IT’S as you were on St Ives Town Council as Independent candidate Peter Smith was elected in yesterday’s by-election.

The St Ives (East) seat was made vacant just three weeks after the May election when Jennifer Coville sensationally stepped down over council protocol.

Cllr Smith, a retired headteacher who has lived in St Ives for 30 years, received 336 votes, narrowly beating Conservative candidate Ryan Fuller, who was attempting to win his place back on the town council.

St Ives mayor Debbie Townsend said: “I am pleased that Peter was elected. He is a lovely guy and will make an excellent town councillor and I am looking forward to working with him.”

To reflect the national opinion on politics, the Liberal Democrat candidate John Oliver only secured 26 votes and came behind Lord Toby Jug and Labour’s Richard Allen.

The turnout was only 16.54 per cent.

For full result see right.