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Too close to call as district goes to the ballot box
AS voting drew to a close last
night, it was too close to call
across Wear Valley.
One of the youngest candidates
in the county, 19-year-old
Becky Brunskill, a Tory from
Willington, predicted a strong
protest vote.
She said: "People are looking
for an alternative to Labour and
are pleased to have a choice."
In rural Weardale, it was almost
impossible to predict a result,
with five out of the ten candidates
standing as independents
in an area where no major party
can claim a foothold.
Another concern for voters
was a recent asbestos scandal at
Wear Valley District Council,
where bosses failed to act on
warnings about dangerous materials
in the boiler room of
Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex,
Bishop Auckland.
Phil Graham, a candidate in
Coundon and Labour agent for
the Bishop Auckland wards, said
the issue had been on voters'
minds.
He said: "It is something that
people have picked up on. There
are people like me who have
nothing to do with the problem,
but they see it as something
which is associated with Labour.
"They have issues with Gordon
Brown and Alistair Darling, and
they have come up as well.
"A lot of people do not understand
that we are having a
change of authority and that
may keep them at home.
"With the new authority, we
have nothing to offer people. We
can talk about opportunities, but
we haven't a past record to back
us up.
"I have been a councillor for 21
years and this is the first time I
have been to a count and not felt
particularly confident about the
result.
"After a fortnight talking to
people on the street, I honestly do
not know which way it will go."
8:16am Friday 2nd May 2008
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