Wyre Forest District Council election, 2004

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Map of the results of the 2004 Wyre Forest District Council election. Conservatives in blue, Health Concern in pink, Liberal in orange, Labour in red, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independent in grey. Wyre Forest UK local election 2004 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2004 Wyre Forest District Council election. Conservatives in blue, Health Concern in pink, Liberal in orange, Labour in red, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independent in grey.

The 2004 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2003. [1] The council stayed under no overall control, but with the Conservatives taking over as the largest party on the council from the Health Concern party. [2]

Non-metropolitan district Type of local government district in England

Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a two-tier arrangement.

Worcestershire County of England

Worcestershire is a county in the West Midlands of England. Between 1974 and 1998, it was merged with the neighbouring county of Herefordshire as Hereford and Worcester.

England Country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

Contents

Background

In total 113 candidates stood in the election with all 42 seats being contested for the first time since 1979 after boundary changes had taken place. [3] [4] The boundary changes meant that Bewdley ward had gained an extra councillor and become Bewdley and Arley, while Blakedown and Chaddesley had been combined into one ward. [3] The Conservatives put up a full slate of 42 candidates with Health Concern having the next most with 27. [3] Other candidates included 24 Labour, 9 Liberal, 7 Liberal Democrats and 3 independents. [3] A noted feature of the candidates was that there were ten married couples standing in the election with two of them being existing councillors. [5] [6]

Bewdley town in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England

Bewdley is a small riverside town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire on the Shropshire border in England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster and 22 miles south west of Birmingham. It lies on the River Severn, at the gateway of the Wyre Forest national nature reserve, and at the time of the 2011 census had a population of 9,470. Bewdley is a popular tourist destination and is known for the Bewdley Bridge designed by Thomas Telford.

A Councillor is a member of a local government council.

Blakedown village in United Kingdom

Blakedown is a village in the Wyre Forest District in the north of the county of Worcestershire, England. Due to its road and rail links it serves mainly as a dormitory village for Kidderminster, and the cities of Birmingham and Worcester. Originally part of Hagley Parish, it was transferred in 1888 to the small adjacent parish of Churchill, which became Churchill and Blakedown.

Before the election Health Concern had 16 seats on the council as compared to 11 for the Conservatives. [7] This was a drop for Health Concern from 2003 after 3 councillors had defected to the Conservatives. [3]

Election result

The results had the Conservatives gain 8 seats to become the largest party on the council. [8] [9] This was mainly at the expense of Health Concern whose losses included the leader of the council, Howard Martin. [8] For other parties the election saw the Liberals gain one seat to hold 8, while both Labour and the Liberal Democrats stayed on the same number of seats. [9] The results meant that 14 councillors, a third of the council, would be new. [10] Voter turnout was up at 38.83% after seeing less than 31% in 2003, with the highest turnout being 54.36% in Wolverley. [10]

Voter turnout percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election

Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Eligibility varies by country, and the voting-eligible population should not be confused with the total adult population. Age and citizenship status are often among the criteria used to determine eligibility, but some countries further restrict eligibility based on sex, race, or religion.

Wolverley village in United Kingdom

Wolverley is a village; with nearby Cookley, it forms a civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. It is 2 mi north of Kidderminster and lies on the River Stour and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. At the time of the 2001 census, it had a population of 2,096.

The Conservatives success was put down to a strong campaign and they were expected to form the next administration. [11] This would be the first time in 15 years that the Conservatives would have control of Wyre Forest council, with the other parties saying they would not attempt to form a rival coalition leaving the way clear for the Conservatives. [10] The Conservatives were expected to attempt to implement their manifesto pledges including bringing a cinema to Kidderminster, changing car parking in Kidderminster and reviewing the fortnightly refuse collection. [10]

A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a new idea with prescriptive notions for carrying out changes the author believes should be made. It often is political or artistic in nature, but may present an individual's life stance. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds.

Kidderminster town and civil parish in Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, England

Kidderminster is a town in Worcestershire, England, 17 miles (27 km) south-west of Birmingham and 15 miles (24 km) north of Worcester. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 55,530. The town is twinned with Husum, Germany.

