Conservatives regain seat on council after near two-year absence

The Conservatives have regained a seat on Stockport council after being wiped out in the May 2023 local elections.

Coun Peter Crossen won the race in Bramhall South and Woodford after getting 1,909 votes, finishing ahead of Lib Dem candidate Sandeep Kashyap who picked up 1,733 ballots.

The seat was previously held by the Lib Dems and came up for grabs after former councillor Ian Powney stepped down on health grounds.

READ MORE: Popular market food stall to open first restaurant in Stockport's historic Underbanks

Losing Bramhall South and Woodford is a blow for the party and dents Lib Dem control at Stockport council, which it runs under a minority administration. The result leaves the Lib Dems with 30 members in the 63-seat council chamber, with Labour the largest opposition party with 23 seats.

Coun Crossen said his priorities include pushing the council to improve local infrastructure and clean blocked grids and gullies, which he says are causes of flooding in the area.

"I’m delighted and honoured to have been elected Councillor for Bramhall South and Woodford," he said.

"Voters have sent a message to the council that they want a positive, hardworking councillor who is there for them all year round, not just at election time.

"The hard work begins now by pressing the council for the infrastructure required in Woodford and continuing my campaigns on a grid and gully cleaning program, and road safety issues across Bramhall and hulme>Cheadle Hulme - and that's just the start."

The newly-elected councillor previously stood for the seat in the May 2024 local elections but lost out by just 81 votes.