Arun '˜must start listening' to residents, says double Bognor by-election victor

Matt Stanley, wearing a Lib Dem rosette, won the Bognor Regis Town Council and Arun District Council Marine ward by-elections

The Liberal Democrats candidate who celebrated a double by-election win on Thursday hopes Arun District Council will see his party's success as a message from the community.

Matt Stanley took Marine ward from the Conservatives at both district level and on Bognor Regis Town Council, with the Tories relegated to third in the district poll.

The Lib Dem double built on the party’s by-election success in November, when it gained the Aldwick West seat from Arun’s ruling party.

But it could not secure a hat-trick of election victories on Thursday, as Labour took the previously Independent Hatherleigh town council seat by 17 votes.

Mr Stanley said: “Generally speaking people feel quite disengaged with Arun District Council. They don’t feel like they are really listening to the concerns that they are raising.

“What I hope Arun has heard loud and clear is that they have to start engaging with the community, start consulting and respecting their opinions and answering some of the questions being asked of them.”

Just over a fifth of the electorate turned out to vote in the district by-election, with 309 votes enough to secure Mr Stanley’s win.