The first non-Conservative councillor has been elected to Wilmslow Town Council.

Independent Philip Enstone, representing campaign group Residents of Wilmslow (RoW), beat Conservative candidate Philip Barton to win the empty seat in the Dean Row ward.

He received 663 votes to Mr Barton’s 485, with a 22.83 per cent turnout.

This was part of a double by-election with voters hitting the polling stations too to vote for candidates for the Handforth West ward at Handforth Parish Council. Mr Enstone broke the all-Tory voice on the Wilmslow council, which has seen all 15 members from the Conservative party since it started two years ago.

If his opponent Philip Barton had been elected, then 20 per cent of members would have been from the Barton family, with sons Paul and Gary already sitting on the council.

Mr Enstone, of Woodcote View, represents RoW which was launched to protect the town’s green belt from development under the Cheshire East Local Plan.

The married father-of-one, who works as head of estates and facilities at the NHS Blood and Transplant Services, said: “I will carry on the work of residents of Wilmslow in vigorously defending the town’s green belt against any form of development.

“I believe the council should set a lead in looking at all ideas and thoughts on the future development of our town centre.”

In contrast, in Handforth, which traditionally has a strong Independent voice, Conservative Anthony Harrison won the seat. He won 277 votes, compared to independents Wendy Fogarty with 98 and Barry Cooke with 100, and Toni Fox, from the Handforth Green Belt group, with 169 votes. There was a 30.85pc turnout. Anthony, 28, who grew up in Handforth, will join five independents and another member of the Handforth Green Belt group, Brian Tolver on the council.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to come out and vote.

“Now the hard work begins and I am looking forward to representing every individual.”

The next Wilmslow Town Council meeting is on Monday, September 16, at 7.30pm, at Oakenclough Centre, and Handforth Parish Council meets next on Tuesday, September 10, at Handforth Youth Centre.