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2004 Wyre Forest District Council election

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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.

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]

Background

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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]

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

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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]

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]

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]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 19 +8 45.2 38.6 26,373 +11.5%
  Health Concern 8 -8 19.0 25.8 17,650 -1.2%
  Liberal 8 +1 19.0 11.7 8,034 -1.0%
  Labour 4 0 9.5 16.1 11,014 -8.0%
  Liberal Democrats 2 0 4.8 5.8 3,945 -3.0%
  Independent 1 -1 2.4 2.0 1,381 +1.6%

Ward results

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Aggborough and Spennells (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Helen Dyke 1,037
Liberal Democrats Peter Dyke 946
Conservative Maureen Aston 673
Liberal Democrats Samantha Walker 654
Health Concern Keith Robertson 560
Conservative Ian Siddall 511
Health Concern Anthony Butcher 482
Conservative Susan Godwin 479
Labour Lesley Brown 182
Turnout 5,524 38.8
Areley Kings (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Maureen Mason 841
Labour James Shaw 733
Conservative Michael Partridge 673
Conservative Allan Wood 669
Labour James Cooper 628
Health Concern Nigel Thomas 606
Labour Albert Adams 595
Independent Arthur Millington 260
Turnout 5,005 40.7
Bewdley and Arley (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Louise Edginton 977
Health Concern Mavis Baillie 918
Conservative Stephen Clee 906
Health Concern Frank Baillie 886
Health Concern Maxwell Keen 859
Conservative Robert Court 765
Labour Paul Gittins 604
Turnout 5,915 43.6
Blakedown and Chaddesley (2 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Williams 925
Conservative Pauline Hayward 867
Health Concern Harry Grove 687
Labour Flora Wright 166
Turnout 2,645 47.0
Broadwaters (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Wheway 770
Health Concern Kenneth Stokes 723
Liberal Amanda Poole 589
Health Concern Marian Spragg 564
Liberal Michael Price 526
Conservative Gordon Hinton 412
Labour Stephen Hill 362
Conservative Janette Adams 345
Conservative Peter Dudley 322
Turnout 4,613 32.1
Cookley[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Christopher Nicholls 435 46.7
Conservative David Pittaway 296 31.8
Health Concern Graham Barker 201 21.6
Majority 139 14.9
Turnout 932 50.4
Franche (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeffrey Baker 774
Conservative Anne Hingley 738
Health Concern Michael Shellie 699
Health Concern Howard Martin 693
Conservative Graeme Carruthers 646
Health Concern Robert Spragg 628
Labour Nigel Knowles 625
Labour Geoffrey Morgan 561
Labour Leroy Wright 490
Turnout 5,854 38.1
Greenhill (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Graham Ballinger 1,045
Liberal Paul Harrison 993
Liberal Rachel Lewis 864
Health Concern Christopher Gadd 518
Health Concern Pauline Stokes 456
Conservative John Aston 324
Conservative Geoffrey Bulmer 324
Conservative David Muston 306
Independent Tavis Pitt 265
Turnout 5,095 33.9
Habberley and Blakebrook (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lynn Hyde 931
Labour Michael Kelly 825
Conservative Arthur Buckley 804
Labour Trevor Bennett 771
Health Concern Elizabeth Davies 766
Conservative Kenneth Prosser 735
Health Concern George Eeles 705
Conservative Keith Fletcher 670
Turnout 6,207 44.1
Lickhill (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Health Concern Brian Glass 939
Health Concern Jill Fairbrother-Millis 896
Health Concern Irene Dolan 768
Conservative David Little 696
Conservative Ian Cresswell 592
Conservative Michael Freeman 553
Labour Donovan Giles 344
Labour Roger Green 315
Turnout 5,103 34.3
Mitton (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Holden 758
Conservative June Salter 748
Health Concern Patricia Rimell 736
Conservative Michael Salter 691
Health Concern Dixon Sheppard 671
Liberal Democrats Peter Barrass 505
Labour David Keogh-Smith 314
Labour Gary Watson 284
Turnout 4,707 35.1
Offmore and Comberton (3 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frances Oborski 1,186
Liberal Michael Oborski 1,043
Liberal Siriol Hayward 1,018
Conservative Margaret Gregory 561
Conservative Sheila Harrold 540
Conservative Gillian Onslow 539
Labour Keith Budden 415
Turnout 5,302 40.4
Oldington and Foley Park (2 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathan Desmond 493
Conservative Susan Meekings 414
Health Concern Peter Young 373
Labour James Brown 299
Labour John Gretton 291
Liberal Democrats Clive Parsons 195
Turnout 2,065 31.6
Rock[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Simmonds 488 53.7
Conservative Douglas Godwin 420 46.3
Majority 68 7.4
Turnout 908 46.2
Sutton Park (3 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Hart 1,001
Conservative James Dudley 931
Conservative John-Paul Campion 852
Health Concern Jennifer Harrison 619
Health Concern Anthony Greenfield 606
Liberal Democrats Martin Meredith 375
Labour William Bradley 301
Liberal Democrats Stanley Ratcliff 233
Turnout 4,918 35.2
Wolverley[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Malcolm Hazlewood 439 46.4
Independent Nigel Addison 368 38.9
Labour Conrad Bourne 139 14.7
Majority 71 7.5
Turnout 946 54.4
Wribbenhall (2 seats)[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Jones 621
Health Concern Anthony Williams 574
Conservative Gordon Yarranton 542
Health Concern Derek Killingworth 517
Labour Barry McFarland 404
Turnout 2,658 39.0

By-elections between 2004 and 2006

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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]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Aston 527 40.0 +15.3
Liberal Democrats Samantha Walker 464 35.2 −12.8
Health Concern Howard Martin 185 14.0 −6.6
Labour Adrian Sewell 108 8.2 +1.5
Green Katherine Spohrer 33 2.5 +2.5
Majority 63 4.8
Turnout 1,317 24.7 −14.1
Conservative hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Wyre Forest council". BBC News Online. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Elections 2004: Results at a glance". The Guardian. 12 June 2004. p. 10.
  3. ^ a b c d e "113 hopefuls for 43 seats". Malvern Gazette. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Voters go to polls to elect entire council". Malvern Gazette. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Chamberlain, Zoe (6 June 2004). "The Mag: Vote Mr & Mrs Domestic politics ; No fewer than 10 married couples are standing as candidates in the Wyre Forest District Council elections in Worcestershire on Thursday. Can the heady mix of politics and marriage lead to domestic bliss? Lifestyle Editor Zoe Chamberlain finds out". Sunday Mercury. p. 34.
  6. ^ "Ten couples in bid for votes". Malvern Gazette. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Local council election nominations: Hung councils are up for grabs". Birmingham Mail. 8 June 2004. p. 30.
  8. ^ a b "Election 2004: Town bucks trend". Birmingham Mail. 12 June 2004. p. 7.
  9. ^ a b "Tories are biggest party". Malvern Gazette. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ a b c d "Tories ready to rule - how the new district council is made up". Malvern Gazette. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Smith, Sue (12 June 2004). "Council Elections: Wyre Forest: Good gains but no clear winner". Birmingham Post. p. 4.
  12. ^ a b "Schools row marks Tory takeover". Malvern Gazette. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Election results 2004" (PDF). Political Science Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Full list of results". Malvern Gazette. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ a b c "Tories win district by-election". Worcestershire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, and Shropshire Counties Publications. NewsBank. 28 October 2005.
  16. ^ "District Council election" (PDF). Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
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