FORMER Lib Dem county councillor Derek Kennedy has been returned to County Hall as an independent after a resounding victory in Thursday’s Hexham West by-election.

Despite a massive turnout by the Conservatives, which included two MPs and dozens of other activists trying to drum up support, Coun. Kennedy romped to victory in the Tory held seat.

He will now be one of the elite band of independents who hold the balance of power at County Hall, where the minority Labour administration relies on independent support to run the council.

Coun. Kennedy polled 501 votes, to finish well ahead of Tory Tom Gillanders (454), seeking to retain the seat for the Conservatives following the unseating of Coun. Kennedy by Colin Cessford in the anti-Lib Dem backlash in the election of 2013.

Colin Cessford resigned for personal reasons last year, precipitating the election.

Coun. Kennedy said: “I will continue to put my all into making Hexham a better place to live. All my campaigns are local and I like to work with local people to get things done.

“I care passionately about Hexham. I am so thankful that local people believe in me; there is a deep understanding and trust between us lasting over 12 years now.

“The national parties are heavily funded and had support from MPs, lots of party activists who live elsewhere and even a national political leader to bolster their campaigns.

“Mine was with the support of some close friends and family based in the town, only interested in Hexham. It looks like local issues won the day; I am so thankful to the people of Hexham.”

He took quiet satisfaction that he had regained the seat he held for eight years, despite the Tories wheeling out the big guns.

Among those knocking on doors and otherwise lending support were Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman and his Conservative colleague from Berwick, Anne Marie-Trevellyan, along with several senior county councillors, including group leader Coun. Peter Jackson.

Mr Oppermen tweeted that, at one point, the Conservatives had 27 activists on election duty in the seat.

Labour candidate Nuala Rose was third with 200 votes, but the Labour group was gleeful at the loss of a Tory seat on the council.

A spokesman said: “We congratulate the winning candidate, yet another ‘independent Liberal Democrat’ and look forward to building a constructive working relationship that will allow Hexham to continue to punch above its weight in County Hall.

“The truth is this is a devastating result for Northumberland Tories, who’ve managed to lose a safe Tory seat in the west while their party is an average of 10 per cent ahead in the polls.

“What we heard on the doors was the residents of Hexham were sick of three years of constant negativity from Northumberland Tories and that they wanted a new approach.

“The result certainly raises questions over the judgement of senior Northumberland Conservatives involved in the campaign and this is yet another Tory seat lost in the west of the county to independent candidates.”

Fourth in the election was Anne Pickering, who leapt to prominence with her high profile campaign to retain Hexham bus station in its present location, launching a petition which gleaned some 10,000 signatures.

She polled 125 votes, while in fifth place was Green Party activist Lee Williscroft-Ferris – whose campaign included a visit by the Greens national party leader Natalie Bennett –with 89 votes.

The Conservatives enjoyed better fortunes in the by-election for a seat on Hexham Town Council, where Michael Allan was elected with 637 votes, followed by Lee Williscroft-Ferris for the Greens on 370, and Lib Dem Peter Arnold with 324.