I would like to thank all those residents of Holywell ward and West Watford who voted for me in the local elections and gave me the largest majorities in the borough and county council in Watford.

It is an honour to represent West Watford residents and I will do all I can to continue to serve all residents to the best of my ability.

I would like to also congratulate my newly-elected colleague, borough councillor for Vicarage ward, Sara-Jane Trebar who is already a great community champion for West Watford having fought so hard for the Farm Terrace allotments campaign.

It is fitting she replaces the much respected Mo Mills, who retired from the council on election day.

As the leader of the borough Labour group I am very pleased to welcome newly elected councillor for Callowland ward, Dennis Watling, who had a remarkable swing from a Lib Dem majority of 300 last time to a majority of ten this time. Dennis replaces the much respected councillor Sohail Bashir, who stood down on election day.

I am also pleased that Cllr Richard Smith was re-elected again in Leggatts ward after holding off the Liberal Democrats after another tough campaign.

Finally, I congratulate Cllr Asif Khan, who had a fantastic result being re-elected as the county councillor for North Watford after a hard-fought campaign against the Liberal Democrats by increasing his majority to over 400.

His result was not only a great result for the Labour Party as Asif is the chair of Watford Labour Party, but also no doubt a large local personal vote for him as a tribute to the hours of work he spent during the pandemic working closely with community leaders and public health officials and his tireless community work.

We are now renewed as the opposition Labour team at Watford Town Hall to challenge the Liberal Democrat Mayor and his administration.

Cllr Nigel Bell

Watford Borough Council