Balance of power in Hyndburn on a knife edge

Labour saw its number of seats increase from 12 to 14 while the Tories’ majority dropped from 18 to 17.

The number of independents also fell from five to four in an election which saw a high turnout across the borough of 72 per cent.

The potential for a coalition of Labour and independents to grab control was dismissed by Conservative leader Peter Britcliffe who said he had the support of independent, Coun Mal-colm Pritchard.

Following the election, Coun Pritchard said he was committed to cont-inuing as an independ-ent, adding that he was hoping to serve the borough as mayor.

In Rishton Labour’s Ken Moss was the only councillor to take a seat from the Conservatives.

Labour’s one other victory took a seat from the independents, as Tim O’Kane was elected to Clayton-le-Moors over standing councillor Nick Collingridge.

Conservative councillor Nick Whittaker also gained a seat from indepedent Paul Gott in Huncoat but in Overton, Tory Roy Atkinson lost to independent councillor Ian Robinson.

Well-known Labour figures Collette McCormack, Clare Pritchard, Pam Barton and Bernard Dawson managed to retain their seats in Immanuel, Milnshaw, Peel and Spring Hill while Great Harwood County Councillor Ciaran Wells joined the borough council and retained Labour’s seat in Netherton.

Tory Doug Hayes kept St Oswalds and Conservative council leader Peter Britcliife retained his seat in St Andrew’s with a majority of 316.

Coun Britcliffe said: “We are still in control of Hyndburn. With the support of Coun Malcolm Pritchard we will continue to serve Hyndburn and provide residents with the qua-lity services they deserve.”

Coun Pritchard said: “As an independent I will work for the best of the borough.”

Labour leader Graham Jones will be leaving the role after being elected as the borough’s MP.

He said: “In the end the balance of power rested with Coun Prit-chard and whether he wanted to effect real change or to see things continue with the old guard.”