LIBERAL Democrat candidate Gareth Williams achieved a strong victory in the Wellington Town Council by election which took place on Thursday, November 6.

Mr Williams received 471 votes on his way to getting elected for the Wellington South ward, equating to more than 57 per cent of the total vote share.

It was also more than double the next best candidate in Reform’s Andy Denison, who received 212 votes.

The Conservative candidate Alex Yates came in third place with 100 votes, while Labour’s Bethany Hill took 26 votes. Independent candidate Keiran Harcombe came last with 12 votes.

Turnout for the election was 37 per cent.

The election in the Wellington South ward was caused by the resignation of former Mayor, Marcus Barr, who was Reform’s only councillor.

The result means the Liberal Democrats now have seven town councillors with four independents, three Labour and one Conservative.

Gareth Williams said: “I’d like to thank everyone who voted.

“What I really enjoyed about the campaign was meeting fellow residents who have the same concerns as me and being able to collate those into a plan of action for what is now going to be my tenure as a councillor.

“It’s given me a really clear vision of what I need to do and the town council need to do in order to give Wellington the infrastructure it needs in the future.

“I was immediately made to feel very welcome by the Liberal Democrats and it’s because of them and their hard work that I’m standing here as a new town councillor.”

Among supporters joining him at the count was Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington.

He said afterwards: “Nothing beats listening and being willing to work hard for local people and I saw how hard Gareth worked, visiting residents in every part of Wellington South.”

The result means the Liberal Democrats now have seven town councillors with four independents, three Labour and one Conservative.