2015 West Dorset District Council election

The 2015 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 7 May 2015 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as the general election other district council elections in the United Kingdom. A series of boundary changes saw the number of councillors reduced from 48 to 44.[1]

2015 West Dorset District Council election
← 2011 7 May 2015

44 seats to West Dorset District Council
22 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Con
LD
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats
Last election 32 seats, 43.0% 11 seats, 34.5%
Seats won 30 12
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 1
Popular vote 43,608 29,432
Percentage 44.6% 30.1%
Swing Increase 1.6% Decrease 4.4%

Map showing the results of the 2015 West Dorset District Council elections.

Council control before election

Conservative

Council control after election

Conservative

These were the final elections of the district council, before its abolition on 1 April 2019 when it was merged with the other districts of Dorset and Dorset County Council to form a new unitary authority Dorset Council.

The 2015 election saw the Conservatives maintain majority control of the council taking 30 of the 44 seats up for election.

Overall results

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West Dorset District Council
Party Candidates Votes
Stood Elected Gained Unseated Net % of total % No. Net %
  Conservative 39 30   2 68.2% 44.6% 43,608   1.6%
  Liberal Democrats 34 12   1 27.3% 30.1% 29,432   4.4%
  Green 27 0   0% 12.8% 12,474   9.1%
  Labour 16 0   0% 7.7% 7,569   2.7%
  UKIP 7 0   0% 2.6% 2,561   1.8%
  Independent 4 0   5 0% 2.1% 2,087   5.5%

Ward results

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Beaminster

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Beaminster (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Paul Robin Alford 1,393 44.0 +1.2
Conservative Peter Nathaniel David Barrowcliff 1,364
Liberal Democrats Jan Page * 1,254 39.6 –11.4
Liberal Democrats Chris Turner 855
Green Kerry-Anne Gould 548 13.8 N/A
Turnout 3,207 75.00 +20.55
Registered electors 4,276
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Bridport North

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Bridport North (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ros Kayes * 1,921 47.3
Conservative Ronald William Coatsworth * 1,526 37.6
Conservative Keith Allan Day * 1,286
Conservative Jeremy Patrick Brodie 1,253
Liberal Democrats Sarah Anne Horniman 942
Liberal Democrats Gill Massey 830
Green Julian Stephen Langton 824 20.3
Labour Nick Boothroyd 647 15.9
Labour Karen Ellis 509
Labour Ivan Gollop 465
Turnout 4,128 66.59
Registered electors 6,199
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Bridport South

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Bridport South (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sandra Ann Brown * 1,577 42.4
Liberal Democrats Dave Rickard 1,194 32.1
Conservative Frances Kathleen McKenzie * 1,173
Liberal Democrats Clare Jane Winterbottom 1,064
Independent David Robert Tett * 961 24.7
Green Kevin Charles Clayton 795 21.4
Green Christopher Rakoczi 650
Labour Debra Bates 644 17.3
Liberal Democrats Clare Jane Winterbottom 610
Labour Richard Howard Nicholls 570
Turnout 3,773 68.99
Registered electors 5,469
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Broadmayne & Crossways

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Broadmayne & Crossways (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Paul Bundy 928 41.8
Conservative Alan John Thacker * 688
Liberal Democrats Nick Ireland 557 25.1
Liberal Democrats Gillian Peason 519
Green Jo Archer 280 12.6
Labour Diana Ruth Staines 274 12.3
Independent Philip Howard Scull 168 7.6
Turnout 2,221 76.06
Registered electors 4,367
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Broadwindsor

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Broadwindsor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jacqui Sewell * 922 55.2 –17.7
Liberal Democrats Edward Gerrard 314 18.8 –8.3
UKIP Annemieke Blodeel 227 13.6 N/A
Green Kit Vaughan 208 12.4 N/A
Majority 608 36.4 –9.3
Turnout 1,687 76.89 +20.02
Registered electors 2,194
Conservative hold Swing

Burton Bradstock

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Burton Bradstock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Patrick Russell * 935 54.5 +4.7
Green Steve Meek 392 22.8 +2.1
Liberal Democrats Terry Harrison 390 22.7 –6.8
Majority 543 31.6 +11.3
Turnout 1,743 79.84 +16.40
Registered electors 2,183
Conservative hold Swing

