Lib Dems GAIN Folkestone West from Conservatives
6 Jun 2009
The Liberal Democrats have taken the Folkestone West County Division from the Conservatives. Lib Dem candidate Tim Prater beat sitting councillor and the leader of Shepway District Council Robert Bliss by 11 votes after a nail-biting count and recount.
The result in full was:
Liberal Democrats {Tim Prater] 1456
Conservative 1445
UKIP 776
People First 258
Labour 185
Turnout was 37.73%.
Newly elected County Councillor Tim Prater said:
"I would like to say thank you to everyone in Folkestone West. This was clearly a close election, and I'm delighted to have won. I will do my best for the area and look forward to working at Kent County Council as a part of the Lib Dem group who are now the official opposition on the County Council."