INDEPENDENT candidate Adam Riley has been elected to serve as a Vale of Glamorgan councillor for Rhoose following a by-election on Thursday, June 30.

The vote was sparked by the death of Independent Rhoose councillor Phil Clarke in April.

The count was held at the Memorial Hall, Barry.

Mr Riley was a member of the Save Rhoose library campaign and made representations to council on the issue.

Mr Riley polled 598 votes; Welsh Conservative, Gordon Kemp 520 votes; Welsh Labour, Graham Loveluck-Edwards 401 votes; Independent, Rachel Banner 399 votes; Plaid Cymru, Ian Perry 104 votes; Welsh Liberal Democrat Robin Lynn 24 votes; and The Pirate Party UK, candidate James Fyfe 4 votes.

Dad-of-two, Mr Riley, 52, of East Aberthaw said: “The vote was fairly close and looked as though it could go either way. In the end, I was delighted to come out on top. I would like to thank the people of Rhoose ward for having faith in me as an independent candidate and choosing me as their councillor. I’d also like to thank the other candidates for conducting well-fought campaigns.”

He added:“I intend to be a hard-working and accessible councillor. I am looking forward to the challenge of representing everybody in Rhoose ward. Not just the people of Rhoose, but also residents of the outlying villages in the ward. My aims are to make the workings of the council in Rhoose ward more open and transparent to local people, and for people to take a more active and inclusive role in the decisions that affect them. My first action will be to carry out surgeries around the ward so that I can more fully understand local residents’ concerns and then take positive action.”