The Liberal Democrats have solidified their power base in Taunton after a landslide victory in the town council elections.

Under the local government reforms of the mid-1970s, Taunton was left as an unparished area – meaning it had no town or parish council to most closely represent its residents.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday (May 4) to elect 20 councillors to the new Taunton Town Council, which was created as part of the transition to the new unitary Somerset Council in April.

The Lib Dems had a night to remember, winning 19 out of 20 seats – with the sole remaining seat going to the Conservatives.

The Lib Dems have historically performed well in Taunton at a county and district level, winning seven out of eight seats in the county town's four divisions back in May 2022.

Speaking after the results were announced, Councillor Tom Deakin – the new town council chairman – said: "We're the only party that took this election really seriously.

"Voters responded to our ambitious and positive plan, rooted in our values, to champion the future of our county town.

"People in Taunton are willing to trust us to deliver and have put faith in us."

Mr Deakin – who now represents the Obridge ward on the town council – is one of three 'twin-hatters' on the new council, already serving as the unitary councillor for Taunton North.

Caroline Ellis (Bishop's Hull and Taunton West) was successfully elected to the North Town ward, while Federica Smith-Roberts (Taunton East) won her town council seat of Blackbrook and Holway.

Turnout ranged from a high of 43.25 per cent in Wilton and Sherford to a low of 20.24 per cent in Halcon and Lane – with an average turnout across Taunton of 29.39 per cent.

The full results of the Taunton Town Council elections are as follows:

Blackbrook and Holway ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 24.32 per cent

Brendan Floyde (Conservative) – 173

Henry Haslam (Conservative) – 167

Penny James (Labour) – 184

Sue Lees (Liberal Democrat) – 668 – ELECTED

Chris Salter (Green) – 187

Federica Smith-Roberts (Liberal Democrat) – 733 – ELECTED

Comeytrowe ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 37.02 per cent

Rosie Brown (Conservative) – 284

Neil Guild (Labour) – 142

Simon Lester (Liberal Democrat) – 926 – ELECTED

Diogo Rodrigues (Conservative) – 179

Judy Stainthorpe (Liberal Democrat) – 1,111 – ELECTED

Keith Woodmason (Independent) – 273

Halcon and Lane ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 20.24 per cent

James Clark (Conservative) – 214

Stanley Ely (Labour) – 158

Lauren Salter (Conservative) – 207

Martin Straus (Liberal Democrat) – 555 – ELECTED

Ray Tully (Liberal Democrat) – 519 – ELECTED

Lyngford ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 22.02 per cent

Simon Clarke (Liberal Democrat) – 274 – ELECTED

Brenda Weston (Labour) – 172

Neil Whisler (Conservative) -97

Maidenbrook ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 28.98 per cent

Richard Bennett (Independent) – 32

Giuseppe Fraschini (Conservative) – 253 – ELECTED

Rob Isaacs (Liberal Democrat) – 203

Manor and Tangier ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 34.36 per cent

Bev Fernandes (Liberal Democrat) – 516 – ELECTED

Matthew Ravenhill Labour) – 85

Ernest Terry (Conservative) – 179

North Town ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 33.53 per cent

Paul Cram (Conservative) – 110

Caroline Ellis (Liberal Democrat) – 504 – ELECTED

Mark Wood (Labour) – 70

Obridge ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 29.23 per cent

Tom Deakin (Liberal Democrat) – 239 – ELECTED

Robert Rawle (Labour) – 73

Jason Woolacott (Conservative) – 59

Pyrland ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 23.89 per cent

Jean Allgrove (Conservative) – 147

Gemma Evans (Liberal Democrat) – 287 – ELECTED

Rowan Thorne (Labour) – 210

Staplegrove ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 33.11 per cent

Ed Firmin (Liberal Democrat) – 187 – ELECTED

Jonathan Gray (Labour) – 35

Simon Moon (Independent) – 158

Edward Tucker (Conservative) – 110

Victoria ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 27.48 per cent

Michael Asher (Conservative) – 243

Dilly Bradley (Conservative) – 246

Richard Lees (Liberal Democrat) – 708 – ELECTED

Libby Lisgo (Labour) – 208

Paul Tooze (Liberal Democrat) – 686 – ELECTED

Vivary ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 33.51 per cent

Liam Canham (Labour) – 170

Laurence Forgham (Conservative) – 374

Amber Packer-Hughes (Liberal Democrat) – 789 – ELECTED

Connor Solle (Liberal Democrat) – 765 – ELECTED

Gemma Verdon-Hodges (Conservative) – 363

Wellsprings and Rowbarton ward (two councillors) – Turnout: 30.05 per cent

Alan Debenham (Green) – 253

Carl Dixon (Conservative) – 256

Adam Elliott (Conservative) – 272

Marcia Hill (Liberal Democrat) – 627 – ELECTED

Nick O'Donnell (Liberal Democrat) – 809 – ELECTED

Estelle Smillie (Labour) – 346

Wilton and Sherford ward (one councillor) – Turnout: 43.25 per cent

Robert Ewers (Labour) – 77

Vanessa Garside (Liberal Democrat) – 540 – ELECTED

Ruth Harmon (Conservative) – 273

Gideon Amos, the Lib Dems' parliamentary candidate for Taunton, said the results were further evidence that the Conservative government was "on borrowed time".

He said: "It's a privilege to lead such a dynamic new team of all walks of life, age groups and communities – all united in their resolution to stand for our county town.

"What Taunton deserves now is just as strong a voice in parliament – one who will stand up to government for local people, not the opposite.

"After tonight, we're raring to go, to ensure we win again here in the general election.

"It's not only Taunton and Wellington but the country as a whole which deserves a future where individuals and businesses can thrive again, where those in charge follow the rules and where the pollution of our rivers and the future of our environment is taken seriously.

"The Conservative government knows it's now on borrowed time – the sooner we can change government for good, the better."

The new town council will be responsible for street care and cleaning, parks and open spaces (excluding Vivary Park), toilets, events, allotments, and the Mayoralty. It will also be able to comment on planning applications.

For more information on the new council, including dates of its next meetings, visit www.taunton-tc.gov.uk.