WE were expecting the Conservatives to takeover as the leading group on Malvern Hills District Council, but the scale of the victory last Thursday took everyone by surprise.

For the Lib Dem group, which had been the largest on the council, to end the night with only five of 38 seats was an astonishing reversal of fortune.

Lib Dem leader Di Rayner began the evening hoping to retain control of the council, and ended it having lost her seat, together with deputy leader Clive Smith.

The importance of the closure of public toilets was an issue the Lib Dems never seem to have understood. The reason it touched such a raw nerve is because people are fed up with their Council Tax going up and up, while they can see no corresponding improvement in service, in this case the council couldn't even maintain this most basic of services.

The way the Lib Dems forced the closure through by voting as a group, and in the process ignoring local concern, introduced a level of politics into local government which most people just don't feel comfortable with.

The Conservatives previously lost control of the council through not listening, threatening to sell-off the theatre, not building the sports hall, they need to learn the lesson.

Now, with new and enthusiastic young councillors and some of those who have helped turn around Malvern Town Council's finances, they have a real opportunity of bringing new drive and energy to the work of the council.