SHAW/NINE ELMS; CON HOLD: Nick Martin once again held Shaw and Nine Elms for the Conservatives, keeping it an all Tory seat.

His 54.79 percent share of the vote more than reverses the slight dip in Conservative fortunes which was observed last year, when they polled 49 percent.

A year earlier, they had secured 53 percent.

Coun Martin said the strong Tory showing in the council elections as a whole was a measure of its success in tackling the problems of Swindon and listening to what its people were saying on their doorsteps.

Before the Conservatives secured dominance of the council, he was an outspoken critic of the previous Labour administrations of Kevin Small and Sue Bates, particularly over the authority's poor showing in education and social services. He is a staunch opponent of the proposed sports stadium in Shaw.