Waste collection public service

Waste collection is a part of the process of waste management. It is the transfer of solid waste from the point of use and disposal to the point of treatment or landfill. Waste collection also includes the curbside collection of recyclable materials that technically are not waste, as part of a municipal landfill diversion program.

Conservative control was confirmed at a council meeting on 30 June with Stephen Clee becoming leader of the council. [12] Meanwhile, Health Concern councillors chose Ken Stokes to become the new leader of their group on the council. [12]

Wyre Forest local election result 2004 [2] [13]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 19+845.238.626,373+11.5%
  Health Concern 8-819.025.817,650-1.2%
  Liberal 8+119.011.78,034-1.0%
  Labour 409.516.111,014-8.0%
  Liberal Democrat 204.85.83,945-3.0%
  Independent 1-12.42.01,381+1.6%

Ward results

Aggborough and Spennells (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Helen Dyke1,037
Liberal Democrat Peter Dyke946
Conservative Maureen Aston673
Liberal Democrat Samantha Walker654
Health Concern Keith Robertson560
Conservative Ian Siddall511
Health Concern Anthony Butcher482
Conservative Susan Godwin479
Labour Lesley Brown182
Turnout 5,52438.8
Areley Kings (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Maureen Mason841
Labour James Shaw733
Conservative Michael Partridge673
Conservative Allan Wood669
Labour James Cooper628
Health Concern Nigel Thomas606
Labour Albert Adams595
Independent Arthur Millington260
Turnout 5,00540.7
Bewdley and Arley (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Louise Edginton977
Health Concern Mavis Baillie918
Conservative Stephen Clee906
Health Concern Frank Baillie886
Health Concern Maxwell Keen859
Conservative Robert Court765
Labour Paul Gittins604
Turnout 5,91543.6
Blakedown and Chaddesley (2 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Stephen Williams925
Conservative Pauline Hayward867
Health Concern Harry Grove687
Labour Flora Wright166
Turnout 2,64547.0
Broadwaters (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Robert Wheway 770
Health Concern Kenneth Stokes723
Liberal Amanda Poole589
Health Concern Marian Spragg564
Liberal Michael Price526
Conservative Gordon Hinton412
Labour Stephen Hill362
Conservative Janette Adams345
Conservative Peter Dudley322
Turnout 4,61332.1
Cookley [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Christopher Nicholls43546.7
Conservative David Pittaway29631.8
Health Concern Graham Barker20121.6
Majority13914.9
Turnout 93250.4
Franche (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Jeffrey Baker774
Conservative Anne Hingley738
Health Concern Michael Shellie699
Health Concern Howard Martin693
Conservative Graeme Carruthers646
Health Concern Robert Spragg628
Labour Nigel Knowles625
Labour Geoffrey Morgan561
Labour Leroy Wright490
Turnout 5,85438.1
Greenhill (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Graham Ballinger1,045
Liberal Paul Harrison993
Liberal Rachel Lewis864
Health Concern Christopher Gadd518
Health Concern Pauline Stokes456
Conservative John Aston324
Conservative Geoffrey Bulmer324
Conservative David Muston306
Independent Tavis Pitt265
Turnout 5,09533.9
Habberley and Blakebrook (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Lynn Hyde931
Labour Michael Kelly825
Conservative Arthur Buckley804
Labour Trevor Bennett771
Health Concern Elizabeth Davies766
Conservative Kenneth Prosser735
Health Concern George Eeles705
Conservative Keith Fletcher670
Turnout 6,20744.1
Lickhill (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Health Concern Brian Glass939
Health Concern Jill Fairbrother-Millis896
Health Concern Irene Dolan768
Conservative David Little696
Conservative Ian Cresswell592
Conservative Michael Freeman553
Labour Donovan Giles344
Labour Roger Green315
Turnout 5,10334.3
Mitton (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative John Holden758
Conservative June Salter748
Health Concern Patricia Rimell736
Conservative Michael Salter691
Health Concern Dixon Sheppard671
Liberal Democrat Peter Barrass505
Labour David Keogh-Smith314
Labour Gary Watson284
Turnout 4,70735.1
Offmore and Comberton (3 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Frances Oborski1,186
Liberal Michael Oborski1,043
Liberal Siriol Hayward1,018
Conservative Margaret Gregory561
Conservative Sheila Harrold540
Conservative Gillian Onslow539
Labour Keith Budden415
Turnout 5,30240.4
Oldington and Foley Park (2 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Nathan Desmond493
Conservative Susan Meekings414
Health Concern Peter Young373
Labour James Brown299
Labour John Gretton291
Liberal Democrat Clive Parsons195
Turnout 2,06531.6
Rock [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent John Simmonds48853.7
Conservative Douglas Godwin42046.3
Majority687.4
Turnout 90846.2
Sutton Park (3 seats) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Marcus Hart1,001
Conservative James Dudley931
Conservative John-Paul Campion852
Health Concern Jennifer Harrison619
Health Concern Anthony Greenfield606
Liberal Democrat Martin Meredith375
Labour William Bradley301
Liberal Democrat Stanley Ratcliff233
Turnout 4,91835.2
Wolverley [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Malcolm Hazlewood43946.4
Independent Nigel Addison36838.9
Labour Conrad Bourne13914.7
Majority717.5
Turnout 94654.4
Wribbenhall (2 seats) [13] [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative William Jones621
Health Concern Anthony Williams574
Conservative Gordon Yarranton542
Health Concern Derek Killingworth517
Labour Barry McFarland404
Turnout 2,65839.0

