A NEW councillor will represent the division of Bishop's Waltham at Hampshire County Council after winning more than 50 per cent of the votes at a by-election.

Liberal Democrat Jonathan Williams won with 52.2 per cent of the vote, replacing Conservative Rob Humby, who has retired.

This more than doubled the vote share for the Lib Dems since the previous election, while the Conservatives dropped to 33.8 per cent of the vote.

The Tory candidate in the by-election was Neil Bolton, who represents the Upper Meon Valley ward on Winchester City Council.

READ MORE: Hampshire County Council: Protesters call to save tip from closure

Councillor Jonathan Williams (Image: HCC) Also running were Alex Ellis for the Green Party, who scooped 11 per cent of the vote, and Labour's Steve Haines with three per cent.

A total of 4,233 people voted out of the district's 14,696-strong electorate. 

This comes before the Hampshire County Council elections in May 2025, where Mr Williams intends to secure a re-election win.

It is rumoured that Williams’ leadership during the protests to save the waste tip in Bishop’s Waltham and across Hampshire was a key driver of turn-out and support in yesterday’s election.

At Friday's count, Williams thanked everyone who turned out to vote in the by-election on October 31, with a special thanks to the former Councillor for Bishop’s Waltham and former leader of Hampshire County Council Rob Humby for his many years of service.

Jonathan Williams: “From speaking with residents on the doorstep over the past eight weeks, it is clear that there is much to do and with only six months until the county council elections, I will work hard in that time to help not just those that voted for me, but every single person I now have the honour of representing on the council.”

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Liberal Democrat group leader Keith House said: “After so many years of total failure, both nationally and locally, people in Hampshire want change. I'm delighted to welcome such a hard-working local champion to the Lib Dem Hampshire County group. Today's result makes it clear that at next May's county council elections, the party that can deliver that change for Hampshire is the Liberal Democrats.”

Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, said: “Look at what Jonathan was able to achieve with his leadership to save the tips. If he can get that done even before joining the county council, imagine what he can do fighting for the people of Bishop’s Waltham inside the chambers.”