Counting is underway at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley to determine the results of yesterday’s local elections.
All seats are up for grabs in Wokingham, making this the biggest election for years. Major changes have been made to the electoral ward boundaries in Wokingham Borough, following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The review was conducted to ensure councillors represent roughly the same number of electors and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. The number of councillors will remain at 54, but there will now be 18 wards, with each represented by three councillors.
Terms will depend on how many votes are received:
- The candidate that receives the most votes will be in post for four years
- The candidate that receives the second-most votes will be in post for three years
- The candidate that receives the third-most votes will be in post for two years
- There are no local elections in 2025 (fallow year)
The new wards are: Barkham & Arborfield; Bulmershe & Coronation; Emmbrook; Evendons; Finchampstead; Hawkedon; Hillside; Loddon; Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates; Norreys; Shinfield; South Lake; Spencers Wood & Swallowfield; Thames; Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst; Wescott; Winnersh and Wokingham Without.
Today’s results will determine whether the Liberal Democrats will take full control of the council or whether the Conservatives will make gains Currently, there is not a single political party which holds majority control of the council, the council is therefore considered to have ‘no overall control’. The most recent political balance was: Liberal Democrat – 26 councillors. Conservative – 22 councillors.
Following 2023’s election, Wokingham Borough Council remained under no overall control. The Tories lost overall control for the first time in 20 years at the 2022 elections. This year, both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are hoping to take control of this council.
Photos by Paul King