LABOUR and the Liberal Democrats have strengthened their grip on Colchester Council after they each saw a new councillor elected in the Highwoods ward.

A by-election had been triggered after long-standing councillors Gerard and Beverley Oxford stood down in October over a row about disability access in Colchester Town Hall.

The by-election saw six candidates – two each from the Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats – contest the two council seats on the ward.

The results, which were announced on Friday morning, saw Labour’s Catherine Bickersteth and the Liberal Democrats’ Alison Jay elected after the electorate went to the ballot box on Thursday.

The overall turnout was recorded as 21.44 per cent.

The result does not change the current set-up at Colchester Council, which is currently run by a Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green coalition.

In total, the coalition now has a total of 31 councillors, although the Conservatives remain the largest single party with a total of 19 representatives in the council.

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Individually, the Liberal Democrats remain the second largest party with 15 councillors, with Labour the third largest at 14.

The Green party has two councillors, and Mark Goacher – himself a former Green party councillor – currently sits as an Independent.

Speaking following her election, Liberal Democrat Alison Jay said she had to learn very quickly during the campaign.

She said: “The team has worked really hard to put me forward and support me as a candidate – I’m new to standing for the city council so it’s been a huge learning curve.

“But it’s been great to get out onto the doorsteps and talk to people [and] it was nice to see so many residents engaged and hear what was important to them.

“I just hope I can do my best for them going forward, both for those who voted for me and those who didn’t.

“It’s just about someone listening to what concerns them and showing a commitment that I'm there to help them when and if I can.”

Highwoods now has a full complement of three councillors following the election, with Jocelyn Law and Catherin Bickersteth representing Labour, and Alison Jay representing the Liberal Democrats.