We'll keep working for you

2.45.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th May 2007

Liberal Democrats in Weston-super-Mare want to say 'thank you' to everyone who supported the party candidates in the local elections on May 3rd.

Despite suffering significant losses to the Conservatives, many thousands of people voted for the Liberal Democrats in the Weston constituency and several new town and district councillors were elected.

Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for the Weston-super-Mare constituency, who lost his own Weston-super-Mare West Ward seat by just six votes, commented: "There is no doubt that this election has been very difficult for the Liberal Democrats in Weston-super-Mare and across North Somerset. We are very grateful to all those local residents who supported our team of candidates this time.

"I congratulate the Conservatives on their success. It is frustrating, however, that many residents seem to have forgotten that the Conservatives were running North Somerset from 1999 until October 2005. The Liberal Democrats took responsibility for leading the council because the Conservatives walked away. The Lib Dems led for just 19 months but I know that we leave the council in far better shape than we inherited.

"The Conservatives now have a clear majority and are in charge of both North Somerset Council and Weston Town Council. No longer can they attack and snipe from the sidelines. They must make clear where they stand on key issues like the future of the Tropicana, improvements to junction 21 and tough action on drugs and crime.

"For our part, our local team will continue to fight hard to stand up for local people, and we will ensure both within and outside the council, that the Conservatives are held firmly to account for every decision they make."