Landslide victory for Lib Dems in Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Ormesby Ward

Redcar Liberal Democrats are delighted to have held on to the Ormesby Ward with a landslide result in a by-election held yesterday. 

Nunthorpe resident Carole Morgan, a former teacher at Nunthorpe School, was comfortably elected as the new councillor in Ormesby, which includes part of Nunthorpe.

The result was: 

Carole Morgan (Lib Dem) 980 

UKIP 138 

Labour 126 

Con 41 

North East Party 15 

The by-election was caused by the resignation of popular Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Wilson, who sadly died during the campaign. New Lib Dem Councillor Carole Morgan said:

“Naturally I regret the circumstances that led to this by-election. Ann Wilson was a superb representative for the area and was liked by all who knew her.

“I am delighted that the people of Ormesby and Nunthorpe have put their trust in me. I am looking forward to working with fellow Councillors Glyn and Irene Nightingale to serve the local community and protect the area from unsuitable development.

“I will try to be a councillor for all residents, regardless of how they voted.”

Lib Dem council group leader Josh Mason added: “I am delighted with the result and am sure that Carole will be an excellent representative for Ormesby and Nunthorpe.

“The Lib Dem Group on the council will continue to hold the Labour administration to account and fight for the best possible deal for residents across the borough.”

Lib Dems celebrate Ormesby housing decision

Redcar Constituency Liberal Democrats are celebrating this week following the rejection of intrusive housing plans at Longbank Farm, Ormesby.

The application for 320 houses received widespread objections from local residents, councillors and business and was refused during a planning meeting on Thursday.

Ian Swales MP commented:

“This is a great result for the residents of Ormesby and for local councillors Glyn and Irene Nightingale and Ann Wilson who have all worked extremely hard to ensure the plans weren’t approved.”

Ormesby Ward Cllr Glyn Nightingale and Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources said:

“Alongside our residents, we’ve worked hard to ensure the decision on this application was the right one. The housing plans were intrusive and the application should never have been considered.

“Irene, Ann and I are delighted with the decision.”

Deputy Leader of the council and prospective MP for the Redcar Constituency, Cllr Josh Mason said:

“I have been behind my colleagues and local residents 100%. Labour made some disastrous choices for housing developments in the borough and we’re now working as hard as we can to put this right.”

Plans to build 320 houses in Ormesby refused

The Council’s Regulatory Committee by 6 votes to five has refused planning permission for 320 houses to be built on the Longbank Farm site in Ormesby.

Only Labour Councillors supported the application.

It’s a victory for the campaign by local residents and Lib Dem Councillors to protect green areas.

The Committee only gave three local residents and three councillors three minutes each to support refusal while the case in favour took 45 minutes.

Ormesby Councillor and Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale said:

“It’s great that our efforts working local residents has kept our area’s open spaces free from totally inappropriate development. The impact on traffic, local schools and local amenities would have been devastating.”

Prospective Lib Dem MP for the Redcar Constituency Josh Mason commented:

“The Longbank Farm site is just one of the Labour Council’s favoured areas for house building on local green field sites. Residents don’t want this. The Liberal Democrats don’t want this. And I shall work with local residents to make sure this doesn’t happen. The Council should be protecting green field sites not ruining them.”

Pictured left to right: Councillor Ann Wilson, Councillor Irene Nightingasle, Councillor Josh Mason, Councillor Gluyn Nightingale.

Redcar Lib Dems name their team

Liberal Democrat councillors at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have re-elected Councillor Glyn Nightingale as their group leader.

Glyn, a retired teacher, represents the Ormesby ward and has been group leader since 2011. He will also speak for the group on finance.

Deputy Leader will be Cllr Josh Mason from Redcar (Zetland ward), who at 26 is one of the youngest councillors in the country. The Lib Dem Group will be chaired by Cllr Mike Carling, who takes over from Cllr Irene Nightingale.

The Lib Dem Group also elected its Shadow Cabinet for the next year. Cllr Mike Carling will speak on highways, transport and planning, whilst his West Dyke ward colleague Cllr Mary Ovens will cover health and children’s services.

Meanwhile, Cllr Chris Abbott will continue to speak on housing and community safety for the group, and Cllr Ron Harrison takes responsibility for economic development, environment and rural affairs. Deputy Leader Josh Mason will be group spokesperson on culture & leisure.

