUT: 33.46%

Chorleywood South and Maple Cross Ward

Martin TREVETT, Liberal Democrat 1,149 ELECTED

Colin PAYNE, Conservative Party 842

Jack HAZLEWOOD, Labour Party 157

Roger STAFFORD, Green Party 140

ELECTORATE: 5,906 TURNOUT: 39.03%

Dickinsons Ward

Margaret HOFMAN, Liberal Democrat 967 ELECTED

David REDMAN, Conservative Party 678

Jeni SWIFT GILLETTE, Labour Party 290

Tracey SMART, UK Independence Party 43

ELECTORATE: 5,228 TURNOUT: 37.91%

Durrants Ward

Steve DRURY, Liberal Democrat 1,033 ELECTED

David WOODFORD, Conservative Party 411

John GRILLO, Labour Party 225

Matthew PASHBY, Green Party 102

Tony SPEECHLY, UK Independence Party 43

ELECTORATE: 5,058 TURNOUT: 35.96%

Gade Valley Ward

Jon TANKARD, Liberal Democrat 835 ELECTED

Dee WARD, Conservative Party 372

Bruce PROCHNIK, Labour Party 261

Emma BRADING, Green Party 65

ELECTORATE: 5,057 TURNOUT: 30.35%

Leavesden Ward

Alex TURNER, Liberal Democrat 954 ELECTED

Hitesh TAILOR, Conservative Party 356

Marie-Louise Straub NOLAN, Labour Party 283

Martin BROOKS, Independent 116

David BENNETT, UK Independence Party 62

ELECTORATE: 5,732 TURNOUT: 30.93%

Moor Park and Eastbury Ward

Jo CLEMENS, Conservative Party 1,123

Jeremy ASQUITH, Liberal Democrat 192

Sonia ADESARA, Labour Party 141

ELECTORATE: 4,688 TURNOUT: 31.12%

Oxhey Hall and Hayling Ward

Alison SCARTH, Liberal Democrat 800 ELECTED

Andy MILNER, Conservative Party 463

Chris GREEN, Labour Party 433

Mick MATTHEWSON, UK Independence Party 67

Matt JONES, Green Party 42

ELECTORATE: 5,310 TURNOUT: 34.20%

Penn and Mill End Ward

Sarah NELMES, Liberal Democrat 857 ELECTED

Nayesh RADIA, Conservative Party 618

Martin WALDRON, Labour Party 185

Peter LOADER, Green Party 110

ELECTORATE: 5,260 TURNOUT: 33.82%

Rickmansworth Town Ward

Paula HISCOCKS, Conservative Party 1,386 ELECTED

Tom PASHBY, Green Party 395

Pat HOWELL, Liberal Democrat 333

Andrew GALLAGHER, Labour Party 233

Mark MASSYN, UK Independence Party 51

ELECTORATE: 5,651 TURNOUT: 42.59%

South Oxhey Ward

Stephen KING, Labour Party 812 ELECTED

Elizabeth WILLETTS, Conservative Party 269

Yessica GOULD, UK Independence Party 135

Robert JOHNSTON, Liberal Democrat 60

Mary CHABREL, Green Party 22

ELECTORATE: 5,079 TURNOUT: 25.67%

Chorleywood Parish Council

Jane WHITE, Independent 291 ELECTED

Tony EDWARDS, Independent 213 ELECTED

Martin John TREVETT, Liberal Democrat 104

Corinne WORSLEY, Liberal Democrat 89