OWLs are Flying Again

Council Independents, Our West Lancashire are celebrating after achieving a clean slate and winning all three council seats in yesterday’s Rural South ward election.  The election had been delayed from May following the unexpected death of OWL Councillor, Ian Davis.

The Our West Lancashire trio of Ian Rigby, Linda Webster and Tom Marsh-Pritchard secured 49% of the vote for a comfortable victory, beating a recent former Labour Council Leader in the process.

Ian Rigby was re-elected to the council having represented Bickerstaffe for the past 4 years.  Ian said, “This election result demonstrates the continued concerns that residents have about the real threat of development on our rural Borough, and sends a clear message of the importance of protecting our agricultural heritage and natural environment.  As a new Ward Councillor for Rural South this is so important to me and we now have a better opportunity to continue to influence the policies within the new Local Plan, expected in 2025.”

Linda Webster who was already a parish councillor said, “I would like to thank everyone who put their trust in me and my fellow OWLs by voting for us in the new Rural South ward. It is an immense privilege to be elected to serve the area I love and I will do my very best to work on behalf of residents to keep all that is best about where we live and to change the things that could be better. Tom, Ian and I will do as we promised and put residents first and foremost at all times. Thank you again for allowing me to represent you on WLBC.”

Tom Marsh-Pritchard added, “I’d just like to say how thankful to the people who voted and how exited I am to serve the people of rural south and work alongside two fellow OWLs in putting residents first.”

OWL Chairman, Adrian Owens said, “OWLs are flying again. To win in this way shows that when people focus on local matters, the Labour-run council doesn’t impress them.”