THE citizens of Eden voted to keep their Council under Independent control last Thursday, May 1.

Only nine of the thirty district wards were contested and following the declaration of all results the Council is now made up of 28 Independent (or undeclared), 4 Liberal Democrat and 5 Conservative Councillors.

And it was a close fight between Appleby (Appleby) Independent candidates Alan Keith Morgan and Lancelot Henry Thwaytes with just one vote deciding. Sitting District and Town Councillor Morgan received 192 votes beating retiring Mayor and Town Councillor Thwaytes who received 191 votes.

In Orton with Tebay, siting independent councillor John Bernard Thornborrow retained his seat with 282 votes against Liberal Democrat opposition candidate Mark Alan Saunders who received 254 votes.

In Shap siting District Councillor, Independent Maurice Weightman lost his seat with 132 votes to Liberal Democrat candidate Neil Hughes who gained 166 votes.

The first meeting of the newly formed Eden District Council takes place tomorrow, Thursday 8 May at the Town Hall, Penrith.

May 2, 2003 11:30