By-elections between 2004 and 2006

A by-election was held in Aggborough and Spennells after the death of Conservative councillor Maureen Aston. [15] Candidates at the election included the former leader of the council Howard Martin for Health Concern, a former councillor for the ward, Adrian Sewell for Labour, and the first Green party candidate for an election to Wyre Forest District Council, Kate Spohrer. [15] The seat was held by Conservative John Aston, husband of the former councillor, with a majority of 63 votes over Liberal Democrat Samantha Walker. [15]

Aggborough and Spennells by-election 27 October 2005 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative John Aston52740.0+15.3
Liberal Democrat Samantha Walker46435.2-12.8
Health Concern Howard Martin18514.0-6.6
Labour Adrian Sewell1088.2+1.5
Green Katherine Spohrer332.5+2.5
Majority634.8
Turnout 1,31724.7-14.1
Conservative hold Swing

Related Research Articles

Independent Community and Health Concern, previously Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern is a political party based in Kidderminster, United Kingdom. It grew out of the campaign to restore the casualty unit at Kidderminster Hospital, and the National Health Service is still its primary focus, but the party has since diversified. Since 2015 it has also been known as the Wyre Forest Independent Party and has successfully contested local elections within the Wyre Forest local government area, which includes Kidderminster.

Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Wyre Forest is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The current MP is Mark Garnier of the Conservative Party who was elected at the 2010 general election.

Wyre Forest District Non-metropolitan district in England

Wyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England, covering the towns of Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, and several civil parishes and their villages. Its council was previously based in Stourport-on-Severn, but moved to new purpose built offices on the outskirts of Kidderminster in 2012.

The 1999 Bromsgrove District Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Bromsgrove district council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from the Labour party.

The 1998 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.

The 1999 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

The 2000 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

2002 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2002 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

2003 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2003 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

2006 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2006 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

2007 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2007 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

2008 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2008 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

2007 Worcester City Council election

The 2007 Worcester City Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Worcester District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.

2010 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2010 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

2011 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2011 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.

2012 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2012 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

2014 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2014 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

The 1999 Wychavon District Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Wychavon District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

2015 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2015 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by nine. The Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

References

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  11. Smith, Sue (2004-06-12). "Council Elections: Wyre Forest: Good gains but no clear winner". Birmingham Post. p. 4.
  12. 1 2 "Schools row marks Tory takeover". Malvern Gazette . 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Election results 2004" (PDF). Political Science Resources. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
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  15. 1 2 3 "Tories win district by-election". Worcestershire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, and Shropshire Counties Publications. NewsBank. 28 October 2005.
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