Lib Dems win by-election in Former Labour Heartland by Landslide | Conservatives fail to make progress just weeks before General Election

12.00.00am GMT Thu 18th Feb 2010

Tony Redhead (centre front) celebrates with local Lib Dem in Chepstow.

The Liberal Democrats were celebrating in Chepstow after a landslide victory in a by-election to elect a new Town Councillor in the Labour heartland of Bulwark.

Local community volunteer Tony Redhead, was elected last night with over 60 per cent of vote against Tory Candidate Roy Garner in the St. Christopher's Ward, Bulwark - with the day seeing almost blizzard conditions with heavy snow falling for most of the day.

The Conservatives failed to make any headway in the area since the last Council election with the Liberal Democrats taking nearly two-thirds of the vote.

With just weeks to go before a General election, winning candidate Tony Redhead said: "I'm delighted to have been elected. The team worked really hard and campaigned on issues affecting the daily lives of people in the ward. This is a huge vote of confidence in us in what was the Labour heartland of the town just weeks away from the big vote."

Local Assembly Member Michael German said he was delighted that Tony Redhead would be on the Town Council: "Local grassroots town councils need volunteers and 'doers' not 'talkers'. He'll be a great addition to the Town Council and work for Chepstow."

The result sees the Liberal Democrats maintain their status as the largest party of Chepstow Town Councillor. The composition of which is now: Liberal Democrat 6; Conservative 4; Labour 2 and Independents holding three seats.