THE votes were cast as expected in the newly formed Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty ward, with two Labour and two SNP councillors wining seats. 

Mary Lockhart came out on top with 1,257 votes and Linda Erskine following in second with 1,033. 

The two SNP candidates then came in at third and fourth, both reaching just over 990 votes. 

Voter turnout stood at 38.2%. 

With the change-over of two wards being represented on the Cowdenbeath Area Committee through the deletion of the Lochs there was to be at least two new members representing this seat. 

To add to the mix, the SNP’s Ian Chisholm retired as well as Labour’s Mark Hood. 

The mining villages may have voted down the traditional line, but that didn’t leave candidates feeling any less stressed as they saw similar areas vote for their first ever Tory councillor.

Things certainly did not seem to be set in stone as Ward 8 was the only area that did vote as expected. 

Councillor Mary Lockhart told the Times: “No, we weren’t just expecting to retain our seats. None of us have been complacent at a time of such upheaval, which has been seen in some of the results across the council. 

“I don’t think we were less stressed than any other candidate! When I suggested to one resident that most people were suffering from election fatigue, he said no its more like post traumatic stress disorder!

“The boundary change can be used to our advantage because now we have a block of communities that are facing very similar issues such as poverty. People are facing real hardship.”

Councillor Linda Erskine added: “You can’t take the electorate for granted. Many residents wanted to switch off the national issues and focus on local. 

“There’s real financial poverty in our area but the people have such huge hearts - they’re energetic and have a strong sense of heritage. We will be working towards getting a new primary school for Lochgelly as well as new health centre, which is desperately needed. Hopefully central Government will give us the funds to do that.”

New SNP councillors, Lea McLelland and Rosemary Liewald, were pleased to see that a Tory candidate had not managed to clinch a seat in their ward. 

Cllr McLelland said: “To say I am shocked to see a Conservative get a seat in neighbouring Cowdenbeath and others across Fife is an understatement. 

“But I burst with pride that no one in Benarty, Lochgelly and Cardenden forgot what the Tories did to their fathers and forefathers. 

“I’ve already hit the ground running but I have to say I’m loving every minute of it and I am thankful for the phenomenal support I’ve been given so far.”

Cllr Liewald said: “I suppose the result has given us a ward which has four female councillors which is unusual in itself, but we all know each other and I believe we can work together well to ensure that improvements come to Benarty, Lochgelly and Cardenden.

“I can’t wait to get working hard for this ward.

“We all know that people want to see local issues dealt with on a daily basis.”