Cerne Valley

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Cerne Valley (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Horsington 1,502 48.9
Conservative Timothy John Yarker 1,398
Liberal Democrats Iain Douglas Young 787 25.6
Liberal Democrats Jillian Annas Mahler 720
Green Anne Clements 643 20.9
Labour Lynda Ann Kiss 509 16.6
Turnout 3,115 75.15
Registered electors 4,145
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Chickerell & Chesil Bank

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Chickerell & Chesil Bank (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jean Dunseith * 1,889 48.2
Conservative Tom Bartlett * 1,734
Conservative Ian Charles Gardner * 1,711
Liberal Democrats Ryan Dean Hope 1,039 26.5
Green Vaughan Jones 986 25.2
Labour Robert William Kiss 975 24.9
Turnout 3,977 70.15
Registered electors 5,669
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Chideock & Symondsbury

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Chideock & Symondsbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon John Christopher 823 56.4 –3.6
Green Yen C Chong 349 23.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Philip Colfox 318 21.8 –18.2
Majority 474 32.5 +12.4
Turnout 1,483 73.42 +20.84
Registered electors 2,020
Conservative hold Swing

Dorchester East

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Dorchester East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stella Jones * 1,223 48.8 –9.6
Liberal Democrats Timothy Harries * 971
Conservative Liz Godolphin 752 30.0 +3.3
Green Jenny Shackleford 511 20.4 N/A
Labour Barry Thompson 508 20.3 –1.0
Green Len Herbert 372
Turnout 2,549 67.42 +17.74
Registered electors 3,781
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Dorchester North

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Dorchester North (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andy Canning * 1,042 35.6
Liberal Democrats Susie Hosford * 868
Liberal Democrats David Taylor 806
Independent Alistair Fraser Chisholm * 762 26.1
Conservative Ian Francois Bernard Gosling 722 24.7
Conservative Margaret Morrissey 718
Conservative Warwick Harry Taylor 646
Labour Claudia Catherine Sorin 493 16.9
UKIP Geoffrey Robin Markham 455 15.6
Green Vicki Waddington-Black 422 14.4
Green Libby Goodchild 416
Green Murray David Shackleford 309
Turnout 2,941 66.63
Registered electors 4,414
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Dorchester South

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Dorchester South (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Molly Rennie * 1,302 48.2 –12.4
Liberal Democrats Robert Potter * 1,007
Conservative Antony Gilbert Butler Stanley 786 29.1 +0.2
Labour Frances Thorpe Anderson 454 16.8 –9.1
UKIP Neale Hallett 434 16.1 N/A
Green Kate Penelope Forrester 421 15.6 N/A
Green Mark Stephen Smith 300
Turnout 2,726 76.08 +19.53
Registered electors 3,853
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Dorchester West

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Dorchester West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Trevor Jones * 1,152 45.3 –5.9
Conservative Gerald Edward Barnaby Duke 725 28.5 +8.2
Liberal Democrats Roland Garth Tarr 702
Conservative Peter Jonathon Stein 684
Labour Lee Rhodes 676 26.6 +8.3
Green Judith Caroline Edwards 577 22.7 N/A
Turnout 2,546 67.95 +17.31
Registered electors 3,747
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Frome Valley

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Frome Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mary Penfold * 1,099 72.2 +2.2
Green Rebekah Webb 424 27.8 –2.2
Majority 675 44.3 +4.3
Turnout 1,546 78.42 +18.11
Registered electors 1,974
Conservative hold Swing

Lyme Regis & Charmouth

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Lyme Regis & Charmouth (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Jacob Symonds * 1,470 50.3
Conservative Daryl Whane Turner * 1,461
Liberal Democrats Janice Ruth Gale 836 28.6
Green Matthew Daniel Holborow 606 20.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen William Trevethan 551
Independent Stephen Leonard Miller 196 6.7
Turnout 2,968 72.34
Registered electors 4,103
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Maiden Newton

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Maiden Newton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gill Haynes * 940 60.6 +4.2
Green Benjamin Tyler 375 24.2 N/A
Labour Co-op Geoff Freeman 237 15.3 –5.0
Majority 565 36.4 +3.4
Turnout 1,580 75.31 +18.38
Registered electors 2,098
Conservative hold Swing

Netherbury

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Netherbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Brandon Roberts * 919 57.4 +2.3
Liberal Democrats Anthea Carol Bay 406 25.4 –19.5
Green Richard Edwards 275 17.2 N/A
Majority 513 32.1 +22.0
Turnout 1,618 74.84 +35.14
Registered electors 2,162
Conservative hold Swing

