THE Conservatives have put their steady performance in the South Gloucestershire local elections down to the party’s ‘positive campaign’.
The Tories gained one seat overall, taking their total number of councillors on the local authority to 34. It means the council administration could remain in Tory hands for the next four years.
The party sparked one of the district’s biggest upsets at the polls, taking the Pilning and Severn Beach seat from Lib Dem councillor Peter Tyzack. It means new councillor Robert Griffin will now serve on the authority.
The Tories lost two seats to Labour in Filton and one in Rodway but gained one seat in Bradley Stoke North, one in Bitton and one in Boyd Valley.
Leader John Calway said: "As a Conservative group, we managed to increase the number of seats we hold across South Gloucestershire and we are really pleased about that.
"Early indications are that we are one of the few groups in the country to achieve such a thing.
"I think this is down to our relentlessly positive campaign that was based upon our local record of delivering improved local services and keeping council tax down."
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