Lib Dem chair “very pleased” with Barnsley Council seat gains

The party gained three seats during the local election this year – Penistone West, Darton East and Dodworth – making up seven seats on the council.

Councillor Hannah Kitching told the local democracy reporting service that the Lib Dems had to work “ten times as hard as other parties” to gain votes, and is “pleased” that the Lib Dems were the only party to make any gains this year.

Coun Kitching was the only Lib Dem councillor on Barnsley Council in 2018, and now provides the largest opposition to the ruling Labour Party.

She added that the party had been told by residents that “Labour doesn’t listen.”

“They are arrogant, complacent, and push through anything – such as the developments on green space like MU1 and Penny Pie Park.

“These issues haven’t gone away for people.

“We hear in areas which already have a Lib Dem councillor that residents love how hard their councillor works.”