2003 Wealden District Council election

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Map of the results of the 2003 Wealden council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independents in grey. Wealden UK local election 2003 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2003 Wealden council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independents in grey.

An election was held on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 1999 reducing the number of seats by 3. [1] The Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council. [2]

Contents

Background

At the last election in 1999 the Conservatives won 34 seats, compared to 22 for the Liberal Democrats and 2 independents. [3] In November 2003 the Conservatives gained 2 seats from the Liberal Democrats in a by-election in Uckfield, [4] but the Liberal Democrats took one seat back in the same ward in a June 2002 by-election. [5]

The Liberal Democrats also lost seats after 2 Hailsham councillors, Nick and Madeline Ellwood, were expelled from the party, and a further 2, John Glover and Ian Haffenden, resigned from the party in protest. [6] The 4 councillors who resigned formed a Wealden Independents party, while the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, Allan Thurley, stepped down over the expulsions and was succeeded by Eddie Rice. [7]

A total of 133 candidates stood for the 55 seats in 35 wards being contested, after boundary changes reduced the number of seats from 58. [3] [8] The changes increased the number of seats in Crowborough and Uckfield, while combining some of the rural seats. [3]

Campaign

A major issue at the election was council tax after it increased by 18%, 5.1% of which was due to Wealden Council. [3] The Conservatives blamed the increase on the government providing a poor grant to the council, while the Liberal Democrats called for the council tax to be replaced by a local income tax. [3] Another issue was housing with the Conservatives called for more land to be released for low cost housing, but the Liberal Democrats attacked the number of houses to be built, saying the infrastructure needed to be improved first. [3] Both the Labour party and local independents also campaigned against the 1,300 houses to be built in Hailsham, with The Independents saying more houses should be built in the north of the council area. [3]

The Conservatives said they would tackle littering and continue the household recycling scheme, while the Liberal Democrats called for policing to be improved and for the council to be modernised. [3] Meanwhile, Labour aimed to win their first seat on the council in Uckfield and called for the council to abolish the reduction in council tax for second homes. [3] [9]

Election result

The Conservatives stayed in control of the council with 34 seats, while the Liberal Democrats took 15 seats and independents won 6. [10] Few seats changed parties, with the Conservatives keeping a 13-seat majority. [8] The changes that did happen included the Liberal Democrat group leader Eddie Rice losing his seat in Rotherfield and the Liberal Democrats were also defeated in Polegate South, where Ivy Scarborough, a Residents Association candidate was successful. [10] [11] Independents were also successful in Crowborough and Hailsham, while Labour failed to take any seats. [10] Overall turnout at the election was 35%, up from 33.5% in 1999. [12]

Wealden local election result 2003 [2] [13]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 34-161.849.431,769
  Liberal Democrats 15-227.335.022,515
  Independent 6010.99.56,142
  Labour 0003.92,534
  Green 0001.91,246
  UKIP 0000.2137

