Newhaven residents reject Tories

11.56.10am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jun 2008

Newly elected councillor Maurice Langham has been campaigning in Newhaven to reopen the West Beach.

The Conservatives suffered another defeat last night as Lib Dem Maurice Langham swept to victory in a town council by-election in Newhaven.

Maurice won 55% of the vote compared to the Conservative's share of 45%. Labour and the Greens are unable to win in the area and did not stand candidates.

The defeat sends a clear message to Conservatives on East Sussex County Council that the £145 million price tag of their incinerator planned for Newhaven has put voters off the party locally.

Maurice said: "I spoke to many local residents during the campaign, and they are very angry about the way the Conservatives on the County Council have ignored them on the incinerator. Not only are they dumping it on Newhaven, but the cost for local taxpayers has doubled to £145 million."

Maurice has been campaigning with other Lib Dem councillors to get the West Beach reopened. He also played a role in the reopening of Newhaven Downs hospital.

The result will cause alarm for local Conservatives who had expected to do well in next year's County Council elections. This is the first election since local MP Norman Baker exposed the doubling in cost of the incinerator, and local voters have demonstrated their anger with the Tories.