Although Robert Windass won the Boroughbridge seat with a majority of 161 over Liberal Democrat Peter Phillips, there was alarm in the neighbouring ward of Claro, which will also become part of the Harrogate and Knaresborough seat.
Local farmer An
thony Alton scraped home with a majority of 37 over Liberal Democrat opponent Malcolm Howe.
The other major change was in the Ouseburn ward where Martin Leather polled 865 votes to take the seat from the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 731 over Clare Mackenzie.
The election, in which 16 of the 54 seats on Harrogate Council were being contested, left its status unchanged as a hung authority. It now has 27 Conservative members, 21 Liberal Democrats and six Independents, all of whom represent wards in Ripon.
Following the death of Conservative councillor Elwyn Hinchcliffe, the Tories knew they would have a tough fight in the Lower Nidderdale ward where popular local fish fryer Thomas Watson was selected by the Liberal Democrats. He was beaten with a margin of 34 votes by Christine Hill.
Council leader Mike Gardner accepts Harrogate is still a hung council, but believes its achievements in Ripon are unlikely to see any alliance between the Liberal Democrats and Independents, who are led by Andrew Williams.
Coun Gardner said: "We have actually done a lot in Ripon."
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