Cllr Glyn Nightingale said: “I am delighted to be re-elected as leader of the Liberal Democrat group. We have a track record of providing opposition and an alternative to Labour.

“The Tories are very weak in our borough whilst the so-called “Independents” have voted to keep Labour in control.

“Council Tax bills are going up whilst Labour fails to get the basics right. Our Borough needs an effective opposition that can hold Labour to account.”

Lib Dems cruise to victory in Ormesby Ward

Redcar and Cleveland Liberal Democrats are celebrating their fourth by-election win in Redcar constituency in just over twelve months.

Candidate Ann Wilson cruised to victory in the Ormesby Ward By-Election with a majority over Labour of 874. The result was as follows:

Ann Wilson (Lib Dem)..1084 (73.5%; +12.4%)
Steven Goldswain (Lab).210 (14.2%; -5.1%)
Martin Bulmer (UKIP)...103 (7.0%; +7.0%)
Colin Jones (Con).......77 (5.2%; -14.4%)

Majority 874
Turnout 29.55%

Lib Dem hold

The by-election was held due to the resignation of long serving Lib Dem Councillor Eric Empson and was the sixth in just over twelve months in Redcar constituency. The Lib Dems have taken three from Labour and held one. Labour have held two.

Ann Wilson, who lives in the ward, said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of highly respected Councillor Eric Empson. I will do my best to repay the confidence people have placed in me and I look forward to representing the views all residents of Ormesby Ward regardless of their political affiliation.”

Lib Dem Prospective MP Ian Swales said: “The result is a massive boost for the Liberal Democrats in Redcar constituency and is most encouraging for the coming General Election campaign.”

Ormesby Ward Councillors Glyn and Irene Nightingale said: "We are delighted that the residents of Ormesby and Nunthorpe continue to have confidence in the Liberal Democrats."

The composition of the Council is now:

Labour - 25
Liberal Democrats - 16
Conservative - 11
Independents supporting Labour - 4
Independents – 3

In Redcar constituency Liberal Democrats now hold 16 seats, to Labour’s 16 and the Tories 3.

Longstanding Lib Dem Councillor steps down

Former Redcar & Cleveland Council Leader Eric Empson has today announced his resignation from the council.

Eric, who will be 85 next month, has represented Ormesby on the Council since 1989, initially on Cleveland County Council and later the borough council. He led the council from 2003 to 2007, when the Council achieved a 4-star rating.

But Eric feels the time is right to step back now.

Eric said:

“After discussions with my doctor I feel my health will not allow me to continue to represent the people of Ormesby and Nunthorpe to the full.

“I was proud to serve as Leader of the Council. It was a special privilege to represent my fellow citizens in local, regional and national forums.

“I would like to thank the people of Ormesby and Nunthorpe for electing me, and thank everyone who has worked with me as a councillor.”

Councillor Chris Abbott, Liberal Democrat Group Leader at the Council, said:

“I thank Eric for his excellent hard work over the years. His experience and wisdom will be missed by many.”

Lib Dem Group Chair, Councillor Irene Nightingale, who also represents Ormesby ward, added:

“It has always been a pleasure to work with Eric in helping local constituents. Local residents will miss his dedication in representing their interests.”

Lib Dems re-elect Chris

Chris Abbott
Irene Nightingale
Mary Ovens

The 13 Liberal Democrat councillors at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have unanimously re-elected Councillor Chris Abbott as their Group Leader.

Chris has been Group Leader since 1999. He and his wife Glynis both represent the Newcomen ward in Redcar, and comfortably held their seats at the elections last week.

Chris’s Deputy will be Councillor Mary Ovens, also from Redcar (West Dyke ward) who is coming to the end of her term as Mayor of the Borough.

The Lib Dem Group will be chaired by Councillor Irene Nightingale, who represents Ormesby ward. She takes over from former Guisborough Councillor Keith Pudney, who did not seek re-election this year.

Cllr Chris Abbott, said:

“It looks as though Labour will now be running the Council. I look forward to making sure that they do not undo the good work that the Lib Dems have done as part of the ruling Coalition over the past four years.”

“We have some very experienced councillors and some talented new ones. I am sure we will be a better opposition than Labour were.”