THE Conservative Party has retained control of Hampshire County Council, gaining an extra 11 seats while UKIP lost all its seven seats.

In the county-council election last Thursday, the Tories won 56 of the 78 seats, amounting to 52 per cent of the vote.

This was a 14 per cent increase on the 2013 election when they won 45 seats.

The Liberal Democrats won 19 seats - an increase of two on the 2013 results, but Labour’s share of the vote was halved giving them two seats, while the Community Campaign (Hart) retained its solo presence.

Reflecting the national picture, UKIP lost the remaining seven of the 10 seats it had on the council following the 2013 election and five by-elections.

Following a 36 per cent turnout, the votes for the 2017 county council election were counted overnight at Petersfield Festival Hall.

Local representation stayed much the same, with Conservative Adam Carew retaining his seat for the Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford division; Floss Mitchell holding onto Liphook, Grayshott and Headley, and Mark Kemp-Gee taking home most votes for Alton Rural.

Following his re-election to a fourth term in office, Mr Carew told the Bordon Herald that his victory represented a Conservative gain as he previously held the seat for the Liberal Democrats before switching parties in 2013. He said Conservatives now held all six seats in East Hampshire.

“I would like to thank the people of Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford for their ringing endorsement,” he added.

“We worked our socks off and it was great to speak to so many people on the doorstep. We fought a very positive campaign and I would like to thank our team for all their hard work.

“The extent of the win has not yet sunk in but I think this has far exceeded all my expectations and all our previous county election results. People have been very kind and I’ve been overwhelmed with congratulatory emails, texts, cards and phone calls.

“Having delivered for 10 hours solid every day for the five days preceding polling day, I have actually spent much of Friday and Saturday asleep, but I’m now fully recharged and raring to go. Our opponents worked hard and I would like to thank Digby (Payne, Labour), Sally (Pond, Liberal Democrat) and Neville (Taylor, Independent) for a good contest. The important thing was people had a democratic choice and good candidates to vote for.

“This is a critical time for Whitehill and Bordon and neighbouring Lindford.

“There are not many communities in Britain with a £1billion regeneration project on their doorstep and it is important that decision makers - whether they be in the NHS, planners, politicians or developers - continue to listen very carefully to our residents and involve all our chosen local elected representatives in decision making about our community every step of the way. I will continue to stand up for our area and serve people to the very best of my ability.

“This is the fourth time I have been re-elected since the seat was created in 2005, but even in 2009 I don’t think we reached almost 57 per cent of the popular vote.

“I am proud to represent Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford and I feel deeply honoured by such a wonderful result. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Ms Mitchell said she was “very proud to have been re-elected as county councillor for the Liphook, Headley and Grayshott division”. “I want to thank the staff who ran the five polling stations and the teams responsible for the amazing efficiency of the count,” she added.

“I want to pay tribute to the other candidates who worked hard during the campaign. The three parishes I represent are great communities and it has been a privilege to serve them over the past year. My campaign slogan was ‘working together to serve our community’ and I am looking forward to continuing the work we have started over the next four years.”

Mr Kemp-Gee said: “I am delighted to have been re-elected, with the turnout in Alton Rural, at 41 per cent, one of the highest in Hampshire and testament to the community involvement in this rural area.

“To receive 70 per cent of the vote was also a good mandate as we press forward in transforming the county council to adapt for a new landscape in how we finance our services and fund adult social care.

“Above all, it enables me to help safeguard and enhance life in our rural communities.”

John Coughlan, county returning officer and council chief executive, said: “The majority party will now meet to consider its key appointments. The Annual General Meeting of the county council, on May 25, will appoint the chairman, vice chairman and leader. The newly elected leader will make appointments to the cabinet ahead of its first meeting on June 19.”

The county council serves 1.3 million residents, delivering services including education, roads, social care for children and adults, access to the countryside and libraries.

• Whitehill, Bordon, Lindford: Adam Carew (Con), 1,822 votes, 57 per cent; Sally Pond (Lib Dem), 652, 20 per cent; Neville Taylor (Ind), 444, 14 per cent; Digby Payne (Lab), 292, nine per cent. Lip-hook, Headley and Gray-shott: Floss Mitchell (Con), 3,021, 63 per cent; Trevor Maroney (Lib Dem), 1,353, 28 per cent; John Tough (Lab), 347, seven per cent; Eddie Trotter (Justice & Anti-Corruption) 89, two per cent. Alton Rural: Mark Kemp-Gee (Con), 3,635 votes, 70 per cent; Nicholas James (Lib Dem), 762, 15 per cent; Janice Treacher (Lab), 314, six per cent; Christina West (Green), 298, six per cent; Rigby Andrews (UKIP), 192, four per cent.