Lib Dem Laurence Brass takes Bushey North county council seat

Liberal Democrat Laurence Brass has been selected by residents as the new Hertfordshire county councillor for north Bushey following the 2021 local elections.

Mr Brass' election is a notable because the seat had been held by Conservative representative Jane West, who was vying to extend her term in the area.

Mr Brass has lived in Bushey since 1972, and served as a Hertsmere borough councillor in the 70s before he was forced to give up his political career when he became a judge.

But after retiring two years ago, he decided to "forfeit" his retirement in order to try and win a seat on the county council.

He focused his campaign in Bushey on opposing the possible redevelopments of Bushey Hall Golf Club and Bushey Country Club.

A football stadium for Watford Football Club, and a huge secondary school and homes have been mooted for the respective greenbelt sites, although absolutely nothing is set in stone.

This stadium masterplan has been put forward by the owners of Bushey Hall Golf Club, who are seeking for their site to be taken out of the greenbelt as part of Hertsmere Borough Council's local plan

At the Radlett Centre on Saturday afternoon, Mr Brass was announced as the new county councillor for Bushey North after polling 2,160 votes – 770 more than his Conservative rival, who herself had outlined her opposition to the development in Bushey.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Brass, who stood for the Lib Dems against Margaret Thatcher at the Finchley General Election in 1974, said: "It’s one of the greatest honours of my life to represent the residents of north Bushey - and I will do my utmost to repay the faith voters have placed in me.

"Top of the agenda is protecting our greenbelt from reckless developments - and the election results send out a resounding message to Tory council leaders that Bushey residents will never accept either the stadium or the Country Club school. But there’s also much to do in other areas, including highway repairs, and supporting our schools and social care."

The election count for votes cast in Hertsmere was held at the Radlett Centre on Saturday

The Lib Dems in Bushey also celebrated retaining their borough council seat in Bushey North, following the resignation of their former group leader Andrew Melville, who has moved away from the area.

Alan Matthews was chosen to try and fill Mr Melville’s spot and Mr Matthews comfortably secured victory at the polls, winning 1,136 votes.

New Hertsmere borough councillor for Bushey North, Alan Matthews

He said: "It’s a huge privilege to serve this wonderful community. And as I pledged, my priorities will be to fight for fairer access housing, and more dynamic action on climate change - improving recycling and expanding rooftop solar power."