The Conservatives lose seats but remain in control of West Oxfordshire District Council.

The Conservative party lost several seats in the local elections on 3rd May 2019, with their total in the chamber falling from 32 to 28. Labour were the big winners, gaining in four wards, of which three were in Witney. But the Liberal Democrats remain the largest opposition party in the district, as a gain of two seats saw their total rise to 10.

Meanwhile Charles Cottrell-Dormer, believed to be Oxfordshire’s longest-serving councillor, saw his 50 years of service come to an end after finishing second to Nathalie Chapple in Stonesfield and Tackley. Alongside Ms Chapple, Dan Levy is the other new Lib Dem after he took Tory Peter Kelland’s Eynsham and Cassington seat.

The Conservatives would have needed to lose eight seats in total to see their overall majority wiped out, but instead five seats fell, with Jill Bull gaining in Carterton North West.

The winners:

  • Alvescot and Filkins: Suzi Coul (CON)
  • Bampton and Clanfield: Ted Fenton (CON)
  • Carterton North East: Norman Macrae (CON)
  • Carterton North West: Jill Bull (CON)
  • Carterton South: Michele Mead (CON)
  • Charlbury and Finstock: Andy Graham (LIB)
  • Chipping Norton: Mike Cahill (LAB)
  • Eynsham and Cassington: Dan Levy (LIB)
  • Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield: Gill Hill (CON)
  • Kingham, Rollright and Enstone: Andrew Beaney (CON)
  • Stonesfield and Tackley: Nathalie Chapple (LIB)
  • Witney Central: Luci Ashbourne (LAB)
  • Witney East: Joy Aitman (LAB)
  • Witney North: Richard Langridge (IND)
  • Witney South: Owen Collins (LAB)
  • Witney West: Harry Eaglestone (CON)