Lyn Andre, elected in Monkton Park ward, has lived in the area for over 25 years. She polled 664 votes, comprehensively beating the Conservative Party who polled only 181 votes.

There was also a by-election in the Pewsham district of Chippenham. Long-standing Chippenham resident Mary Fallon gained 595 votes, leaving the Conservative candidate trailing in second place after polling 477 votes.

Duncan said: “Both Mary and Lyn have been active members in the constituency for decades and I know they will throw themselves into their new roles. I am looking forward to working with them for the good of my constituents”.

I extend my gratitude and I am truly grateful to the people who have placed their faith in me to serve the Chippenham Constituency and build on years of positive, local Liberal Democrat action for our area.

It has been over 80 years since Wiltshire has been represented in parliament by a Liberal. Local people have now elected Wiltshire’s first Liberal Democrat MP. Nick Clegg’s call to change politics has led us to a victory where we have never won before. He put fairness at the heart of our offer to the country, and in parliament I will strive to win a fair deal for Wiltshire.

Floella, a familiar face from many people’s childhood as presenter of Play School, and Chancellor of Exeter University, was acting on behalf of the Liberal Democrats as an ambassador for the party on early years education.

She is passionate about child development, and her visit, alongside Duncan Hames who is a school governor in Melksham, underpins the Lib Dems’ commitment to giving all children a fair start in life.

Duncan Hames said: “I am delighted that Floella found time to visit Chippenham during her busy tour of the South West. She is a truly inspiring person with a deep concern for children and their development. I think her visit will have left a lasting memory with some of the families, volunteers and staff we met. It was a privilege for me to listen to her wise words, and see her passion for the welfare of children”.

The Liberal Democrats have committed to continue the funding in Government for Sure Start Children’s Centres; aiming to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early years education, childcare, health and family support.

Mr Clegg, visiting students at Wiltshire College, Lackham, when asked about his decision to campaign in the Chippenham Constituency, said: “I really want to support Duncan in his campaign to become the MP for Chippenham,” he said. “We are colleagues and friends, he knows this area and he would be a great local champion.”

Duncan Hames later added: “Nick’s visit showed how serious our campaign is in the Chippenham Constituency. He really is the man of the moment and I am delighted that he found the time in his busy schedule to come and meet my constituents here in Wiltshire”.

The polls following the first ever Party Leaders General Election debate on ITV are showing that Nick Clegg has won a convincing victory over David Cameron and Gordon Brown.

The debate was the first ever Leaders debate during a UK General Election campaign, and the pollsters are giving it as a big victory for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats.

The ITV / COMRES poll held by ITV and announced shortly after the debate gave Nick Clegg as the winner by a huge margin:

?Nick Clegg 43%

?David Cameron 26%

?Gordon Brown 20%

YouGov, Channel 4, Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times and Angus Reid polls following the debate also scored Nick Clegg as the clear winner of the first Leaders debate. Angus Reid said that 42% of voters were more likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats as a result of the debate.

The Daily Telegraph’s headline following the debate said “Clegg’s star rises in great TV showdown”.

The Times comment “Enter the Outsider: Nick Clegg seizes his moment in historic TV debate”.

Even Conservative commentator and blogger Iain Dale said “I think Nick Clegg won the day”.

In summing up the debate, Nick Clegg said Labour and the Tories have made the “same old mistakes over and over again. Despite all the problems and challenges we have, we can be hopeful about the future if we chose something different.”

Duncan used the rally as an opportunity to publically sign the Ministry of Justice Declaration of Interests – in which he states that he will give up his business and all other paid work if he is elected as our next MP – a pledge the Conservative candidate has so far failed to match.

Duncan said: “I was delighted that Paddy was able to join us in Melksham to witness my signing of the declaration.

“This election is our chance to clean up politics in Wiltshire after the recent expenses scandal, but to do that, candidates must first be open and honest with the voters. This declaration is my promise to local people. You can hold me to it.

“I am calling on my fellow candidates in Chippenham to follow me in making this declaration – to be honest with local people. We deserve nothing less.”

The full text of the declaration is published here on Duncan’s website for everyone to see:

http://www.duncanhames.org.uk/chippenham/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/doi.pdf.

