CONGRATULATIONS to the Liberal Democrats for their  unprecedented success at the city council elections last week. They contested 14 seats and won 11. This was as much a reflection of the unpopularity of the Conservatives in Westminster as it was an endorsement of the Lib Dems locally. The Tories in Winchester tried to capitalise on the issue of evening parking charges in the city centre or the state of River Park Leisure Centre but with no success.

The Lib Dem party leader Sir Ed Davey was so pleased with Winchester result that on Friday afternoon he nipped down for a photocall in the High Street with supporters dressed as dinosaurs (representing the Tories heading for extinction, apparently).

The Lib Dems now hold 33 of the 45 seats on the council. The Tories are down to a historic low of just eight, with the Greens on three and one independent (former Conservative Sue Cook).

READ MORE HERE: Live blog on election night in Winchester

Is the Hampshire Chronicle alone in having concerns about the level of dominance? Connoisseurs of irony will enjoy the fact that the Lib Dems are benefitting from the first past the post system, something they and their leader Martin Tod have long campaigned against nationally. They have three quarters of the seats but they certainly don't have three-quarters of the votes.

Healthy democracy needs a plurality of voices. Party discipline means that most Lib Dem councillors will toe the line. The Cabinet structure gives great power to a small number of councillors. The days are long gone when councillors could have a voice on standalone committees such as housing.

The Conservative group still has experienced councillors in Stephen Godfrey, Caroline Horrill and Jan Warwick but with only eight councillors will they be able to properly scrutinise what is going on? The Greens' success ensures their vital stance will be heard. As the Chronicle has expressed regret before that the studentification of Winnall and Stanmore has meant there have been no Labour members for many years.

The Lib Dems may argue that for decades Winchester City Council was a one-party state dominated by the Conservatives and 'independents'. The Lib Dems broke that stranglehold in the 1980s and 1990s, but do we want to return to that time, whether the ruling rosettes are blue, or orange?