Mark Goodge has been elected as the new county councillor for Evesham North West.

The Conservative, who is also a town and district councillor, won yesterday’s (May 2) by-election for a seat on Worcestershire County Council.

The vacancy had come about following the sudden death of Peter Griffiths in December, who was described as a “world class ambassador” for Evesham.

Mr Goodge, a former mayor of Evesham, topped the poll with 655 votes ahead of Labour’s David Tasker on 453.

“I’m obviously really pleased to win but the hard work starts now,” said Mr Goodge. “The campaign was just the beginning.

“I’m taking over from Peter Griffiths, who everybody loved so obviously those are big shoes to fill.

“What I want to do is to carry on the good work that has been started - I’m not going to come in and make big waves and change things up.

“We’re a year away from all-out elections so we need to keep this momentum going.”

Oliver Walker claimed third place for the Liberal Democrats with 245 votes, narrow ahead of independent John Campbell-Muir on 237.

The Green Party’s Stephen Squires picked up 205 votes and independent Peter Scurfield 191.

The turnout for the by-election was 21.8 percent.

Mr Goodge represents the Bengeworth ward on both Evesham Town Council and Wychavon District Council.

He sits on the town council’s finance, personnel and town plan committees, and is chairman of Wychavon’s licensing committee.

FULL RESULTS: 

GOODGE, Mark Sidney (Conservative) 655 (ELECTED)

TASKER, David Martin (Labour)  453

WALKER, Oliver (Liberal Democrats) 245

CAMPBELL-MUIR, John Raymond (Independent)  237

SQUIRES, Stephen (Green Party) 205

SCURFIELD, Peter (Independent) 191