2011 Wealden District Council election

The 2011 Wealden District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

Map of the results of the 2011 Wealden council election. Conservatives in blue, independents in grey and Liberal Democrats in yellow.

Background

At the 2007 election the Conservatives retained control of Wealden council with 34 seats, compared to 12 for the Liberal Democrats, 7 independents and 2 Green party councillors.[2] However at a by-election in September 2008 the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives in Alfriston,[3] meaning that by 2011 there were 33 Conservatives and 13 Liberal Democrats, while the independents were split into 3 Independent Democrats and 4 Independents.[4]

The Conservatives were the only party with candidates for all 55 seats being contested in 35 wards[5] and they were guaranteed gains in Forest Row after the Green Party did not defend the seats they had won in 2007 and no other party stood in the ward.[4] The Liberal Democrats only put up 24 candidates, down from 35 in 2007, with the party not defending 2 seats in Crowborough, where Liberal Democrats councillors Jane Clark and Martin Prestage stood down at the election.[4] Meanwhile, Labour had 27 candidates, a substantial increase from only 3 in 2007.[4]

Election result

The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after gaining 14 seats, to have 47 of the 55 councillors.[6] This included winning all of the seats in Uckfield, where the party gained 4 seats from the Liberal Democrats.[7] The Conservative leader of the council, Bob Standley, described the results as a "ringing endorsement" of the policies of the Conservative council.[8] Overall turnout at the election was 49.5%, up from 38.51% in 2007.[9]

The Liberal Democrats lost 10 seats to only have 3 of the 13 councillors the party had held before the election.[8] Meanwhile, neither Labour, nor any other party, managed to win any seats,[6] with a spokesperson for Labour saying that Wealden was now "virtually a one party state".[8]

Independents won five seats, down two,[6] with four of those five being taken by members of the Shing family in Polegate and Willingdon,[10] and the final seat being won by a former mayor of Crowborough, Stephen Isted, in Crowborough Jarvis Brook.[8] This led to the Conservatives being criticised by anti-racism groups over comments on the party website saying that the Liberal Democrats had seen "the humiliation of the 'Shing' dynasty becoming the official opposition".[10]

Wealden local election result 2011[11][12]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 47 14 0 +14 85.5 61.3 51,007 +6.7%
  Independent 5 2 4 -2 9.1 11.6 9,668 -3.4%
  Liberal Democrats 3 0 10 -10 5.5 13.5 11,249 -9.9%
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 10.3 8,606 +9.7%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 1.7 1,447 +1.6%
  Green 0 0 2 -2 0 1.4 1,190 -4.6%
  English Democrat 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 73 -0.2%
  Motorists Equity & Unity Party 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 5 0.0%

