THE Conservatives won two of the three by-elections at last week’s local elections with the third taken back by the Independent councillor who was expelled from the seat last year for not attending meetings during the coronavirus lockdown.

Conservative, David Staveley, who already sits on Craven District Council, where he is chairman of the Select Committee, won the Ribblesdale division seat of North Yorkshire County Council, the seat previously occupied by his ‘friend and mentor’, the late Cllr Richard Welch.

His fellow Conservative, Robert Ogden, was voted onto Cllr Welch’s old Penyghent seat of Craven District Council, while David Pighills, Independent, reclaimed his old Barden Fell seat on the district council.

Cllr Staveley, who received 1,537 votes compared to his nearest rival, Labour’s Brian McDaid’s, 475, said it was a great honour to be elected and to have received such a strong mandate from his fellow residents. Two other candidates for the seat, Liberal Democrat, Luke Allan, received 430 votes, and the Green’s David Noland, received 395 votes.

Cllr Staveley also paid tribute to his predecessor Cllr Richard Welch, who died suddenly last year. “He will be fondly remembered for his dedication to representing residents and protecting the Dales way of life and values. I will look to his example and aspire to meet the challenges ahead, “ said Cllr Staveley.

“Going forward, I will look to promote the interests of Ribblesdale division residents as we move into the as yet unknown unitary future for local government and emerge from the Covid pandemic, bringing the same dedication to the cause of residents I have given and will continue to as district councillor for Settle and Ribblebanks.”

Robert Ogden, who lives in Austwick, is part of a farming family, and who is training to be a history teacher, also paid tribute to his predecessor , Cllr Welch, who he said had been a ‘strong voice for the area’ and a ‘champion for working people’. Cllr Ogden took 392 votes; Luke Allan, Liberal Democrat took 295, and Brian McDaid, Labour, took 103.

Cllr Ogden said: “I aim to build on the legacy of passionate, local representation that Richard Welch brought to our area.

“During this well-fought campaign, many issues have been raised by residents across the ward that I can now begin to address. I look forward to getting stuck in, and delivering the change that will improve our lives in the upper reaches of Ribblesdale.”

There was a by-election in the Barden Fell ward of the district council after Cllr David Pighills was expelled from the council in September, last year, under national rules, for not attending a meeting for six months.

Cllr Pighills argued he had not received the technical support to help him attend remote meetings and there was an angry backlash from his supporters; the following month he was told by the council he could continue to act for the residents of the ward, although he would no longer be a member of the council.

In the by-election, Cllr Pighills took 500 votes, more than three times as many as his one only rival, former district councillor, Conservative John Dawson, who received 142 votes.

He said: “ It appears it was felt by the electorate at Barden Fell that an injustice needed to be corrected. I am humbled by the tremendous overarching support given to myself as the independent candidate from all the 12 dales parishes which make up the Barden Fell ward.

“In all probability, this coming municipal; year will see the conclusion of Craven Council some 46 years after its inception in 1974. It is my sincerest hope that all members will constructively work together placing politics and personalties to one side and bring about a positive transition to a new unitary council to provide sound, well respected public services for families and businesses of Craven for decades to come.”