Conservatives maintain county majority as Mayo scoops Ross by-election

12:13pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News

Richard Mayo Richard Mayo

THE Conservatives have avoided having their county council majority wiped out after winning a by-election in Ross-on-Wye.

Richard Mayo secured more than half the vote in the three-way battle for the town’s West ward which was brought about by the death of long-serving Tory member Gordon Lucas late last year.

"I'm absolutely stunned to be honest," said Coun Mayo. "It hasn't sunk in yet."

Just over 1,200 voters turned out in a by-election which had wider significance, too, as the Tories would have lost their countywide majority had either the Lib Dem candidate Caroline Bennett or Independent hopeful David Ravenscroft won.

Coun Mayo, who owns and runs Truffles Deli in the south Herefordshire town, received 54.4 per cent of the vote having secured 695 of the 1,277 votes.

Mr Ravenscroft was second (312 votes) with Ms Bennett (270) in third.

 

Comments(35)

bobby47 says...
12:36pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Bloody Hell! Never a single break from this curse called Jarvis.

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fordshire77 says...
12:51pm Fri 25 Jan 13

hope you make the most of it Mr Mayo tory boy as all change come next election!.....bloody torys!

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fordshire77 says...
12:52pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Tories.....sorry for poor use of the english language

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phxweb says...
1:19pm Fri 25 Jan 13

The opposition don't have any bright ideas either. If the masses thought the council could be run by others then the other two candidates in this would have had more votes.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
3:19pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Disappointing,but not surprising - we're in the mess we're in because people voted Jarvis et al in, when the writing was on the wall well before the last elections and we had a chance to do something about it.

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Roger J says...
3:23pm Fri 25 Jan 13

With a population of 10,000 plus I guess apathy won the day.

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M M says...
3:41pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Richard Mayo is a very nice local businessman.

People voted for the man, not understanding the politics unfortunately.

With Jessie Norman MP and the very popular Andrew Atkinson a Conservative Councillor canvassing for him it was a forgone conclusion”

10,000 is the population for the whole of Ross not just West Ward, the weather was also a contributory factor to the low turn out I'm sure

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fordshire77 says...
4:24pm Fri 25 Jan 13

forgive me but I was not knocking the guy but knocking the party he represents, they have done nothing good for this county in years! im not saying that labour or ukip could do any better but change would be good for the county in sure of it!!! and as for jessie "tea towel" norman....best I say no more dont want to risk getting banned of here!

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megilleland says...
5:23pm Fri 25 Jan 13

"I'm absolutely stunned to be honest," said Cllr Mayo. "It hasn't sunk in yet."
Yes Richard Mayo may be the best man for Ross, but for the county I don't think he will be let loose by the party elite.

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bobby47 says...
6:20pm Fri 25 Jan 13

This misery has got to end. Its him or me and with luck and good fortune it'll be him rather than me that leaves Town.
Jarvis!!! Castle Green this Sunday morning at dawn. You bring your second and the two Council Duelling Pistols that are hanging on the wall. I'd be grateful if you could load them both.
Ten paces and we shoot oneanother.
The loser leaves Town either on foot or in a coffin.
We are both putting off the inevitable confrontation so lets stop messing about, behave like gentlement and try our best to dispatch oneanother to meet our sweet loving Jesus.
Im serious. Im pumped and charged. Lets do it.
If you don't fancy bullets then we'll fence or if you're a stranger to fear, then lets just arm ourselves with seven pound lump hammers and beat the living day lights out of oneanother.
I'll see you at Castle Green.

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William Jackson says...
7:48pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Oh my! So many negative comments and moans - I must have missed seeing you all standing as candidates to offer your alternative views at the by-election.

Turnout about 30%, which for a by-election in this weather seems pretty respectable.

A thumping majority - well over 50% of the votes cast compared to 2011 when the late Gordon Lucas came in second seems pretty convincing to me.

Perhaps the people of Ross West are not as blinkered as some of your correspondents and actually understand that Richard Mayo will work for the good of the Town.

The big losers are the LibDems - they lost vote share and were pushed into last place ... and the so-called independent who refuses to explain the strange organisational twists that align his 'party' with It's Our County.

Congratulations Richard Mayo - I am delighted you won.

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bobby47 says...
8:09pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Hello William, I wish I could look at our lives and our future through your shiney, happy, clappy lens but I can't. We are in a mess Bill and no amount of spin, and positive mantra's can put a bloody gloss on my perspective of our future.
I truly wish you well Bill but you'll need more than pointless positive rhetoric to stop our slide into the abyss because of the levers this shower of rabble have pulled to bring our homeland to its knees.
We are doomed my friend and our future will remain clouded, dull and overcast until this Council Leadership move over and allow our recovery to begin with a new form of leadership and some new ideas on how to halt our slide toward ruination.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
8:31pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Perhaps our new Chief Executive will be our knight in shining army (as opposed to king bobby47's muddy and dough splattered chain mail and sack cloth) - it will be very interesting to see how he deals with the arrogant cabinet. The last CE was noticeable by his absence from errr almost everything, specifically chosen to keep his head down, say nothing for 5 years and leave with a cart full of bullion - just so the top table could set up the almighty mess we are now paying for.

