2003 South Lakeland District Council election

The 2003 South Lakeland District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of South Lakeland District Council in Cumbria, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Background

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats, the Conservatives 19, Labour 9 and independents 3.[3] 17 seats were being contested with the Conservatives defending 10, the Liberal Democrats 6 and an independent 1 seat.[3] 2 sitting Liberal Democrat councillors stood down at the election, Patricia Himsworth in Arnside and Beetham, and Claire Chorley in Burneside.[3][4]

Major issues in the election included housing, regeneration, recycling, public toilets,[5] affordable transport and refuse collection.[6]

Election result

The results saw the Liberal Democrats remain the largest party with 23 seats,[7] but without a majority, after gaining 2 seats from the Conservatives in Cartmel and Low Furness & Swarthmoor and 1 seat from an independent in Whinfell.[3] However the Conservatives did take 1 seat back from the Liberal Democrats in Arnside & Beetham to hold 18 seats.[3] Labour remained on 9 seats, while independents dropped to 2 seats.[3] Overall turnout in the election was 44%, with a low of 33.9% in Windermere Applethwaite to a high of 54.2% in Kirkby Lonsdale.[3]

South Lakeland Local Election Result 2003[3][8]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 9 1 2 -1 52.9 49.7 7,923 +19.1%
  Liberal Democrats 8 3 1 +2 47.1 43.7 6,967 -2.1%
  Independent 0 0 1 -1 0 5.4 854 +3.9%
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 198 -20.9%

Ward results
Arnside and Beetham[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Rollins 906 47.3 +0.4
Liberal Democrats Brenda Tidmarsh-Stephen 812 42.4 -6.4
Labour Jocelyn Innes 198 10.3 N/A
Majority 94 4.9
Turnout 1,916 54.1 +10.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Broughton[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joss Curwen* 700 75.7 -16.6
Liberal Democrats John Humberstone 225 24.3 -68.0
Majority 475 51.4
Turnout 925 48.9 +2.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
  • Joss Curwen was originally elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor.
Burneside[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Frank Hodson 385 60.6 -23.0
Conservative Stephen Procter 250 39.4 N/A
Majority 135 21.2
Turnout 635 40.7 +7.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Cartmel[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Howard Martin 364 54.2 N/A
Conservative Leslie Hadwin* 308 45.8 +45.8
Majority 56 8.4
Turnout 672 44.6 +44.6
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
  • Leslie Hadwin was originally elected unopposed as an Independent councillor.
Crake Valley[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Noel Spendlove* 360 65.9 -2.7
Conservative Robert Webster 186 34.1 +2.7
Majority 174 31.8
Turnout 546 37.9 -3.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Crooklands[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Galbraith 440 51.0 -20.0
Liberal Democrats Sheila Eccles 423 49.0 +27.8
Majority 17 2.0
Turnout 863 49.0 +11.4
Conservative hold Swing
Grange[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Parker 907 53.0 -3.1
Liberal Democrats Ronald Shapland 803 47.0 +9.0
Majority 104 6.0
Turnout 1,710 46.7 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing
Holker[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Manning* 519 67.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Susan Rawsthorn 246 32.2 N/A
Majority 273 35.6
Turnout 765 51.9 +51.9
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
  • John Manning had previously been elected in a by-election.
Kirkby Lonsdale[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barclay Stainton 629 61.2 -4.6
Independent Alan Day 338 32.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Christopher Lansdowne 61 5.9 N/A
Majority 291 28.3
Turnout 1,028 54.2 +0.6
Conservative hold Swing
Lakes Ambleside[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Vatcher* 499 45.1 -0.5
Conservative Brian Barton 480 43.4 +24.7
Independent George Middleton 127 11.5 -24.5
Majority 19 1.7
Turnout 1,106 36.2 -2.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Low Furness & Swarthmoor[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sonjie Marshall 710 52.6 -1.0
Conservative William Tyson* 640 47.4 +23.4
Majority 70 5.2
Turnout 1,350 39.7 +1.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
  • William Tyson had been elected at a by-election for the Conservative Party.
Sedbergh[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Lancaster* 697 71.4 +11.2
Liberal Democrats Sydney McLennan 279 28.6 +10.1
Majority 418 42.8
Turnout 976 34.5 -6.1
Conservative hold Swing
Whinfell[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Thornton 489 55.7 N/A
Independent William Robinson* 389 44.3 +44.3
Majority 110 11.4
Turnout 878 48.2 +48.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Windermere Applethwaite[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jennifer Borer* 343 60.7 -0.2
Liberal Democrats Audrey Ahmad 222 39.3 +0.2
Majority 121 21.4
Turnout 565 33.9 -2.1
Conservative hold Swing
Windermere Bowness North[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Deidre Cranwell* 478 57.1 +4.3
Conservative Martin Hall 359 42.9 +9.1
Majority 119 14.2
Turnout 837 52.7 +5.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Windermere Bowness South[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jane Hoyle* 410 75.9 +16.6
Liberal Democrats Helen Scott-Parker 130 24.1 -16.6
Majority 280 51.8
Turnout 540 38.5 +2.0
Conservative hold Swing
Windermere Town[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kathleen Atkinson* 481 76.3 +27.7
Conservative Elizabeth Graham 149 23.7 -12.4
Majority 332 52.6
Turnout 630 37.4 -3.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References
  1. "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  2. "Local council election results". The Daily Telegraph. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  3. "Local Council Elections May 2003". South Lakeland District Council. Archived from the original on 6 June 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. "Election: Lib Dem women bow out". The Westmorland Gazette. 11 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  5. "Election: Battle lines are drawn in the fight for votes". The Westmorland Gazette. 11 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  6. "Election: Candidates in the running". The Westmorland Gazette. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  7. "Election: No change of power at South Lakeland District Council". The Westmorland Gazette. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  8. "Local Elections 1 May 2003". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
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