Residents, including passionate voters who helped the Independent candidates in Thursday’s elections, will spend nail-biting hours waiting to hear how successful their candidates have been towards breaking down the Tory stronghold on councils and so-called non-political town councils.

“Whatever the outcome of the counting of the votes this weekend, I am happy that we, the Independents, gave a vibrant and very individual choice to vote for residents,” said Paul Macdonald, a Warminster Independent candidate.

“Political parties put forward candidates for the county council and have let us all down badly by not matching us in effort with all their vast resources: so, it was just a game to them.

“None of the parties put up candidates for the town council, showing how much they care about us. The Tories had their campaign run by someone in Salisbury.

‘My fingers are crossed that party politics did not have a say.”

The local elections this year were complicated, with the three different elections on the same day and the ballot boxes full of different ballot papers.

“I enjoyed putting my name forward again for the local council elections to look after the interests of we ordinary residents, but why does it have to be confused with another political election?” said John Syme. “I am talking to the others about how we take forward the positive response that I have received after Stacie, Paul, Malcolm and I put our names forward.
“Win or lose I promise this will not end here!” added John.

Votes cast for Warminster were being put in three different piles and counting staff are ensuring all the papers stacked up match the number given out at polling stations.
On Saturday, votes will be counted into piles.

“I stood as an angry resident wanting to give the town council a big kick up the backside,” explained Stacie Allensby.

“How many times have I read on ‘spotted in Warminster town’ complaints about the town, and county councillors not doing anything?

“I am pleased that, after hesitation, I have the audacity to say enough is enough, and be outspoken for the town.”

Sunday will not be a day of rest as attention is turned to the turnout of voters.

“What the town council needs is bottom-up democracy: local people having real knowledge of what is going on and having a say,” said Malcolm (Mal) Mellersh at a meeting outside the double-decker cafe at Botany Farm on Bradley Road.