Commenting, Norman Baker said:

“High speed rail is hugely important, but it is only part of the 21st century rail network Britain needs. Our plans will reopen thousands of miles of track across the country and make our railway great again.”

“Labour has allowed the railways to wither on the vine and punished passengers with huge fare hikes while more polluting forms of transport have got cheaper. All the while, the Tories have been sharpening the axe they will take to the transport budget.”

Lib Dem prospective MP for Corsham, Duncan Hames commented:

“I raised the case for re-opening Corsham station with the Lib Dem Transport team some time ago, and I am delighted that it has made it into the final funded plan.”

“For too long, politicians have offered no more than warm words when it comes to the re-opening of Corsham station.”

“With this plan, the Liberal Democrats have gone much further than that. We now have a fully-funded plan to re-open the station. If Labour and the Conservatives truly want to support the campaign for Corsham station they need to be prepared to put the money up. Warm words alone are not enough.”

Duncan, the prospective Lib Dem MP for Chippenham, explained that sustainable energy generation and home energy efficiency were pivotal to these proposals, citing local examples as evidence of progress in this field.

He recently took the Liberal Democrats’ Climate Change spokesman, Simon Hughes MP to see a demonstration by Chippenham and Villages Environmentalists (CAVE) and Westlea Housing, of the use of a heat-imaging camera to provide free home energy efficiency surveys to help local residents save energy and money.

Duncan said: “We need a ‘Warm Homes’ programme that meets the scale of this challenge, and meets the demand from so many people for help to reduce our personal heat energy needs”.

He also promoted the award-winning innovation of local business, Checkmate Sea Energy of Melksham, who have developed the Anaconda, a wave energy converter.

“I have every confidence in the ingenuity and determination of the British people to rise to the challenge of tackling Climate Change, given sufficient investment. We have such a great renewable energy resource around our island, that to fail to take advantage of it would be an absolute scandal.” said Duncan.

Duncan contrasted the Liberal Democrats vision with the record and stance of the other parties: “The Conservatives just don’t get a Sustainable Economy. My Conservative opponent recently told a public meeting in Bradford-on-Avon that he rejected further taxes to curb aviation because the airlines can’t afford it… Our world cannot afford not to curb aviation emissions!”

Full details of Duncan’s speech can be viewed at the Wiltshire Lib Dem website: http://www.wiltshirelibdems.org.uk/

Prospective local Lib Dem MP Duncan Hames stands shoulder to shoulder with Chippenham residents against Conservative plans to build 3,000 new houses on the outskirts of the town.

The Conservative-led Wiltshire Council’s “preferred option” is to build to the North and East of Chippenham. This includes Bird’s Marsh, near the woods, and close to flood plains near Hardens Mead. This is in spite of a petition signed by over 2,000 residents opposing the plan.

Duncan Hames said: “I’m disappointed that Wiltshire Conservatives are proposing these building plans while they continue to declare in their leaflets that they are in favour of protecting Bird’s Marsh. This is the kind of double-talk we need to get away from in politics”.

Lib Dem Wiltshire Councillors recently introduced a council motion calling for the Conservatives to drop the plan as their preferred option. Unfortunately, Conservative Councillors from outside of Chippenham blocked the motion.

Local Liberal Democrats are concerned by the strain that any new development will place on existing local services. The Lib Dems want to build on derelict sites and do-up empty housing rather than use green field sites.

Duncan Hames added: “I have written to the Housing Minister to say plainly that we can’t take this many new houses in Chippenham”.

Duncan and Simon joined local environmental group CAVE (Chippenham and Villages Environmentalists) to a demonstration of a ‘thermal imaging’ camera on an ordinary Chippenham home. The camera, which has been sponsored by Westlea Housing Association, shows an image of the heat being lost from a house, helping the homeowner to see what how they can save energy and money.

Duncan – who has recently been appointed to the South West Zero Carbon Panel of Experts for his expertise on green energy projects – said:

“I invited Simon to Chippenham to see this cutting edge environmental project right here in our area. I think it’s is great that a group like CAVE are taking the lead in helping their fellow local residents to defend our environment and save themselves money, rather than waiting for the Government to make the first move. Westlea also deserve full credit for sponsoring this socially responsible project.”

“Simon Hughes and the Liberal Democrats are calling for a national programme of home insulation and improved building regulations to help homeowners save money and to safeguard our environment for future generations.”