THE Conservative Party has retained overall control of Hampshire County Council.

Following yesterday’s council election, the Tories gained 56 of the 78 seats, amounting to 52 per cent of the vote. This was a 14 per cent increase on the 2013 election when they won 45 seats.

The Liberal Democrats won 19 seats - an increase of two on the 2013 results, but Labour’s share of the vote was halved, giving them just two seats, while the Community Campaign (Hart) retained its solo presence.

UKIP lost all 10 of its seats on the council.

Following a 36 per cent turnout, the votes for the Hampshire County Council election were counted overnight at Petersfield’s Festival Hall.

John Coughlan, county returning officer and county council chief executive, confirmed the next steps for the authority. He said: “The majority party will now meet to consider its key appointments. The annual meeting of the county council on May 25 will appoint the chairman, vice-chairman and leader of the county council. The newly-elected leader will make appointments to the Cabinet ahead of its first meeting on June 19.

“I look forward to working with all of Hampshire County Council’s members in serving the county’s 1.3 million residents over this next administration period – delivering important public services, from education, roads, highways and social care for vulnerable children and adults to access to the countryside and libraries.”

He added: “The county council elections have run very smoothly and I would like to thank all of the staff in the district and borough councils, and the county council for their contribution in the process.”

East Hampshire results:

ALTON RURAL:

Mark Kemp-Gee (Con) 3,635 votes (70%) - Elected

Nicholas James (Lib Dem) 762 (15%)

Janice Treacher (Lab) 314 (6%)

Christina West (Green) 298 (6%)

Rigby Andrews (UKIP) - 192 (4%)

ALTON TOWN:

Andrew Joy (Con) 2,463 (48%) - Elected

John Pritchard (Lib Dem) 1997 (39%)

Kellie Griffin (Lab) 321 (6%)

Eleanor Hill (Green) 298 (6%)

LIPHOOK, HEADLEY & GRAYSHOTT:

Floss Mitchell (Con) 3021 (63%) - Elected

Trevor Maroney (Lib Dem) 1353 (28%)

John Tough (Lab) 347 (7%)

Eddie Trotter (JACP) 89 (2%)

PETERSFIELD BUTSER:

Rob Mocatta (Con) 2760 (53%) - Elected

David Podger (Lib Dem) 1425 (27%)

Helen Bolitho (Lab) 431 (8%)

Roger Wallsgrove (Green) 313 (6%)

Jim Makin (UKIP) 268 (5%)

PETERSFIELD HANGERS:

Russell Oppenheimer 3243 (59%) - Elected

Louise Bevan (Lib Dem) 1221 (22%)

Howard Linsley (Lab) 462 (8%)

Peter Bisset (Green) 319 (6%)

Malcolm Bint (UKIP) 168 (3%)

Steve Whiting (JACP) 44 (1%)

WHITEHILL, BORDON & LINDFORD:

Adam Carew (Con) 1822 (57%) - Elected

Sally Pond (Lib Dem) 652 (20%)

Neville Taylor (Independent) 444 (14%)

Digby Payne (Lab) 292 (9%)