Lib Dems win control of Shropshire Council
BBCThe Liberal Democrats have taken control of Shropshire Council.
While Reform UK made a number of impressive gains across the county, the Lib Dems claimed a clear majority as the Conservative vote all but disappeared.
The Tories had run the council ever since it became a unitary authority in 2009 and had gone into the election with a one-seat majority.
However, the party lost 30 of its seats including those held by several high-profile figures, among them deputy leader Ian Nellins and finance chief Gwilym Butler.
The Lib Dems' national leader Ed Davey was in Shrewsbury on Friday morning handing out ice creams as the party were optimistic about their chances.
It was well-founded as they claimed 42 of the 74 seats.
The party's co-leader on the council, Roger Evans, said: "We are delighted at the result.
"We have withstood the advance of Reform because we're there for the community and that's what we want Shropshire Council to be in the future."
Reform, which had not previously been represented on the council, picked up 16 seats to become the official opposition.
They included a narrow 44-vote win over the Lib Dems in Clee.
The Tories in contrast won just seven seats, celebrating loudly in at least one of those when the result came through.
In both Bridgnorth South & Alveley and The Strettons, the Lib Dems won by a single vote after several recounts.
The party's priorities will become clearer in the coming days but the win could spell the end for the planned North West Relief Road, which would complete the ring road around Shrewsbury.
Heather Kidd, co-leader of the Lib Dems on Shropshire Council, said the party needed "surety" over the issue given the huge amount of spending involved - some £215m.
The new cabinet, when it is appointed, will face a tough challenge to balance the overall budget, particularly in the face of huge demand for social care.
In recent years, Shropshire Council has had to make some of the biggest savings of any local authority in England, as percentage of its budget.
Across the country, Reform has won more than 600 council seats and seized control of six authorities, including nearby Staffordshire County Council.
Brian Evans, the chairman of the north Shropshire branch of Reform, who won in St Martin's, said the party was "very pleased" with its results in Shropshire.
"There are many issues like in a lot of Shropshire. We will be looking at all of them, especially in the farming community, but also in the urban areas," he said.
"We've got a lot to do, but will be getting to work early next week and look forward to seeing the people of St Martins."
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