A Green councillor has vowed to tackle concerns about drastic cuts and the “terrible status” of the Meon and Itchen after a landmark win on local election night.

Malcolm Wallace became the first Green member on HCC after winning the Meon Valley ward in the May 2 by-election.

The election was called after former councillor Hugh Lumby resigned after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Cllr Wallace secured 2,083 votes ahead of Vivian Achwal (Lib Dem, 1,906 votes), Neil Bolton (Con, 1,630) and Oliver Hirsch (Lab, 199). The result has turned the patch into something of a Green stronghold, as counterpart Suzanne White won the Central Meon Valley ward in the Winchester City Council elections on the same night.

Cllr Wallace may only represent the Meon Valley for a year as there will be county council elections in 2025, but he’s hit the ground running as he’s working with HCC on issues including local infrastructure and community energy.

Cllr Wallace said: “My new role should provide the opportunity to move these projects forward faster and to push forward on other issues local residents have raised.

“This includes the disproportionate impact the proposed Hampshire cuts will have on local residents, and the terrible state of our rivers.”

The Green’s vote has increased “massively” over the last year in the rural Meon Valley patch with Cllr Wallace coming second to the Conservatives in the last HCC elections.

The result gave him confidence going into the vote while he feels equally optimistic about his party’s standing in the looming national elections.

He said: “A lot of people are disappointed with what we’re seeing in politics at the moment, so that’s one side of it, but I think the another side is people are excited by what the Greens bring.”