Sandgate Revolution: Season Prater Storms to Victory in Sandgate By-Election

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st May 2008

Season Prater

Season Prater has stormed to victory in the Sandgate Valley By-election to Sandgate Council. Season took 176 votes - 58% of the total and more than both the Conservative and Independent candidates combined.

The result in Sandgate Valley was:

• Season Prater (Liberal Democrat) 174 Elected (58.4%)

• John Collier (Conservatives) 76 (25.5%)

• Jonathan Greenwall (Independent) 48 (16.1%)

Turnout 300 (35.05%). Majority 98.

Season says:

"I want to thank everyone in Sandgate Valley for the fantastic reception they have given me and the Lib Dem team during this campaign. It's clear that there is little support from local people for Sandgate becoming a 'Town' Council.

"There is even less support for spending taxpayers money on the new Mayor of Sandgate: Sandgate already faces the highest Council Tax of any area in Shepway.

"The Conservatives in Sandgate and in Shepway have been taking the voters for granted for the last year. They have made a string of unpopular and bad decisions, and continue to do so. Here in Sandgate, the voters have proved today that the Conservatives have to start listening or they will pay the price."

The result in Sandgate Valley at the last Parish Elections in 2007 was:

• Jan Holben (Conservatives) 173 Elected

• Harvey Marshall (Conservatives) 163 Elected

• Jennifer Gail Bailey (Independent) 126 Elected

• Elma Crocker (Liberal Democrats) 91

Electorate 838. Ballot Papers 286 - 34.13% turnout.

The percentage of the vote in May for 2007 (for the top candidate for each Party) was therefore:

• Conservative 44.4% (Down 18.9%)

• Independent 32.3% (Down 16.2%)

• Lib Dem 23.3% (UP 35.1%)