02 May 2025
County council elections have a habit of passing by without comment, but this year’s contest has major implications for the future not only of St Albans district, but the county at large.
The Liberal Democrats have been eyeing up County Hall for a power seize over the past few years, a strike sharpened by their success in recent elections across St Albans and Harpenden.
But the impact of the Harpenden on-street parking charges became a campaign issue for the Conservatives in the town, who seemed convinced that they could win over floating voters and disillusioned Lib Dem supporters by challenging SADC’s handling of the scheme.
At the election count at Batchwood Sports and Leisure Centre, Tories were saying they were hopeful the controversy would reflect in their performance, not only in the county results, but for vacancies on Harpenden Town Council.
The elections come in the week that SADC leader, Lib Dem councillor Paul de Kort, at last promised a review of the parking scheme, but was this a case of too little too late to reverse the results?
The first seat called, for the Harpenden North vacancy on the town council, proved a narrow victory for the Lib Dems, with Kevin Timmons receiving 1,070 votes compared to 1,001 for Aaron Jacob.
Meanwhile, the only district council vacancy, for Redbourn ward, also saw a Liberal Democrat victory, with Brian Gunson securing 507 votes. The other candidates were Tom Finnis (Independent) with 362, Victoria Mead (Conservative) with 356, Kevin Tiplady (Green) 43, Symon Vegro (Labour) 94, and Philip Wells (Reform UK) picking up 270 votes.
The first county result called was for London Colney, a Labour stronghold on the district council, but won by Lib Dem Liz Needham with 965 votes.
Runner-up with 741 votes was Labour’s Mike Hobday, followed by a strong showing from Reform UK’s Eleanor Jackson with 667 votes. Next was James Cook (Conservatives) with 478 votes and finally Green candidate Mark Park-Crowne with 164 votes.
The Tories hoped to bounce back in Harpenden Rural, with Teresa Heritage securing 1,511 votes, but her supporters’ initial joy was scuppered by Lib Dem Stuart Roberts polling 1,730. Other candidates were Lesley Baker (Green) with 324, David Johnson (Reform UK) with 499, and Neil Mulcock (Labour) with 201.
The election in the county council division of Colney Heath and Marshalswick had made the national media after the St Albans Times broke the story of how mother and daughter Frances and Sally Leonard were standing for the Conservatives and Green Party respectfully.
As it transpired, neither won the seat, with Liberal Democrat John Hale polling 2,234 votes, compared to Frances (767), Sally (352), Kaylee Muldoon for Reform UK with 680, and Nick Pullinger for Labour with 124.
In St Stephen’s division for HCC the Liberal Democrats again claimed victory, with Ajanta Hilton landing 1,863 votes. Second was Reform UK’s Craig Holliday with 1,089. followed by Stella Nash (Conservatives) with 954, and Gabriel Roberts (Green Party) with 183 votes.
There was a glimmer of hope for the Conservatives with the result of the Harpenden Town Council ward for Harpenden West, which Milan Cvetkovic won with 1,355 votes, followed by Lib Dem Suheil Shahryar with 919 votes and Mario May (Green Party) with 329.
This winning streak continued in the result for the county division of Harpenden South West, where Matt Cowley polled 2,365 compared to Lib Dem Edgar Hill’s 1,483.
The other candidates were Stephen Bird (Reform UK) with 550, Ben Dearman (Labour) with 314 and Tanja Brueckmann-Rath (Green) with 282.
In St Albans South, the division was comfortably secured by long-term Lib Dem councillor Sandy Walkington with 2,555 votes. The other results were
Steve Clark (Labour) with 230, Hayley Freedman (Reform UK) with 524, Graham Leonard (Conservatives) 499 and Juliet Voisey (Green) 385.
Moving onto St Albans East, the county division saw another Liberal Democrat victory, with former St Albans Mayor Anthony Rowlands receiving 2,344 votes. Conservative Richard Curthoys received 352 votes, Reform UK’s Jane Dawson-Davis 507, Labour’s John Paton 249 and Green Party candidate Lucy Swift received 408 votes.
Meanwhile, St Albans North saw Liberal Democrat Helen Campbell comfortably hold onto the division with 2,080 votes. The rest of the results were evenly split between Don Deepthi (Conservatives) with 453, Livvy Gibbs (Green Party) 449 and Stewart Vassie (Reform UK) with 456, and Labour’s Sarah Heiser bringing up the rear with 256.
For the county council vacancy of Harpenden Rural, the division saw sitting Lib Dem Alison Wren claim victory with 1,661 votes, followed by Conservative Ian Hawking with 1,172. Other candidates were Tom Chatfield (Labour) with 196, Philip Wells (Reform UK) with 939 and Olivery Hitch (Green Party) with 289.
The two Harpenden Town Council vacancies in Harpenden South saw a decisive Conservative victory for both with John Drake and Samuel Spiri receiving 1,462 and 1,348 winning the ward. Lib Dems Zoe Hollowood and Nikolaus Rath received 791 and 708 votes each.
The final result of the election was for the county division of St Albans Central, previously held by Lib Dem Chris White, until last year the leader of St Albans district council. The ballot was so close that a full recount was called.
In the end it was just six votes which decided, with Green Party candidate Matt Fisher securing 1,801 against 1,795 for the Lib Dems’ JoJo Godfrey. Mark Ewington from the Communist Party of Great Britain received 25 votes, Labour’s Mason Day 197, David Appleby from Reform UK 352. and Ambrose Kille from the Conservatives 311.
