Former Lib Dem councillor Malcolm Prowse won as an Independent at Bratton Fleming.

Party politics take a hit a North Devon’s district elections – full results

Liberal Democrat Brian Greenslade won his seat in Pilton, Barnstaple.

THE political make-up of North Devon Council has taken a major swing in favour of independent politics.

While the Independents increased their presence on the council from three to 11 members, party politics took a hit as the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats both suffered defeats in key seats.

The Tory-controlled council saw its majority slip from 22 to 18 seats while the Lib Dems lost three members, winning only 14 places on the 43-member council.

The count at North Devon Leisure Centre began at 10am today (Friday) and the final results were announced by the returning officer shortly after 2.30pm.

Current North Devon Council leader Des Brailey (right) retained the Conservative vote in the Longbridge ward.

While the Independents celebrated a good day at the polls, the count was less kind for a number of long-serving district councillors.

In Barnstaple, Lib Dem councillor Chris Haywood lost his seat while contesting the Newport ward, while Conservative stalwart Silvia Harrison missed out in Yeo Valley.

In Fremington, Tory councillors Dick Jones and John Gill were both ousted by Independent candidates, Frank Biederman and Joanne Bell, while in Bickington and Roundswell Lib Dem Carol McCormack-Hole lost her seat to Independent Brian Hockin.

In South Molton, Sue Sewell lost her seat as former district councillor John Moore returned to the fray and swept to victory with 1,221 votes.

Current Tory council leader Des Brailey retained his seat with the majority of the vote in the Barnstaple Longbridge ward.

There was a good turn-out at the polls in North Devon, with 45.33 per cent of the electorate (32,426 people) casting a vote in the district election. In the referendum on the alternative vote, 45.97 per cent (34,276) voted, while in the parish elections, 44.25 per cent (20,126) had their say.

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North Devon Council Election Results:

Bickington and Roundswell (two seats):

Rodney Cann (Ind) 850 E

Brian Hockin (Ind) 570 E

Carol McCormack-Hole (Lib Dem) 411

Jerry Hole (Lib Dem) 281

Serena Thomas (Cons) 278

Jason Ritterband-Fulcher (Cons) 272

Jean Smalley (Labour) 168

Bishops Nympton (one seat – uncontested):

Eric Ley (Ind) E

Bratton Fleming (one seat):

Malcolm Prowse (unspecified) 544 E

Gordon Cumming (Cons) 315

Ian Godfrey (Green) 147

Braunton East (two seats):

Roy Lucas (Cons) 621 E

Derrick Spear (Lib Dem) 517 E

Elizabeth Spear (Lib Dem) 495

Sally Smith (Cons) 489

Mary Breeds (Green) 276

Andy Leat (Green) 191

Valerie Cann (Labour) 173

Braunton West (two seats):

Caroline Chugg (Cons) 753 E

Jasmine Chesters (Cons) 677 E

Marguerite Shapland (Lib Dem) 478

Carol Woodford (Lib Dem) 342

Liz Wood (Green) 218

Steven Holden (Labour) 206

Mary Clay (Green) 174

Central Town (Barnstaple) (two seats):

Faye Webber (Lib Dem) 593 E

Adam Bradford (Lib Dem) 550 E

Simon Harvey (Cons) 459

Danny Neary (Labour) 235

Deborah Lewis (Cons) 201

Gerrard Sables (Communist) 90

Chittlehampton (one seat – uncontested):

Walter White (Ind) E

Chulmleigh (one seat):

Sue Croft (Cons) 615 E

Trudy Weston (Lib Dem) 355

Combe Martin (two seats):

Yvette Gubb (Ind) 1,168 E

Julia Clark (Ind) 821 E

Sue Sussex (Cons) 764

Paul Crockett (Cons) 541

Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple) (two seats):

Sue Haywood (Lib Dem) 534 E

Julie Hunt (Lib Dem) 433 E

Geoff Moody (Labour) 208

Neil Basil (Green) 200

Douglas Lowe (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 154

Fremington (two seats):

Frank Biederman (Ind) 1,266 E

Joanne Bell (Ind) 969 E

Dick Jones (Cons) 382

John Gill (Cons) 323

Tony Wood (Ind) 235

Andrew Cann (Lib Dem) 184

Joy Cann (Lib Dem) 95

Georgeham & Mortehoe (two seats):

Malcolm Wilkinson (Lib Dem) 678 E

Pat Barker (Cons) 597 E

Lesley Slade (Lib Dem) 557

Edward Short (Cons) 416

Mike Harrison (Green) 274

Rosemary Brian (Green) 205

Heanton Punchardon (one seat):

Andrea Davis (Cons) 301 E

Ray Shapland (Lib Dem) 139

Steve Crowther (UKIP) 131

Ilfracombe Central (two seats):

Paul Crabb (Cons) 496 E

Paul Yabsley (Cons) 436 E

Frank Pearson (Ind) 381

Netti Pearson (Ind) 284

Tim Cox (Green) 223

Ilfracombe East (one seat):

Mike Edmunds (Ind) 482 E

Robin Horne (Cons) 312

Toby Ebert (Labour) 80

Ilfracombe West (two seats):

Geoff Fowler (Lib Dem) 678 E

Philip Webb (Cons) 594 E

Colin Wright (Cons) 560

Marianna Holdsworth (Labour) 333

Instow (one seat):

Brian Moores (Cons) 423 E

Stewart White (Ind) 159

Michaela Willis (Ind) 124

Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw (two seats):

Glyn Lane (Cons) 1,054 E

David Luggar (Cons) 973 E

Richard Medland (Lib Dem) 639

Mark Pegden (Lib Dem) 449

Mark Haworth-Booth (Green) 390

Cliff Bell (Ind) 341

Longbridge (Barnstaple) (two seats):

Des Brailey (Cons) 852 E

Jackie Flynn (Cons) 601 E

Charlie Piper (Lib Dem) 529

Malcolm Rundle (Lib Dem) 504

Mark Cann (Labour) 225

Lynton & Lynmouth (one seat):

Julian Gurney (Lib Dem) 401 E

Tim Parker (Ind) 220

Ian Rigby (Cons) 220

Marwood (one seat):

Joe Tucker (Lib Dem) 447 E

Jim Pile (Cons) 366

Micky Darling (Green) 115

Newport (Barnstaple) (two seats):

John Matthews (Cons) 624 E

Michael Harrison (Cons) 557 E

Chris Haywood (Lib Dem) 498

Ian Roome (Lib Dem) 394

Ricky Knight (Green) 353

Rosie Haworth-Booth (Green) 200

Marion Mason (Labour) 143

North Molton (one seat):

Richard Edgell (Cons) 613 E

Michael Nelson (Lib Dem) 288

Pilton (Barnstaple) (two seats):

Brian Greenslade (Lib Dem) 872 E

Mair Manuel (Lib Dem) 765 E

David Barker (Cons) 349

Linda Wellstead (Cons) 293

L’Anne Knight (Green) 284

Hilary Greenfield (Labour) 219

South Molton (Two seats):

John Moore (Ind) 1,221 E

David Worden (Lib Dem) 733 E

Tracey Lewis (Ind) 682

Sue Sewell (Lib Dem) 618

Witheridge (One seat):

Jeremy Yabsley (Cons) 689 E

Kate Palmer (Lib Dem) 270

Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) (two seats):

Lesley Brown (Lib Dem) 677 E

Colin Payne (Lib Dem) 600 E

Silvia Harrison (Cons) 253

Sarah Willoughby (Green) 224

Paul Dyer (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 186