THE Conservatives, who already held a vice like grip on Monmouthshire County Council, last Thursday strengthened their hold on the authoriy. In a nightmare night for Labour across Wales, the Conservatives increased their representation at County Hall to 29 seats, leaving a mixture of Labour, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrats to fill the remaining 14 seats. Some well known Labour names failed to get re- elected, including Pam Birchall, Robin Griffiths, Mike Smith and Olive Evans. There were outstanding performances from some candidates. Sue White, present vice chairman of the County Council and a former Mayor of Monmouth, polled 374 in the Overmonnow ward at Monmouth, leaving Ruth Purcell (Lib Dem) with 73 votes and Rebecca Were (Green) with 93. Leacder of the Council, Andrew Crump, had a convincing win at Raglan with 438 votes, whilst Graham Down had an equally convincing win at Shirenewton with 699 votes. Ann Webb was returned at St Arvans and Liz Hacket Pain was also a comfortable winner at Wyesham. Two former Mayors of Monmouth, Anthea Dewhurst and Richard Bond, failed to win seats on the county authority. The full list of those elected, and those not elected, was: Caerwent: Phil Murphy (Con) elected; not elected: Julie Roberts and Thomas Sillivan. Caldicot Castle: Ronald Stewart (Lab) elected; not elected: Gail Harris, Pamela Gustavus Jones, Ronald Stewart and Pauline Watts. Cartref: Richard Jordan (Cons) elected; not elected: Margaret Harris, Patricia Morris and John Walters. Castle: Maureen Powell (Cons) elected; not elected Anthony O'Donovan, Margaret Phillips, Anthony Potts. Croesonen: Roger Harris (Lab) elected; not elected Charlotte Jones and Lauyra Pike. Crucorney: Andrew James (Cons) elected; not elected Nicholas Tatam and Robert Wilcox. Devauden: Unopposed: Robert Greenland (Cons). Dewstow: Anthony Easson (Lab) elected; not elected: Peter Butcher, Julia Haskey and Anthonty Perrett. Dixton with Osbaston: Robert Hayward (Cons) elected; not elected: Anthony Dewhurst.Drybride: Alan Wintle (Cons) elected; not elected Richard Bond abd Maureen Roach. Goetre Fawr: Sidney Jones (Cons) elected; not elected: Edward Evans (PC). Green Lane: John Marshall (Lab) elected: not elected: David Ashwin and Bronwen Jones. Grofield: Douglas Edwards (Lib Dems) elected; not elected: Nigel Beavan and Maryt Harris. Lansdown: James George (Lib Dems) elected; not elected: Robin Griffiths, Martin Hickman, Laurence Jones and Norma Constance. Larkfield: Phylio Hobson (Lib Dems) elected; not elected: James Brady and David Roman. Llanbadoc: Unopposed: Valerie Smith (Cons). Llanelly Hill: Giles Howard (Cons) and Simon Howarth (Ind) both elected; not elected: Anthony Carrington, Adrian Edwards and Martin Thomas. Llanfoist Fawr: Eric Saxon (Cons) elected; not elected: Jean Shivel. Llangybi Fawr: Unopposed: Peter Clarke (Cons). Llanover: Brian Hood (Cons) elected; not elected: Margaret Will cock anbd Timothy6 Willott. Llantilio Crossenny: Ruth Edwards (Cons) elected; not elected: Patrick Tandy. Llanwenarth Ultra: Christine Wakby (Lab) elected; not elected: Owen Marsh (Cons). Mardy: Johyn Prosser (Cons) elected; not elected: Ralph Chapman, Stuart Neale, Adrian Nelmes and Emily-Jane Robbins. Mill: John Major (Cons) elected; not elected: Neeta Baicher and Paul Rutter. Mitchel Ttroy: Geoffrey Burrows (Cons) elected; not elected: Alison Willott. Overmonnow: Susan White (Cons) elected; not elected: Ruth Purcell and Rebecca Were. Portskewett: Peter Fox (Cons) elected; not elected: Hazel Bennett and Peter Kidger. Priory: Jane Foulser (Cons) elected; not elected: Caroline Duchet. Raglan: William Crump (Cons) elected; not elected: David Stevens (Lib Dem), Stuart Willcock (Lab). Rogiet: Linda Guppy (Lib Dems) elected; not elected: Michael Smith. Severn: Ronald Higginson (Lab) elected; not elected: David Chipp, Joanne Daniels and Pamela Johnston. Shirenewton: Graham Down (Cons) elected; not elected: Janet Ellard. St Arvans: Ann Webb (Cons) elected; noty elected: Martin Blakeborough. St Christopher's: Stephanie Dovey (Cons) elected; not elected: Henry Ashby and Pamela Birchall. St Kingsmartk: David Dovey (Cons) elected; not elected: Hilary Beach and Henry Hodges. St Mary's: Jacqueline Sullivan (Lib Dems) elected; not elected: Tom Kirton and Benjamin Smith. The Elms: James Harris (Cons) elected; not elected: Brian Burt, Olive Evans and Benjamin Robbins. Thornwell: Armand Watts (Lab) elected; not elected Marian Lewis and Anthony Redhead. Trellech: Jeffrey Mitchell (Cons) elected; not elected: Deborah Blakeborough and George Webb. Usk: Brian Strong (Cons) elected; not elected: Kay Peacock. West End: David Evans (Lab) elected; not elected: Sandra Orme, Michael Rice and Kenneth Thomas. Wyesham: Elizabeth Hacket Pain (Cons) elected; not elected: Marcus Roach, Andrew Watkins and Ann Were.