Piddle Valley

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Piddle Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter John Hiscock 1,095 68.8 –7.2
Green Hilary Woodall 315 19.8 N/A
Labour David John Marriott 182 11.4 –12.6
Majority 780 49.0 –3.0
Turnout 1,614 74.24 +16.59
Registered electors 2,174
Conservative hold Swing

Puddletown

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Puddletown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Cooke * 893 57.1 +6.0
Liberal Democrats Mel Lane 300 19.2 –12.5
Labour Tony Gould 220 14.1 –3.1
Green Caspar Edward Hulacki 150 9.6 N/A
Majority 593 37.9 +18.5
Turnout 1,573 83.58 +27.63
Registered electors 2,053
Conservative hold Swing

Queen Thorne

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Queen Thorne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Andrew Gould * 1,017 67.0 –8.4
UKIP Peter Jenkins 274 18.2 N/A
Green Natalie Jane Miles 226 14.9 N/A
Majority 743 49.0 –1.8
Turnout 1,524 75.11 +17.26
Registered electors 2,029
Conservative hold Swing

Sherborne East

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Sherborne East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dominic Charles Elliott * 1,214 45.0 –2.7
Conservative Terence Peter Falmer * 1,119
Liberal Democrats Guy Justin Patterson 871 32.3 +5.2
Green Susan Greene 802 29.7 +13.9
UKIP David Platt 530 19.7 +6.2
Turnout 2,722 68.78 +17.81
Registered electors 3,959
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sherborne West

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Sherborne West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Matthew Nathan William Hall 927 42.4 +14.0
Conservative Peter Robert Shorland * 881 40.3 –10.2
Conservative Chris Shaw 831
Liberal Democrats Jan Palmer 792
UKIP Christopher Binding 410 18.8 +3.4
Turnout 2,238 68.71 +18.37
Registered electors 3,257
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Winterborne St Martin

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Winterborne St Martin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Philip Freeman 666 47.5 N/A
Green Matthew James McCourtie 298 21.3 N/A
UKIP Graham Richard Brant 231 16.5 N/A
Labour Hazel Jean Gant 206 14.7 –9.0
Majority 368 26.3 N/A
Turnout 1,409 71.56 +21.44
Registered electors 1,969
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Yetminster & Cam Vale

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Yetminster & Cam Vale (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Margaret Rose Lawrence * 1,497 50.8
Liberal Democrats Robin Andrew Shane Legg * 1,374 46.6
Conservative Christopher Lionel John Loder * 1,371
Liberal Democrats Michael John Sandy 988
Turnout 2,987 78.11
Registered electors 3,824
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

By-elections between 2015 and 2019

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Piddle Valley

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A by-election was held for the Piddle Valley ward of West Dorset County Council on 13 April 2017 following the resignation of Conservative councillor Peter Hiscock.

Piddle Valley by-election 13 April 2017[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Haynes 303 60.8 –8.0
Green Carol Rosemary Byrom 195 39.2 +19.4
Majority 108 21.6 –27.4
Turnout 498 23.74 –50.50
Registered electors 2,098
Conservative hold Swing

Lyme Regis & Charmouth

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A by-election was held for one of the two seats in the Lyme Regis & Charmouth ward of West Dorset County Council on 14 September 2017 following the resignation of Conservative councillor George Symonds.[3]

Lyme Regis & Charmouth by-election 14 September 2017
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Cheryl Lesley Reynolds 622 52.3 N/A
Conservative Paul Ronald Oatway 396 33.3 –17.0
Labour Belinda Bawden 171 14.4 N/A
Majority 226 19.0 N/A
Turnout 1,189 28.9
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Bridport North

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A by-election was held for one of the three seats in the Bridport North ward of West Dorset County Council on 22 February 2018 following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Ros Kayes.[4]

Bridport North by-election 22 February 2018[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derek Bussell 600 36.0 +5.0
Liberal Democrats Sarah Williams 500 30.0 −9.1
Labour Phyllida Culpin 383 23.0 +9.8
Green Julian Jones 184 11.0 −5.8
Majority 100 6.0
Turnout 1,667
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

References

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General
  • "West Dorset District Results" (PDF). West Dorset District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
Specific
  1. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The West Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Election of a District Councillor for the Piddle Valley Ward" (PDF). West Dorset District Council. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. ^ Evans, Francesca (26 July 2017). "District councillor resigns having 'lost faith in leader'". ViewNews. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. ^ ""She is an incredible councillor": Ros Kayes steps down from district and county roles". Bridport and Lyme Regis News. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Bridport North Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2023.