Map of the results of the 2011 Torridge District Council election. Conservatives in blue, Independents in grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red and Green party in green.

The 2011 Torridge District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Torridge District Council in Devon, England. The whole council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]

Background

At the previous election in 2007 no party won a majority on the council with 13 Conservative, 13 independent, 8 Liberal Democrats and 2 Green party councillors elected.[2] However between 2007 and 2011 there were a number of changes on the council, with 3 Liberal Democrat councillors, Caroline Church, Simon Inch and Tony Inch, quitting the party in July 2007 to sit as independents.[3] All 3 would then join the Conservatives, with Simon and Tony Inch joining the Conservatives in April 2010 to back the local Conservative Member of Parliament Geoffrey Cox at the 2010 general election.[4][5] There were also 2 by-elections in 2009, with the Liberal Democrats gaining a seat in Hartland and Bradworthy from an independent, but also losing a seat in Holsworthy to another independent.[6][7]

11 of the 36 councillors stood down at the election, including the leader of the Conservative council James Morrish.[5] A total of 80 candidates stood at the election for the 36 seats contested, 25 Conservatives, 23 Liberal Democrats, 18 independents, 6 Labour and 4 each from the Green Party and UK Independence Party.[5] 3 independent candidates were elected with no opposition, Phil Pennington in Monkleigh and Littleham, Ken James in Tamarside and David Lausen in Winkleigh,[5] down from 7 unopposed candidates at the 2007 election.[2] Meanwhile, Len Ford, who had represented Appledore as a Liberal Democrat councillor, had left the party and contested Bideford East as an independent.[5]

Election result

The Conservatives won half of the seats on the council, falling 1 seat short of winning a majority.[8] This was the closest any political party had come to having a majority since the first election to the council in 1973.[9] Overall turnout at the election was 45.2%,[10] up from 42.1% in 2007.[11] This ranged from a high of 57.2% in Three Moors to a low of 32.3% in Bideford South.[9]

Independents dropped to 10 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats rose to 6 seats and the Greens won 1 seat.[8] Meanwhile, Labour won their first seat on the council since 2003, after David Brenton gained a seat in Bideford South from the mayor of Bideford, Conservative Philip Pester.[12] He was one of 14 new councillors after the election.[9]

Following the election Conservative Barry Parsons became the new leader of the council.[13]

Torridge local election result 2011[10]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 18 3 1 +2 50.0 41.8 13,636 +10.9%
  Independent 10 0 4 -4 27.8 17.3 5,645 -10.5%
  Liberal Democrats 6 2 0 +2 16.7 26.2 8,545 -0.8%
  Labour 1 1 0 +1 2.8 6.8 2,207 +5.0%
  Green 1 0 1 -1 2.8 4.7 1,547 -4.7%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 3.2 1,044 +0.1%

