Prestwood and Heath End Lib Dem Candidate Brenda Barker says Thank You

3.03.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 28th May 2006

Brenda Barker, Prestwood and Heath End Lib Dem Candidate

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to vote for me in the recent by-election. I was very encouraged that 42 per cent of you entrusted me with your vote although it is disappointing that we didn't make it this time.

The Lib Dem team spoke to over 2000 of you during the campaign and we called at 9 in 10 of your houses. Many of you expressed your concern on different issues that affect you either personally or within the village and I will follow these up with my Liberal Democrat colleagues on the Council. Do let me know of any other issues you think I could help with in this way.

Most people know that I care passionately for our community. They also know that I have the commitment and determination to fight for the right to speak up for Prestwood and Heath End. With your help and building on your votes in this by-election, we hope to do that in the District Council elections in 2007.

An issue which came up many times in the campaign was rubbish collection. It is very clear that there is a high level of dissatisfaction with present arrangements. I have already discussed your comments and concerns with Lib Dem colleagues on Chiltern District Council. We will make sure they are taken into account as policy is developed on rubbish and recycling.

Local Lib Dems Win At The Polls

If you read the national papers, you might have thought that the Tories had it all their own way around here on 4 May. Well, they didn't! Liberal Democrat successes included:

Gaining control of St Albans; re-electing the Mayor of Watford and increasing our majority on that Council and on Three Rivers (the Rickmansworth area) - all with gains from the Tories.

Lib Dems make gains in the South East too!

We also gained control of Richmond-upon-Thames from the Conservatives and became the largest party in Oxford.

In London we elected 317 councillors - our second highest number ever - became the largest party in Camden and Brent as well as coming within two seats of depriving Labour of control of Haringey.

Overall, on a good night for the Lib Dems, we:

• made gains in 53 councils in all parts of England;

• obtained 27% share of the popular vote, pushing Labour into third nationally.