Elsenham and Henham residents elect R4U’s Petrina Lees and Garry LeCount by a landslide to Uttlesford District Council

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R4U has announced that the R4U candidates Petrina Lees and Garry LeCount, have been elected by a landslide to Uttlesford District Council for the by-election in the Elsenham and Henham ward.

John Lodge (R4U) John Lodge (R4U)

Cllr John Lodge, chair of Residents for Uttlesford said “We are delighted that the people of Elsenham and Henham now have a strong voice at UDC. This was a vote for local residents standing up for their fellow residents. Petrina Lees and Garry LeCount already have a solid track record of supporting their villages. We welcome them to the R4U team at the District Council. What is very exciting is this is the first time we have stood candidates in this ward and R4U secured 60% of the vote, which is 38% more than any national party. It was a landslide. This shows that yet another community wants to be represented by residents not politicians and it sends a clear signal for the Essex County Council elections in May.”

Petrina Lees (R4U) Petrina Lees (R4U)

New district councillor Petrina Lees said “The support in the villages has been overwhelming and it is absolutely brilliant that residents have put their confidence back into local hands. People have trusted us with their vote and R4U with their community voice; we feel honoured to represent you. We will work incredibly hard for every member of our community. We can’t wait to get started!”

Garry LeCount (R4U) Garry LeCount (R4U)

Garry LeCount, also elected said “I’d like to add my thanks and I can assure residents that we will get straight to work in our new council role. After speaking to people on the doorstep, it is clear is that the first task will be to find out exactly why Hellsenham is still on the UDC leadership’s agenda. It has been rejected by the government and must be dismissed, and we need the district council to be held to account.”

Residents for Uttlesford have county, district, town and parish councillors from Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden. They are the second party at Uttlesford District Council.

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. Formed in 2014 by a number of residents’ groups, the party believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties. R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for their area.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In the May 2019 R4U took majority control of UDC by gaining two-thirds of the seats. Since then it has set about re-engineering the now award-winning council operates, rebuilding the finances and fixing how planning is done. In 2021 the party won half the Essex County Council seats in Uttlesford district.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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