Ward results

Appledore (2 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Eastman 576
Independent Barry Edwards 348
UKIP Kenneth Davis 283
Liberal Democrats Andrew Gill 264
Conservative James Jackson 252
Green Peter Hames 193
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Lee 87
Turnout 2,003 51.6 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Bideford East (3 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mervyn Langmead 609
Conservative Pauline Davies 553
Independent Stephen Clarke 445
Liberal Democrats Susan Rose 379
UKIP Gaston Dezart 365
Labour Ian Hopkins 289
Independent Leonard Ford 288
Independent Alan Rayner 184
Turnout 3,112 34.9 -1.5
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Bideford North (3 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Peter Christie 879
Liberal Democrats Trevor Johns 703
Conservative David Fulford 629
Liberal Democrats Hugo Barton 625
Conservative Mary Fulford 464
Labour Anne Brenton 445
Independent Emma Farrington 311
Turnout 4,056 42.6 +7.8
Green hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bideford South (3 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Inch 503
Conservative Simon Inch 495
Labour David Brenton 484
Conservative Philip Pester 469
Liberal Democrats Robert Wootton 414
Liberal Democrats Mel Bushell 335
Turnout 2,700 32.3 +4.5
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Broadheath[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Watson 401 53.7
Liberal Democrats John Worden 346 46.3
Majority 55 7.4
Turnout 747 56.2
Conservative hold Swing
Clinton[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Philip Collins 574 80.6 +22.5
Green William Douglas-Mann 138 19.4 +19.4
Majority 436 61.2 +44.9
Turnout 712 55.6 +0.6
Independent hold Swing
Clovelly Bay[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adam Symons 481 67.9
Conservative Alison Boyle 227 32.1
Majority 254 35.9
Turnout 708 54.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Coham Bridge[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gloria Tabor 543 74.2
Liberal Democrats James Richardson 189 25.8
Majority 354 48.4
Turnout 732 56.4
Conservative hold Swing
Forest[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Parsons 592 85.1 +25.0
Liberal Democrats Julie Adnams-Hatch 104 14.9 +14.9
Majority 488 70.1 +49.9
Turnout 696 50.0 -1.7
Conservative hold Swing
Hartland and Bradworthy (2 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Redwood 494
Liberal Democrats Anna Dart 473
Conservative Anthony Brewington 401
Independent Andrea Chick 271
Conservative Michael Footitt 245
UKIP Robin Julian 188
Green Keith Funnell 177
Turnout 2,249 53.2 +2.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Holsworthy (2 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Footitt 741
Liberal Democrats Howard Ratledge 493
Liberal Democrats Charlene Le-Roy 489
Turnout 1,723 41.4 -5.4
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Kenwith[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kathy Murdoch 406 56.3 +1.8
Liberal Democrats Karen Heard 162 22.5 +22.5
Labour Geoffrey Hastings 153 21.2 +21.2
Majority 244 33.8 +24.8
Turnout 721 51.3 +4.5
Conservative hold Swing
Monkleigh and Littleham[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Phil Pennington unopposed
Independent hold Swing
Northam (3 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jane Whittaker 1,003
Conservative Roger Johnson 939
Conservative John Himan 924
Liberal Democrats David Berryman 589
Liberal Democrats Kay Renton 526
Labour David Rowe 524
Turnout 4,505 43.5 +5.9
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Green Swing
Orchard Hill[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Christopher Leather 475 73.4 -2.0
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Symons 172 26.6 +2.0
Majority 303 46.8 -4.0
Turnout 647 44.6 -0.6
Independent hold Swing
Shebbear and Langtree[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Lewis 468 63.2 +10.8
Liberal Democrats John Watson 273 36.8 -10.8
Majority 195 26.3 +21.5
Turnout 741 49.2 -3.7
Conservative hold Swing
Tamarside[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ken James unopposed
Independent hold Swing
Three Moors[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rosemary Lock 532 67.4 +4.8
Green Colin Jones 160 20.3 +20.3
Liberal Democrats Theresa Seligmann 97 12.3 -25.1
Majority 372 47.1 +21.9
Turnout 789 57.2 -7.6
Conservative hold Swing
Torrington (3 seats)[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Boyd 809
Independent Margaret Brown 792
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Lee 641
Independent David Cox 480
Labour Heathcliffe Pettifer 312
Liberal Democrats Robert Jollands 209
UKIP Shirley Griffin 208
Turnout 3,451 38.8 +1.3
Conservative hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Two Rivers[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harold Martin 465 61.3
Independent Adrian Freeland 294 38.7
Majority 171 22.5
Turnout 759 55.0
Conservative hold Swing
Waldon[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Robert Hicks 382 54.2
Independent James Lowe 323 45.8
Majority 59 8.4
Turnout 705 51.9
Independent hold Swing
Westward Ho![10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Roger Tisdale 478 55.1 +7.4
Conservative Maria Bailey 390 44.9 +15.9
Majority 88 10.1 -8.5
Turnout 868 48.2 +6.7
Independent hold Swing
Winkleigh[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Lausen unopposed
Independent hold Swing

By-elections between 2011 and 2015

Shebbear and Langtree

A by-election was held in Shebbear and Langtree ward on 15 August 2013 after Conservative councillor John Lewis resigned from the council.[14] David Hurley held the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of 23 votes.[15]

