By Lewis Berrill @LewisBerrill Chief reporter - east London and west Essex
Cllr Chris Whitbead, leader of Epping Forest Distric Council. Photo: Lewis Berrill Epping Forest’s council leader says the Conservatives ‘good local record’ and focus on comparatively low council tax rates convinced voters to back the party. On May 6 Epping Forest’s district elections saw the Tories defend 11 seats comfortably and pick up three vacant seats. Not much changed on the day, with the Loughton Residents Association reaffirming their dominance in Loughton town, defending all the seven of the ward seats up for election while council stalwarts Jon Whitehouse (Lb Dem) and Simon Heap (Green) also defended their seats.
Tomorrow, (May 6), residents will take to the ballot boxes to decide four elections. Residents will decide on the seven Epping Forest representatives in Essex County Council seats while also voting in three elections postponed from May of last year: Epping Forest District Council; parish and town councils; and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. In what has been dubbed “super Thursday”, taking place against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, local elections will be held across England. With 48 million people registered to vote, it is set to be a big day. There are nine parties fighting for your votes for 21 of the 58 Epping Forest District Council seats.