IT IS official — the last votes have been counted in the town, parish and community council elections across the Isle of Wight, with new faces looking towards the future.

Across 11 town and parish councils, 18 wards had to be counted yesterday (Saturday), at Medina Leisure Centre in Newport.

The efforts of scores of counters, working under strict Covid-19 regulations, has brought some interesting results.

In Bembridge, which has been troubled by infighting in recent years, new councillors will take their seats after 17 candidates fought for just 12 spots.

In Ventnor, despite only six seats being available, the number of candidates was double that.

New political group Our Ryde won the majority of seats on Ryde Town Council.

Led by prominent Ryde politicians, Phil Jordan and Michael Lilley, who are also now Isle of Wight Council members, the group promises to keep building on what it says has been the recent work of Ryde Town Council - investing in the community.

At Sandown Town Council, prominent Isle of Wight Councillor Paul Brading lost his seat, despite comfortably securing a place on Lake Parish Council and (on Friday) winning his Isle of Wight Council election.

The Island's other 48 town, parish and community council wards were already decided - by uncontested elections before Thursday, May 6.

See how the rest of the town, parish and community councillors fared here: (elected councillors are in bold)

Bembridge Parish Council

North Ward (six seats)

  • Jay Chapman - 294
  • Martin Groom - 335
  • Paul Kenny - 281
  • Rosamond Poncia - 336
  • Alasdair Steane, Our Bembridge - 232
  • Mike Tarrant - 235
  • Richard Weaver - 289
  • Liz White - 385

Turnout: 45.96 per cent

South Ward (six seats)

  • Harriet Brabazon - 407
  • Iain Delaney - 166
  • Margaret Donlon - 137
  • Josh Lake - 333
  • Liz Mitchell - 355
  • Grant Stillman - 186
  • Marianne Sullivan - 318
  • Sheila Weedall - 358
  • Ray Widger - 254

Turnout: 41.9 per cent

Brighstone Parish Council

Brighstone Ward (six seats)

  • Pearl Adams - 349
  • Doug Alldred, Green - 338
  • Colin Bridges - 353
  • John Cirrone - 403
  • Steve Hastings - 359
  • Matt Huxley - 312
  • Nick Stuart - 373

Cowes Town Council

Cowes North Ward (six seats)

  • Anni Adams - 438
  • Paul Bertie - 328
  • Paul Fuller - 660
  • Richard Hollis - 513
  • Neil Oliver - 280
  • David Walters - 338
  • Wendy Wardrop - 350

Turnout: 40.91 per cent

East Cowes Town Council

Osborne Ward (four seats)

  • Stephen Hendry - 373
  • Sharon Lake - 265
  • Michael Paler, Ind - 389
  • Cameron Palin, Green - 473
  • Simon Walker - 57

Turnout: 29.33 per cent

Lake Parish Council

Lake South Ward (three seats)

  • Patch Barry, Green - 134
  • Paul Brading - 300
  • Jenny Hicks - 162
  • John Marshall - 143
  • Robert May, Ind - 112
  • Stephen Parkes - 72

Turnout: 40.86 per cent

Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council

Mountjoy and Shide Ward (two seats)

  • Jaimie Bundell, Green - 330
  • Shirley Smart - 480
  • Fred Turgut - 216

Turnout: 29.78 per cent

Niton and Whitwell Parish Council

Niton ward (six seats)

  • Jon BG - 270
  • Simon Biles - 229
  • Sherlie Burridge - 184
  • Claire Critchison, Green - 442
  • Wendy Loader, Ind - 201
  • Alison Logan - 240
  • Lorraine Sheerin - 290

Turnout: 54.26 per cent

Ryde Town Council

Binstead Ward (two seats)

  • Diana Conyers - 254
  • Simon Cooke, Our Ryde - 362
  • Christopher Cory, Ind - 90
  • Ian Dore, Ind - 676

Turnout: 43.5 per cent

Haylands and Swanmore Ward (two seats)

  • Les Kirkby - 557
  • Sue Lyons - 230
  • Malcolm Ross - 432

Turnout: 32.83 per cent

Ryde Appley and Elmfield Ward (three seats)

  • Lisa Carter, Our Ryde - 517
  • Paul Hampton, Green - 164
  • Michael Lilley, Our Ryde - 911
  • Jenna Sabine, Our Ryde - 550

Turnout: 34.83 per cent

Ryde Monktonmead Ward (three seats)

  • Georgie Carter, Our Ryde - 516
  • Charles Chapman - 366
  • Karen Lucioni, IIN - 555
  • Mick Lyons - 165

Turnout: 30.18 per cent

Ryde North West Ward (two seats)

  • Phil Jordan, Our Ryde - 696
  • John McLagan, Our Ryde - 685
  • Steven Sheridan - 251
  • Phil Truckel - 194

Turnout: 34.92 per cent

Ryde West Ward (two seats)

  • Richard May, Our Ryde - 591
  • Ian Stephens, IIN - 476
  • Lou Temel - 263

Turnout: 34.96 per cent

Sandown Town Council

Sandown North Ward (six seats)

  • Debbie Andre, Ind - 510
  • Sue Betts, Green - 307
  • Paul Brading - 228
  • Ian Fletcher - 349
  • Dan Haynes, Ind - 275
  • Heather Humby, Ind - 604
  • Alex Lightfoot, Ind - 477
  • Robert May, Ind - 295
  • Stephen Parkes - 167
  • Joan Solomon - 285

Turnout: 35.06 per cent

Sandown South Ward (six seats)

  • Frank Baldry - 225
  • Emily Brothers - 201
  • Pauline Evans - 200
  • Jenny Hicks - 336
  • Paddy Lightfoot - 418 
  • Ian Ward - 389
  • Toby Wilcock - 314
  • Gary Young - 114

Turnout: 29.81 per cent

Shanklin Town Council

Shanklin Central (six seats)

  • Michael Beston - 599
  • William Boustead - 212
  • Sue Godden - 328
  • Wendy Hilton-How - 324
  • Esther Knight - 193
  • Robin Lansdell - 337
  • Adrian Whittaker - 334
  • David Williams - 341

Turnout: 34.85 per cent

Ventnor Town Council

Ventnor West Ward (six seats)

  • Ian Bond - 286
  • Steve Cooper - 194
  • Matthew Didge - 123
  • Julie Hutchison - 286
  • Mark Jefferies - 372
  • Jamie Macaulay - 181
  • Steve Milford - 209
  • Lester Slade - 106
  • James Toogood - 308
  • Steph Toogood - 272
  • Phil Warren - 384
  • John Watkins - 107

Turnout: 36.23 per cent