DELIGHTED Doreen Dickinson believes the Conservatives’ success at the local elections sent a message to the ruling Labour group.
The people of Tameside are not happy.
Successes in Ashton Hurst and Hyde Godley – as well as holding Stalybridge South and Hyde Werneth with increased majorities for their candidates, Liam Billington and Phil Chadwick, from the last time they stood – now means seven sit on the council.
There were also near misses in Stalybridge North and Dukinfield/Stalybridge as the blue side aims for double figures at next year’s all-out poll.
And Cllr Dickinson, leader of the Conservative group, feels the tide is turning against Labour, with the Clean Air Zone proposal particularly counting against them.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted. To win two seats is just wonderful.
“Having a bigger group means it’s far better to oppose – and our representatives are fairly spread out too, not just in one area.
“Even some the Conservative candidates who lost cut majorities. They all worked so hard and they deserve the recognition of getting very close.
“The biggest issue we found when we knocked on doors was the CAZ charge. It really was and I was amazed.
“There was so much people could say but that was by far the biggest, more so than national politics.
“The target for the all-out election is to get to double figures. We’ve started planning for that already.”