Shebbear and Langtree by-election 15 August 2013[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Hurley 240 47.2 -15.9
UKIP Penny Mills 217 42.7 +42.7
Green Colin Jones 41 8.1 +8.1
Independent Bob Wooton 10 2.0 +2.0
Majority 23 4.5 -21.8
Turnout 508 32.0 -17.2
Conservative hold Swing

Torrington

A by-election was held in Torrington ward after Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Lee resigned from the council due to leaving the area.[17] The seat was gained for the Green party by Cathrine Simmons with a majority of 111 votes.[17]

Torrington by-election 5 September 2013[16][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Cathrine Simmons 292 35.3 +35.3
UKIP Robin Julian 181 21.9 +15.4
Independent David Cox 160 19.3 -5.1
Independent Adrian Freeland 106 12.8 -2.0
Conservative Philip Pester 89 10.7 -14.2
Majority 111 13.4
Turnout 828 19.3 -19.5
Green gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Bideford East

A by-election was held in Bideford East ward on 20 March 2014 after the death of independent councillor Steve Clarke.[19] The seat was won by another independent Sam Robinson by a majority of 145 votes.[20]

Bideford East by-election 20 March 2014[16][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Samuel Robinson 295 39.5 +22.1
Conservative Dermot McGeough 150 20.1 -3.7
Labour James Craigie 140 18.7 +7.4
Independent David Ratcliff 106 14.2 -3.2
Liberal Democrats Robert Wootton 39 5.2 -9.6
Independent Alan Smith 17 2.3 -15.1
Majority 145 19.4
Turnout 747 15.6 -19.3
Independent hold Swing

Kenwith

A by-election was held on 10 July 2014 for Kenwith ward after independent councillor Kathy Murdoch resigned from the council.[21] Kathy Murdoch had been elected as a Conservative but left the party to sit as an independent in June 2012.[22] The seat was gained for the Conservatives by Alison Boyle with a majority of 37 votes.[23]

Kenwith by-election 10 July 2014[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alison Boyle 136 29.8 -26.5
UKIP Derek Sargent 99 21.7 +21.7
Independent David Gale 98 21.5 +21.5
Independent Hugh Bone 69 15.1 +15.1
Green Simon Mathers 28 6.1 +6.1
Labour Geoff Hastings 26 5.7 -15.5
Majority 37 8.1 -25.7
Turnout 456 32.0 -19.3
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

References

  1. ^ "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Indies loss leaves Torridge hung". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Three quit over 'stripogram' row". BBC News Online. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Lib Dem pair defect to back Conservative MP". The Herald. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e Churchill, Laura (7 April 2011). "Third of tdc council not standing in may". North Devon Journal. NewsBank.
  6. ^ "Tributes follow death of Hartland councillor Bill Pillman". North Devon Journal. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Pam Johns joins Torridge District Council". Express & Echo. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Tories retain control of city council". Herald Express. NewsBank. 7 May 2011. p. 4.
  9. ^ a b c Churchill, Laura (12 May 2011). "New faces, but still no party rule at torridge". North Devon Journal. NewsBank.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Full District Council Elections Results 5 May 2011". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  11. ^ Churchill, Laura (21 April 2011). "What lies ahead for 'improved' council?". North Devon Journal. NewsBank.
  12. ^ "Unitary and district council election results". Western Morning News. NewsBank. 7 May 2011.
  13. ^ Churchill, Laura (26 May 2011). "Tory to be leader of hung council". North Devon Journal. NewsBank.
  14. ^ "UKIP accuses rivals of "dirty tricks" in North Devon by-election". North Devon Journal. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  15. ^ a b "David Hurley elected as Shebbear and Langtree councillor". North Devon Journal. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  16. ^ a b c "Local Authority Byelection Results". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  17. ^ a b Howells, Sarah (6 September 2013). "Green Party wins district council seat". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Declaration of result of poll". Torridge District Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  19. ^ Gussin, Tony (18 March 2014). "Bideford by-election for Steve Clarke's seats". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Declaration of result of poll". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  21. ^ Howells, Sarah (4 June 2014). "Torridge by-election as Kenwith councillor resigns". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Tory councillors making Independent move". North Devon Journal. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Declaration of result of poll". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
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