3 Conservative candidates were unopposed at the election. [13]

Ward results

Alfriston [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Keith Whitehead67367.3
Liberal Democrats Caroline Adcock32732.7
Majority 34634.6
Turnout 1,00049.5
Buxted and Maresfield (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Patricia Kennedy904
Conservative Norman Buck862
Green Peter Selby357
Independent Ken Ogden314
Liberal Democrats Graham Morgan293
Turnout 2,73036.2
Chiddingly and East Hoathly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sylvia Tidyunopposed
Cross-in-Hand/Five Ashes [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jonica Fox51169.0
Liberal Democrats Michael Bryant17723.9
Green Jennifer Evans537.2
Majority 33445.1
Turnout 74138.2
Crowborough East (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Carolyn Clark555
Liberal Democrats Ian Mein540
Conservative Anthony Edwards422
Conservative Neil Waller408
Labour Derek Sivers118
Turnout 2,04327.5
Crowborough Jarvis Brook [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ian McKirgan22239.0
Liberal Democrats Peter Bucklitsch22138.8
Conservative Brian Hewitt12622.1
Majority 10.2
Turnout 56928.8
Crowborough North (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Chantal Wilson1,038
Conservative Hector Munro671
Liberal Democrats Nigel Mahony328
Labour Sonja Le Vay201
Independent Michael Wallman131
Turnout 2,36935.8
Crowborough St Johns [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Richard Broughton-Tompkins45875.3
Liberal Democrats Hilary Lyon10316.9
Labour Jean McCarthy477.7
Majority 35558.4
Turnout 60832.0
Crowborough West (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Diane Phillips814
Conservative Antony Quin812
Liberal Democrats Edward Willis394
Labour Brendan Clegg238
Turnout 2,25832.2
Danehill/Fletching/Nutley (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sylvia Martin1,052
Conservative Bernard Brown1,024
Liberal Democrats John Stevens571
Turnout 2,64739.6
East Dean [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian West61267.8
Liberal Democrats Robert Hillman29032.2
Majority 32235.6
Turnout 90246.9
Forest Row (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Rowena Moore708
Conservative Raymond Parsons668
Liberal Democrats Linda Graham526
Labour Norma McNamara270
Turnout 2,17233.5
Framfield [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Gore56364.9
Liberal Democrats Susanna Mockridge16819.4
UKIP Keith Riddle13715.8
Majority 39545.5
Turnout 86842.2
Frant/Withyham (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Abergavenny827
Conservative Lynda Myers822
Liberal Democrats Briony Taylor431
Green Keith Obbard404
Labour Michael Clare179
Turnout 2,66338.6
Hailsham Central & North (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Holbrook494
Liberal Democrats Laura Murphy434
Conservative Richard West425
Conservative John Ball419
Independent John Glover348
Independent Madeleine Ellwood344
Labour Steven Jordan146
Turnout 2,61032.1
Hailsham East [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nigel Coltman17033.7
Liberal Democrats Brian Cock12825.3
Labour Dudley Rose11322.4
Independent William Crittenden9418.6
Majority 428.4
Turnout 50526.6
Hailsham South and West (3) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Geoffrey Rowe713
Independent Jonathan Ellwood702
Independent Ian Haffenden685
Liberal Democrats Sharon Cottingham572
Conservative Sybil Bentley567
Liberal Democrats Edward Powell554
Liberal Democrats Gavin Blake-Coggins551
Conservative Jeffery Bentley-Astor524
Conservative John Kent511
Turnout 5,37928.7
Hartfield [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jeremy Hollinsunopposed
Heathfield East [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Janice Dunk44369.9
Liberal Democrats John Evans19130.1
Majority 25239.8
Turnout 63434.8
Heathfield North and Central (3) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Richard Angel1,082
Conservative Margaret Kirkpatrick1,063
Conservative Veronica Oakes996
Liberal Democrats David Hall447
Green Timothy Rayner432
Turnout 4,02028.2
Hellingly (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats John Blake817
Liberal Democrats David White732
Conservative Barby Dashwood-Hall583
Conservative Brian Smith528
Turnout 2,66036.9
Herstmonceux [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Long47763.1
Liberal Democrats Graham Love27936.9
Majority 19826.2
Turnout 75636.5
Horam [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Susan Stedman38156.9
Liberal Democrats Richard Benson28943.1
Majority 9213.8
Turnout 67033.2
Mayfield [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian Redman45954.3
Liberal Democrats Allan Thurley38745.7
Majority 728.6
Turnout 84641.7
Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Pamela Doodesunopposed
Pevensey and Westham (3) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Dianne Dear1,245
Conservative John Vincent1,233
Conservative Linda McKeever1,135
Liberal Democrats Laura Parker793
Liberal Democrats Christine Thomas781
Turnout 5,18729.7
Polegate North (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Roy Martin888
Liberal Democrats Christina Berry802
Independent Gerald Carter478
Independent John Harmer453
Conservative Anne Hampson160
Conservative Michael Hampson152
Turnout 2,93337.7
Polegate South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ivy Scarborough34945.7
Liberal Democrats Patrick Trowell24131.6
Conservative Michael Richards17322.7
Majority 10814.1
Turnout 76338.7
Rotherfield [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Logan37947.4
Liberal Democrats Edwin Rice36545.7
Independent David Heritage556.9
Majority 141.7
Turnout 79941.7
Uckfield Central [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claire Dowling42552.7
Liberal Democrats Michael Cooper30838.2
Labour Eileen Wolley739.1
Majority 11714.5
Turnout 80635.1
Uckfield New Town [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Ian Nottage33954.2
Labour Ian Smith14423.0
Conservative Daphne Mainprice14322.8
Majority 19531.2
Turnout 62631.0
Uckfield North (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Sparks632
Liberal Democrats Alan Whittaker520
Conservative Michael Heap356
Labour Duncan Bennett250
Labour Leonard Ashby246
Turnout 2,00427.8
Uckfield Ridgewood [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Anthony Parker48357.2
Conservative Silvia Buck31036.7
Labour Jane 'Espinasse516.0
Majority 17320.5
Turnout 84439.1
Wadhurst (2) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Anna Monaghan767
Conservative Robert Hodgson734
Liberal Democrats Emma Sanderson-Nash395
Liberal Democrats Rosalyn Bucklitsch324
Labour Jane Zacharzewski144
Turnout 2,36432.0
Willingdon (3) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen Shing1,770
Liberal Democrats Anthony Seabrook1,559
Liberal Democrats Andrew Watkins1,516
Conservative David Burtenshaw1,043
Conservative Guy Woodford1,000
Conservative Raymond Ingram949
Independent Margaret Piper216
Labour Patricia Brinson123
Labour Helen Sedgewick114
Labour Gillian Roles77
Turnout 8,36748.7

