THE LIBERAL Democrats have emerged victorious in a by-election at Otley.

Candidates from four parties were standing in the Thursday, June 22 election to fill a Town Council vacancy on the West Chevin ward.

Jo Allen ended up receiving the most votes - 291 - and has now joined the three other Lib Dems representing the seat.

Labour's candidate, Liz Carr, took second place with 221 votes, just 70 behind - a result Labour says represents a 'significant swing' towards it.

Third place went to Gerard Francis, for the Conservative Party, who received 107 votes while Green Party candidate Catherine Harrison got 41.

Chair of the Liberal Democrat Group on Otley Town Council, Councillor Ray Georgeson (Lib Dem, Danefield), said: "Congratulations to Jo Allen on her well deserved victory.

"I am delighted to welcome her to our group and the council, and I know she will be a hard working and committed councillor.

"She will play an important role in delivering our consistent agenda for the town - promoting trade and tourism, improving our environment, investing in Otley and supporting our community."

Councillor Allen (Lib Dem, West Chevin) added: "I want to say a huge thank you to the voters of West Chevin for putting their trust in me.

"I am delighted and honoured to be representing my local area and really looking forward to getting stuck in and contributing to the work of the council."

Cllr Georgeson, meanwhile, was critical of some aspects of Labour's campaign.

He added: "I am disappointed that Otley Labour carried on with their campaign of misplaced outrage over the question of the poll cards.

"The fact of the matter was that electors in every property had received literature and polling details from us and other parties, and most were perfectly well aware of the election.

"The turnout, of 32 per cent, is decent for a by-election and a vindication of our decision to save Otley taxpayers' money on the discretionary items such as poll cards.

"I'm baffled as to why MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) objects to our decision when it is his Leeds Labour party - in control of Leeds City Council - that is scrapping poll cards altogether next year.

"Presumably he condemns the decision of his own group of which I believe he is still a city councillor, or did he support it at the time but now says something different?"

Labour, however, has defended its stance on the polling cards issue - and says it is encouraged by what it estimates* as a 4.6 per cent swing from the Lib Dems to Labour in the results.

Mr Sobel said: "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Jo Allen on her win and to Liz on a hard-fought campaign and admirable swing to Labour.

"On election day, I found people on the doorstep who did not know there was a by-election.

"Polling Cards are a vital way of impartially informing the electorate of an impending election.

"The Government are phasing out polling cards and Leeds City Council are looking to replace these with independent impartial voting letters, which includes the necessary polling information.

"I am pleased that the Liberal Democrat town council have had a sudden concern for taxpayers' money after putting up the precept for two years running. There are no excuses for disenfranchising voters in any election be that town or national.”

Candidate Liz Carr said: "I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who voted for me.

"The big increase in the Labour share of the vote in this election suggests the tide that began in the general election is continuing to turn away from the Lib Dems.

"Their decisions to hike the town council tax, and not to send out polling cards, has angered many residents we spoke to during the campaign.

"Our stand for proper management of the town council tax, and against the scrapping of polling cards, resonated with many voters – it was a vote for greater accountability and a proper democratic process for elections."

Councillor Mick Bradley (Green, Danefield) added: "Thank you to those who voted Green.

"We are of course disappointed not to receive a greater share of the votes in West Chevin but will continue to offer voters a real alternative which offers both a fairer society and better quality of life for people, through safeguarding the environment and planet.

"Greens seek, for example, to address the connected issues of poor air quality, traffic congestion and loss of green belt through reducing commuting by car, promoting and protecting local jobs and encouraging the move to home-based digital work in order to create a better work/life balance.

"We seek a different politics of working together to develop as a community.”

A total of 662 votes were cast, two of which were rejected, at the polling station at Westgate Primary School's Nursery department.

*Comparisons are complicated because the last town council election in West Chevin, in 2015, was for all four town council seats and included a different range of candidates.