A HUSBAND and wife duo are set to take Rochford by storm after the Conservatives maintained control of the council.

Despite losing a seat to the Rochford Residents Group, the Tories ended the night two councillors up with 27 of the 39 council seats now blue.

Julia and James Gooding became a husband and wife team after Mr Gooding won Roche South, beating Rochford District Residents Group’s Phil Capon by 640 votes to 420.

The win came despite major controversy over the plan to demolish Rayleigh’s Mill Hall and build a smaller community hall.

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Mrs Gooding, Conservative councillor for Hawkwell West, said: “It was disappointing to lose Danielle Belton in Sweyne Park.

“She did a fantastic job at the helm with our leaders and executive with organising funds available for businesses.”

Defending the council’s proposals for Mill Hall, Mrs Gooding added: “Some concerns have been raised, but we have listened and we will take it back to the drawing board to see how we can rearrange things.

“With the Mill Hall proposal we are putting up a smaller community hub.

“Mill Hall has been able to hold 1,000 people, but that doesn’t happen often.

“A new hub would be more manageable to let out more frequently.

“Business-wise it makes sense and our aim is to keep council tax down.”

The Conservative group gained Foulness and Wakering ward as well as Rochford North ward.

They also secured the Hockley and Ashingdon seat vacated following the death of Terry Cutmore.

The Rochford Residents Group’s Lisa Newport won in the Sweyne Park and Grange ward.

Council leader Simon Wootton said: “It was an excellent night and we came out with a net gain but we were very sorry to lose Danielle Belton in Sweyne Park.

“As a result of a public engagement process we have listened to concerns, particularly abut Mill Hall and taken them into account to come up with modified proposals in due course.

“We have listened to these significant concerns.”