Conservative candidate Mark Webb has been re-elected as councillor for the Kingswinford North and Wall Heath ward by a margin of just 70 votes. The results, confirmed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council on 8 May, saw Mr Webb receive 1,983 votes, while Reform UK challenger Stephen Cole finished with 1,913 votes.
Voter engagement in the ward reached a new high, with turnout recorded at 50.39 per cent. This represents a significant increase from the 39.37 per cent turnout seen in the 2024 local election.
The local result arrives alongside a major shift across the borough. Reform UK secured 22 out of 25 contested seats in the 2026 council elections, establishing itself as the second-largest party with 23 seats overall. While the Conservatives remain the largest party with 27 seats, the party now leads a minority administration on the council.
Local planning remains a primary focus for many residents in the area, particularly regarding a proposal to build 560 homes on green belt land known as The Triangle, located off Swindon Road in Wall Heath. Community members have expressed concerns about the impact such a project would have on local infrastructure, citing existing pressure on schools, roads, and doctor’s surgeries.
The leader of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Councillor Patrick Harley, has previously spoken out against government house-building targets. He has described these targets as a threat to the green belt and has stated his intention to defy them.
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