Shock result on election night (From Barry And District News)

Shock result on election night

PLAID Cymru and three independent candidates gained seats at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives at the Vale of Glamorgan elections but the local authority still a remains a hung council.

Once again, no party has overall control of the council.

The Conservatives and Labour both lost two seats on the council.

The Conservatives now have 20 seats and Labour 16.

In one of the biggest shocks of the night Labour lost two seats to Plaid in their Castleland stronghold.

One of the Plaid councillors elected is 43-year-old Barry Shaw, a former taxi driver originally from Croydon.

Barry said: "When I was first invited to stand for Plaid Cymru in the 1995 elections, I said I don't think I can help you, you see I come from England... Then someone explained to me that actually Plaid Cymru was the party for anybody who lives in Wales."

Three Independent candidates were elected whereas previously there were none.

The Liberal Democrats lost Llandough, the only seat they held, to a Conservative candidate.

The Tories were hampered in their bid to gain overall control of the council by an internal party rift in Llantwit Major.

John Readman and Gwyn John, who won seats for the Conservatives last time around, stood and were elected as independents.

Councillor Jeff James said: "We are happy with the result considering four previously loyal conservatives stood against us.

"It is disappointing that people, who have put their personal interests before the interests of the party, are going to deprive us of a majority.

"We are still the largest group and look forward to continuing the work on improving services begun in our first term."

Plaid Cymru leader Chris Franks said: "We are thrilled with the result especially with the seats we won in Castleland, a traditional Labour heartland. There is still plenty of work to be done on the Vale council. In particular, we are looking for improvement in street cleaning and the way our schools are maintained."

Neile Moore, leader of the Labour group, said: "The Tories claimed before the election that they would wipe out Labour and take overall control of the Vale Council. They failed to do this despite using dirty tricks in the campaign.

"They also hoped that by not fielding candidates in strategic wards they would oust Labour. They failed in their efforts with the exception of one ward where we lost to the Nationalist, because there was no alternative to Labour. They also targeted Dyfan with particular venom, but still failed to unseat Labour."