Independent candidate David Jefferay beat Conservative Rod Menlove to take the second non-Tory seat on Wilmslow Town Council.
Mr Jefferay won the Wilmslow East by-election seat with 649 votes, a majority against Conservative Rod Menlove’s 375.
There was a particularly high turnout of 32 per cent.
Mr Jefferay represents the Residents of Wilmslow (RoW) campaign group, set up to fight plans to build on the green belt among other issues.
RoW won a Wilmslow Town Council by-election a year ago in the Dean Row ward with candidate Philip Enstone.
Mr Enstone was the first non-Conservative to take a place on the 15-seat council which formed in May 2011. RoW wanted to further shake up the Tory control with Mr Jefferay, who lives on Knutsford Road with partner Louise.
Mr Jefferay said: “There’s an element of frustration among people that they are not being listened to.
“We need proper representation for residents. I’m not going to take people’s votes for granted. I’ll be spending time making new contacts and learning the ropes then I’ll be straight on working on the issues which matter to people.”
The by-election was held after former councillor Sue Menlove died.
Her husband Rod Menlove, a councillor on Cheshire East was the only other candidate.
He said: “I thank the residents who made the commitment to vote in this by-election despite the weather.
“Congratulations to David. During this campaign it has been business as usual on projects to improve Wilmslow. Today I have been chairing meetings on chuggers and energy reduction. Tomorrow I am with others tidying up the town centre. I always give active support to single interest protest groups for their valuable contribution.
“However, councillor work is far wider than any one single issue, after all, single issues get resolved.”
Mr Jefferay plans to hold two surgeries a month to meet residents. Contact davidjefferay@hotmail.com.
Wilmslow Town council meets on Monday, December 15, at the Oakenclough Centre, 7.30pm.
