LABOUR have kept control of Rossendale Council in an 'all out' election on a new political map.
Every single seat was up for election on Thursday on new ward boundaries while the number of councillors was reduced from 36 to 30.
After the votes were counted, Labour had 20 seats, the Conservatives five, the Greens three and Community First two.
Labour leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said: "Generally people are fed up with the government.
"It is hard to see how recent Conservative attacks on Rossendale Council have worked? I'm not convinced the Tory attacks resonated with people.
"In my experience, residents expect councillors to work together in general. Residents are not very interested in party politics at local level.
"Unfortunately I think the Conservatives are slinging mud around at the moment. But I don't think electors like it or that it's effective.
"Rossendale town centres have been lifted up a bit with different projects and there's been some acknowledgement of that. But I also have to say we've been working on town centres for years, before the government levelling up and other grants came along.
"The state of the roads is a big issue. People cannot understand why they're in such a bad state. People go abroad and see infrastructure in decent condition. They see transport working abroad. But national government has cut funding so much that everything is falling apart."
Veteran former Tory and Independent Jimmy Eaton won Bacup for Labour in his new party colours.
Rossendale Conservative Cllr Scott Smith, who has led some of the recent controversial accusations against Labour councillors, which were strongly rejected by Labour at council meetings, said: "We fought a very strong locally based campaign, raising issues we think matter to residents.
"It's looking like a difficult day for the Conservative Party nationally but we are hopeful to retain a strong representation on Rossendale Council.
"All the normal local issues came up on the doorstep in our campaign. But we think our work was more locally based through different towns and villages. So we might get some interesting local results."
Cllr Julie Adshead, who kept her place on the council as the Green Party, won all three seats in Whitewell ward. She said: "The Green Party fielded 30 candidates in all wards, which we are ready pleased about.
"This is a really important new phase for the Greens in Rossendale and we are confident about the future.
"However, the Greens oppose local elections being held just once in four years, which is what Rossendale Council has agreed. We believe annual elections are best for democracy. With four yearly elections, voters cannot express their dissatisfaction on national or local issues, which will be disappointing."
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