CONSERVATIVE council leader Keith Bland says he did not expect Thursday’s result to be as bad as it was.

While the Conservatives held one seat in Culcheth, they failed to take target wards of Appleton, Stockton Heath and Penketh – although they came tantilisingly close in each.

But the loss of six Lib Dem seats, which Clr Bland described as ‘disastrous’ means the party no longer shares the running of the Town Hall.

He said: “I understand why people voted in the way they did and there is nothing you can do about it.”

The result means the end of five years of Lib Dem-Tory rule at the council and Clr Bland, former deputy leader of the council, said he looks back on his term with pride.

He added: “We have kept council tax as low as possible and we have saved £30 million.

“I have always been a Conservative and I believe in value for money.

“I was proud of how we got on with the unions and how we got on with the workforce at the council.

“I know Orford Park was the vision of other people but we got the money for it and are getting it built and that is something to really be pleased with.”

But despite the setback at the polls, Clr Bland has already been re-elected leader of the Tory group within the Town Hall with Clr Les Hoyle his deputy.

He added: “You win some elections and you lose some but I still enjoy it. We will be a responsible opposition as we have always been.”