“Every day I talk with people in Lewes who say they’re worried about how we’re looking after our town, the planet and our futures.
“People have been telling me how disillusioned they are with a council that lets everybody down, and fails to understand or respond to the climate crisis.
Ms Nicholson, who serves as Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “I’m hugely grateful to everyone in and around the villages of Chailey division who voted for me.
“It was desperately close because we showed that we’re the only credible alternative to the Conservatives.