The May 2nd local elections for Havant Borough Council saw all three seats in the Emsworth Ward turn Green when three members of the Green Party, Grainne Raison, who was re-elected, plus Charles Roberts and Reuben Mychalecky.
Thus, Emsworth became the only ward in the Borough to be
entirely represent by the Green Party on a turnout of 45.18%
the highest in the Borough.
Talking to residents the principle reasons for this
turnabout where:
·
The
council’s lack of effective action to address the multiple
sewage dishcharges into the harbour
·
Concerns about the Havant Thicket Reservoir
·
Overdevelopment and lass of green spaces
·
A
lack of affordable homes
·
A
hope that with more Green Party Councillors the Borough
Council would be more “proactive” in its policies and
actions to resolve the issues arising from climatic change.
Although Emsworth became unique by being the only ward to
become entirely Green at the expense of the Conservatives in
many other wards Conservatives lost seats to other parties
resulting in their loss of overall control of Havant Borough
Council. Conservative group leader, Alex Rennie’ lost his
seat and being beaten by Reform UK. The two Conservative
councillors who had previously represented Emsworth, Lulu
Bowerman and Richard Kennet were amongst the many
Conservative losses.
Richard Kennett commented on social media that,
“To
say I am so very disappointed is the most massive
understatement.
I loved being an Emsworth councillor.”
“I
will miss being a councillor - really miss it - and I hope
that those who now have this most fantastic privilege of
representing our lovely Emsworth will make the best of it.”
After the last election in 2023, the council was made up of
30 Conservatives, four Labour, two Lib Dems, one Green and
one Independent. Now it is made up of 13 Conservative, four
green, 10 Labour, seven Lib Dems and two Reform UK leaving
no party in overall control. Now, with no overall control, a
party can either form a minority administration or a
coalition.