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bobby47 says...
8:56pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Hang on a minute TwoWheels, before you start nailing your colours to another's mast.
This new Chief Executive has not, as far as Im aware, invited you to sit at the top table and invited you on a lidl's trolley dash, whereas I have.
I feel this crown slipping from atop my head and it isn't a pleasant feeling.
Are you with me or against me? Tell me now!

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William Jackson says...
10:07pm Fri 25 Jan 13

I am impressed, bobby47, at your hyperbolic abilities.

Cutting through the miasma and your bizarre flights of fancy it seems that you want a different person or group of people to lead our Council.

The election of Richard Mayo is the clearest expression of the views of Ross West electors that either of us have and they OVERWHELMINGLY disagreed with you. By electing Richard Mayo not only to they choose a new councillor for themselves but also chose to maintain the current administration in power.

It may be inconvenient to you but those are the simple facts.

Perhaps you could explain which party or individual would do the job better and why that paragon didn't offer themselves in the by-election.

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megilleland says...
10:44pm Fri 25 Jan 13

By electing Richard Mayo not only to they choose a new councillor for themselves but also chose to maintain the current administration in power.

"Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve".
George Bernard Shaw

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M M says...
10:44pm Fri 25 Jan 13

How many people understand the politics of Local Council?, they vote for the person and Richard is a respected buisness man in Ross.

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bobby47 says...
11:44pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Hello Bill, Its good of you to come on this site and its also good to know that you've seen through me, my firey rhetoric and the drivel and tripe that I am able to produce without little effort or concentration. Its not a gift. Its actually a curse and one I wouldn't wish upon even Mr Jarvis.
As for your man winning this Office, I am pleased for him, you and the constituents of Ross who have this confidence in Mr Mayo.
Genuinely and sincerely, my only reason to see Mr Mayo fail to win this Office was the hope that another would upset the dynamic that exists within the leading elite of this Council Leadership. You might say that i was willing to accept anyone that displeased Mr Jarvis.
Of course this form of thinking is wrong, has no place in a modern democracy and at best its bloody shameful, but, thats the depths to which I and others have sunk during the last year as we've witnessed what we see as chaotic and deluded decisions made in our name by this bloody unholy Council Leadership.
Sincerely, I wish you and Mr Mayo well and I do hope that your presence and that of Mr Mayo's will, in some way, serve our County well and perhaps get Mr Jarvis and his colleagues to show some restraint as they lurch from one misguided plan to another pointless wasteful gimmick.
As for the now and the near future, I couldn't care less who held the levers of power within the Council Leadership. Conservative, Labour, Liberal or Independent, its of no concern to me. What does worry me and causes me to swallow more medication than I should is that Mr Jarvis is at the helm.
I want him to go and allow my homeland to recover from his disasterous tenure as our Council Leader.
My very warmest regards to you Bill, a very Happy New Year and I wish you luck and good fortune in your efforts to help Hereford prosper.

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probono says...
10:36am Sat 26 Jan 13

Hopefully the good burghers of Ross on Wye voted for someone to represent Ross and its interests before it get totally closed down. Young, enthusiastic, and with plenty of time to fight Ross's corner. Why not start with saving the Register Office from closure ? Make sure the library future is secure ? Let Ross manage its own markets ? There are battles ahead new Councillor and the very best of luck with them. I hope all parties and interests can now stand together to support Ross and keep this lovely bit of the Wye Valley thriving.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
12:26pm Sat 26 Jan 13

b47 - fret not - I'm with you all the way - where that way goes to, I've no idea.

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Mr.Herefordian says...
1:54pm Sat 26 Jan 13

I would think that a good number who voted tory in Ross have retired moved to the county and are happy with their heating allowance, free tv licence and bus passes so have no interest in voting for change on local issues.
For others who were able to get to the polling booth but did not bother, we'll
that's democracy folks.

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probono says...
10:24pm Sat 26 Jan 13

How very cynical Mr Herefordian, the incomers, called blow-ins round by me regrettably, bring expertise, their time and help as volunteers in organisations and charities, as well as supporting local businesses with their spending power. Want to keep them all away do you ? And return to the 'good old days' ?

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wyesider says...
11:30am Sun 27 Jan 13

Some friends in the ward won by Mr Mayo, tell me he is a good man and should do well for the area. The democratic process has run its course and those that voted have given their elected member more than 50% of the vote.
On a personal (and possibly selfish) level, I had hoped that a different candidate would be elected, in the perhaps forlorn hope that the ruling party on Herefordshire Council would find that greater concensus would be required.
That only 26.7% of the electorate turned out to vote is a rather sad indictment of the times. Until those 'missing' voters participate they diminish out democracy. If they then spout venom about loacl politics, they have only themselves to blame for not using the legitimacy of the ballot box; after all it is the only system we have.
Good luck to Mr Mayo, I hope he proves a good councillor for the people he serves.

