A NEW councillor for Mon-mouthshire County Council's Dixton with Osbaston Ward has been elected following last week's by-election. The Conservative candidate, Bob Hayward won the seat, which he already holds as a Monmouth Town Councillor, in the by-election caused by the death of Cllr Eileen Goodrich last November.

Cllr Hayward beat off strong opposition and won with a total of430 votes beating Conny Millard, the Liberal Democrat candidate into second place by 100 votes.

Giles Howard, the Labour candidate from Gilwern polled a mere 36 votes. Cllr Hayward has a business background and was previously employed as divisional director of Balfour Beatty and has worked and travelled extensively in Africa, Asia Australia and the Americas. His business experience will bring even more professionalism to Monmouthshire County Council.

Cllr Haywood is not a stranger to local politics as his grandmother was Mayor of Newport in the late 1940s and was elected himself to serve on Monmouth Town Council in August last year.

He said: "I am very pleased to have been elected and look forward to contributing to the work of Monmouthshire County council. My home has always been in the County and I have an affinity with the area."

Local Assembly Member Laura Anne Jones congratulated Cllr Bob Haywood on winning the by-election in Monmouth.

She said: "Councillor Haywood worked extremely hard and well deserves this result.

"I am quite sure he will be a great addition to local matters and as a local man he has a good knowledge of the area and a wealth of experience that will serve his constituents well."

By election result:

Dixton with Osbaston ward

Turnout 49.2 percent

Bob Haywood (Conservative) 430 (May 2004 - Cass 500)

Giles Howard (Labour) 36

Conny Millard (Lib Dem) 330 (May 2004 - Goodrich 554)