The Conservative Party has celebrated retaining control of St Albans council and winning a seat in Park Street.

Herts Advertiser: Park Street team picture after the count finished; Stella Nash is on front row right, Councillor Jock Wright is back row two from right, Mike Horne, Park Street Branch Chair, is one from right and Councillor Dave Winstone (St Stephens), is one from left.Park Street team picture after the count finished; Stella Nash is on front row right, Councillor Jock Wright is back row two from right, Mike Horne, Park Street Branch Chair, is one from right and Councillor Dave Winstone (St Stephens), is one from left. (Image: Archant)

Their candidate, Stella Nash, overturned a Liberal Democrat majority of 327 to win the seat from the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 90.

She said: “Park Street residents chose to send a clear message to the Liberal Democrats their well-publicised support for rail freight, not housing, was misplaced and unwelcome.

“I have listened to the views of residents and agree with their concerns. I don’t take their trust in me lightly and while the moment of victory is sweet, as their new councillor, I will pick up where I left off in the campaign, without a moment to spare.”

However, the local Liberal Democrat leader Chris White said his party supports keeping the Radlett airfield, where rail freight was proposed for, as Green Belt land, and claims the party supported anything else were “quite dishonest”.

Tory Sue Featherstone was increased her majority in St Stephen’s ward to 894, and said: “I was hopeful of being re-elected after many warm words on the doorstep in the lead-up to the vote.

“I’m delighted by this incredible vote of confidence the residents have given me and I’m looking forward to continuing over the next four years representing St Stephens’ residents to improve our small corner of the district and city.”

Their seats in St Peter’s and Marshalswick South wards were lost to the Liberal Democrats, which the Conservatives blamed on the disparity between the government’s commitment to Brexit and the city voting to remain in the European Union.

St Peter’s councillor Alec Campbell said: “I hope, going forward, residents in St Peter’s and Marshalswick South will judge us on our strong track record as local Conservatives.

“We continue to be committed to our community delivering far better value for money and services and we hope they will return Conservative councillors next year to keep improving our fair city.”