By-elections between 2003 and 2007

Uckfield Ridgewood

A by-election was held in Uckfield Ridgewood on 16 September 2004 and was held for the Liberal Democrats by Robert Sweetland with a 185-vote majority. [14] [15]

Uckfield Ridgewood By-Election 16 September 2004 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Robert Sweetland38060.4+3.2
Conservative Jacob Vince19531.0−5.7
Labour Leonard Ashby548.6+2.6
Majority 18529.4+8.9
Turnout 62928.6+8.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Pevensey and Westham

A by-election was held in Pevensey and Westham on 29 September 2005 after the death of the previous councillor John Vincent. [14] [16] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Kevin Balsdon with a 760-vote majority. [13] [17]

Pevensey and Westham By-Election 29 September 2005 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kevin Balsdon1,22966.7+5.6
Liberal Democrats Christine Thomas46925.5−13.4
Labour Robert Walker1437.8+7.8
Majority 76041.2
Turnout 1,84125.7−4.0
Conservative hold Swing

Crowborough North

A by-election was held in Crowborough North on 6 April 2006 and was held for the Conservatives by Timothy Tyler with a 279-vote majority. [14] [18]

Crowborough North By-Election 6 April 2006 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Timothy Tyler41752.5+22.5
Liberal Democrats Peter Bucklitsch13817.4+2.7
Independent Paul Scott10313.0−33.4
Labour Jean McCarthy9411.8+2.8
Independent Colin Stocks435.4+5.4
Majority 27935.1
Turnout 79520.1−15.7
Conservative hold Swing

Uckfield New Town

A by-election was held in Uckfield New Town on 29 June 2006 after the death of the Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Nottage. [14] [19] The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Julia Hey with a 170-vote majority. [20]

Uckfield New Town By-Election 29 June 2006 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Julia Hey38157.6+3.4
Conservative Marion Rowland21131.9+9.1
Green Samantha Bryant6910.4+10.4
Majority 17025.7−5.5
Turnout 66132.5+1.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Local elections". BBC News . Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Local council election results". The Daily Telegraph . 3 May 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Wealden Council". The Argus . 16 April 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Labour regains Burnley". The Guardian . 30 November 2001. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "East Enders desert BNP". The Guardian . 28 June 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Rift in LibDems". Sussex Express. 7 November 2002. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ousted councillors start own party". The Argus . 7 November 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Power balance stays the same". Sussex Express. 8 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "Labour looks for a gain". Sussex Express. 24 April 2003. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 "Wealden District Council: Con hold". The Argus . 2 May 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "New faces on council". Sussex Express. 8 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "Tories keep control". Sussex Express. 8 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 "District Council election". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Election Results". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  15. ↑ "BNP wins first London seat since 1993". The Guardian . 17 September 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Councillor dies of a heart attack". The Argus . 13 July 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  17. ↑ "SNP triumphs in Fife". The Guardian . 30 September 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  18. ↑ "Lib Dems and Labour make byelection gains". The Guardian . 7 April 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  19. ↑ "Friends and family pay tribute to 'Pat the Hat'". The Argus . 27 April 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "Lib Dems hold council seats". Sussex Express. 30 June 2006. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
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