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bobby47 says...
12:04pm Sun 27 Jan 13

I've just got back from the Castle Green where I've been since dawn and Jarvis didn't show up.
He either overslept, his alarm didnt go off, he couldn't be bothered or he couldn't find two bullets for the duelling pistols. Either way, I felt a fool stood there clutching my seven pound Shakespeare Lump Hammer, a bag of plasters and the New Testament being taunted by dog walkers screaming, " Put some clothes on you fool. You'll freeze to death in this biting wind".

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dippyhippy says...
3:51pm Sun 27 Jan 13

I am sure I am not alone, in not realising that this was to be a naked dual ! Should have sold tickets,then with the proceeds,we could have had a few beers after !

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M M says...
4:09pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Probono I would never be rude and call anyone blow-ins, but the new people have certainly changed the Herefordshire Village where my family have lived for many generations, some newcomers have integrated and joined in the community while others live behind high hedges, drive huge vehicles and when they need to pass another vehicle drive on the verges or in the ditches, then complain that the road floods,
Village shops, pubs and the Post Offices are closed because the new people are bringing in their shopping from the Supermarkets.
The fields that once had cows, sheep and animals for food, now have horses which are used for recreational purposes. footpaths are churned up from the horses hooves and are no longer walkable.My family have had to leave the Village as house prices are now beyond their means.

I had hoped like wyesider a different candidate would be elected, as I and the few old villagers that remain are finding it hard to live in Herefordshire with the the below average wages and high and ever increasing council tax. Yes Richard is a good man, but I thought change would possibly be good for the county ,

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dippyhippy says...
4:17pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Change is what we all want. Actually, change is what we NEED. Mr.Mayo sounds like a decent chap,who is obviously highly regarded by many - BUT - will he be able to instigate change? I don't think so. He will toe the party line,and "change" just moved even further out of reach......

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Mr.Herefordian says...
10:40pm Sun 27 Jan 13

I must agree with MM regarding blow-ins although I had never heard that term before. Also as most working people can't stand for Herefordshire Council because of the times they meet it allows blow-ins to take most seats on this Council.

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fordshire77 says...
8:37am Mon 28 Jan 13

Answer me this.....was the council in such a mess when Roger Phillips was in charge?

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probono says...
9:57am Mon 28 Jan 13

No, Roger P and the farming lobby had money in the bank, officers under control, and listened and acted when the public asked them too. Not always known as Roger Phillips had a knack of getting action from recalcitrant officers without a big fuss. He acted, he once said, only when he had all the ducks lined up behind him.
I, for one, hope for a coup in May when Hereford has a new Mayor.

Blow-ins - first heard by me at a pbulic meeting on the lips of a leading Herefordshire Councillor. Disgraceful, then, and disgraceful now. But then this man is always a disgrace to his Party and his Council !

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Herefordian07 says...
10:06am Mon 28 Jan 13

I have to agree with Dippyhippy, a few years ago I was asked to become a councillor for the bromyard area, at my interview I was told that I was the type of person they wanted, amongst my questions, I asked if I was a free spirit or did I have to follow the Party Line, I was instantly told I had to follow the line, I gave my apologies and said I wasn't interested in the position explaining that if I was elected and supposed to represent my neighbours I had to do what I was elected for, I left the interview dissillusioned with politics and the false plattitudes we are dealt.

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mizza21 says...
11:55am Mon 28 Jan 13

695 votes !!

People consider this to be totally irrelevant and I must admit I would struggle to argue with that..

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dippyhippy says...
12:08pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Herefordian07,thats really sad. This area needs need blood,and the fact you would have been prepared to give up your time and get involved,says a lot about you. I really think the independants and the I.O.C lot,need to get themseves together a bit more. They could take advantage of this rising tide of public dissatisfaction,but they need to get a wriggle on.

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probono says...
2:30pm Mon 28 Jan 13

How sad Herefordian07 - Bromyard is full of free spirits and hard workers who see to flowers, xmas lights and such and do much work in the community make the place good for locals and visitors. Not to mention gollies of course !

A good Councillor considers their area first and then policy and party. Political parties shouls realise that this needs to be the case. At a local level it is usually understood and taken into account. Chickens are not going to vote for Xmas etc. Not so at Westminster it seems, where Jesse Norman remains on the naughty step for his relbellion against elected House of Lords.

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TwoWheelsGood says...
10:33pm Tue 29 Jan 13

bobby47- hilarious posting once again, god knows we need some light relief to ease the pain of this present council leadership. Not surprised Cockup didn't show - it was a Sunday - he'd have been in church confessing his sins, and that would have taken most of the day.

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