4 Conservative candidates were unopposed at the election.[11]

Ward results
Alfriston[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Harris 606 51.2 -20.6
Liberal Democrats Andy Watkins 577 48.8 +20.6
Majority 29 2.5 -41.2
Turnout 1,183 60.1 +11.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Buxted and Maresfield (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman Buck 1,485
Conservative Ken Ogden 1,295
UKIP Dan Docker 437
Labour David Neeves 394
Turnout 3,611 51.5 +12.5
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Chiddingly and East Hoathley[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barby Dashwood-Hall 865 67.7 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Barbara Holbrook 229 17.9 -15.9
Labour Jonathan Banatvala 184 14.4 N/A
Majority 638 49.8 +17.5
Turnout 1,278 51.9 +9.6
Conservative hold Swing
Cross-in-Hand/Five Ashes[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonica Fox unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Crowborough East (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carol Reynolds 1,026
Conservative David Larkin 950
Labour Christopher Harris 549
Turnout 2,525 40.3 +6.8
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Crowborough Jarvis Brook[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Stephen Isted 330 41.8 N/A
Conservative Matthew Eade 261 33.1 -10.5
Green Colin Stocks 100 12.7 +1.3
Labour Roger McCarthy 98 12.4 +12.4
Majority 69 8.7
Turnout 789 40.2 +14.9
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Crowborough North (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Waller 1,464
Conservative Mark Weaver 1,218
Labour Sonja Le Vay 526
Turnout 3,208 45.6 +7.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Crowborough St Johns[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jim Hollins 871 82.3 +22.9
Labour Nicholas Levine 187 17.7 +11.7
Majority 684 64.7 +29.3
Turnout 1,058 53.9 +13.5
Conservative hold Swing
Crowborough West (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Diane Phillips 1,387
Conservative Antony Quin 1,225
Labour Brendan Clegg 517
Turnout 3,129 48.9 +14.0
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Danehill/Fletching/Nutley (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roy Galley 1,593
Conservative Peter Roundell 1,284
Liberal Democrats Martha Whittle 979
Labour Kirsten Morris 304
Turnout 4,160 53.7
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
East Dean[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Peck 868 74.8 -6.8
Liberal Democrats John Edrich 293 25.2 +6.8
Majority 575 49.5 -13.7
Turnout 1,161 61.7 +10.9
Conservative hold Swing
Forest Row (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Holloway unopposed
Conservative Rowena Moore unopposed
Conservative gain from Green Swing
Conservative gain from Green Swing
Framfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ann Newton 873 75.9 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Linda Graham 146 12.7 -8.8
Labour Elisabeth Rumbold 131 11.4 N/A
Majority 727 63.2 +12.2
Turnout 1,150 52.5 +7.2
Conservative hold Swing
Frant/Withyham[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Johanna Howell 1,391
Conservative John Padfield 1,210
Green Keith Obbard 708
Labour Nicholas Le Prevost 415
Turnout 3,724 56.4 +16.9
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Hailsham Central and North (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Collinson 957
Conservative Barry Marlowe 861
Liberal Democrats Paul Holbrook 625
Liberal Democrats Marc Benier 528
Labour Martin Corfe 345
Turnout 3,316 42.3 +6.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Hailsham East[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stuart Towner 282 45.4 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Brian Cock 145 23.3 -31.4
Labour Anthony Bailey 121 19.5 N/A
English Democrat Kevin Moore 73 11.8 N/A
Majority 137 22.1
Turnout 621 31.5 +1.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Hailsham South and West (3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Bentley 1,252
Conservative Nigel Coltman 1,115
Conservative Chriss Triandafyllou 842
Independent Geoff Rowe 753
Liberal Democrats Ann Murrey 628
Liberal Democrats Eddy Powell 617
Labour Michelle Moore 486
Turnout 5,693 38.0 +8.9
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Hartfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Hardy 822 76.7 +16.1
Liberal Democrats Valerie Banks 250 23.3 -3.7
Majority 572 53.4 +19.7
Turnout 1,072 50.0 -2.5
Conservative hold Swing
Heathfield East[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel McKeeman 705 70.2
Independent Bob Bowdler 299 29.8
Majority 406 40.4
Turnout 1,004 51.3
Conservative hold Swing
Heathfield North and Central (3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dick Angel 1,763
Conservative Peter Newnham 1,660
Conservative Jan Dunk 1,646
Labour Gill Roles 741
Turnout 5,810 43.6 +10.4
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Hellingly (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David White 961
Liberal Democrats John Blake 954
Conservative Kevin Balsdon 739
Conservative Peter Bucklitsch 647
Labour Louise Orbell 268
Turnout 3,569 43.8 +4.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Herstmonceux[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andy Long 612 61.0 -8.0
Independent Laurence Keeley 391 39.0 +8.0
Majority 221 22.0 -16.0
Turnout 1,003 46.3 +8.7
Conservative hold Swing
Horam[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Susan Stedman unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Mayfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Redman 867 76.5 +4.2
Labour Patricia Robson 267 23.5 N/A
Majority 600 52.9 -5.5
Turnout 1,134 54.3 +10.6
Conservative hold Swing
Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Pam Doodes 764 81.6 -1.5
Labour Ben Sturgess 172 18.4 N/A
Majority 592 63.2 -2.9
Turnout 936 48.6 +9.4
Conservative hold Swing
Pevensey and Westham (3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dianne Dear 1,788
Conservative Bill Tooley 1,660
Conservative Lin McKeever 1,618
UKIP Mike Pursglove 954
Labour Bob Milton 697
Labour Robert Slater 665
Turnout 7,382 42.3 +10.6
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Polegate North (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Oi Shing 1,017
Liberal Democrats Roy Martin 680
Conservative Edward Board 544
Independent John Harmer 526
Conservative Simon Popek 402
Liberal Democrats Hazel Thorn 336
Labour Alex Mthobi 148
Turnout 3,653 49.8 +7.0
Independent hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Polegate South[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Shing 493 49.4 +12.6
Liberal Democrats Chris Berry 181 18.2 -18.7
Conservative Wendy Alexander 152 15.2 -11.2
Independent Timothy Voyce 110 11.0 N/A
UKIP Bernie Goodwin 56 5.6 N/A
Motorists Equity & Unity Party Pete Sayers 5 0.5 N/A
Majority 312 31.2
Turnout 997 49.7 +8.0
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Rotherfield[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Huw Merriman 829 79.6 +1.9
Labour Abbie Churton 213 20.4 N/A
Majority 616 59.1 +3.7
Turnout 1,042 53.6 +10.9
Conservative hold Swing
Uckfield Central[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Dowling 749 61.3 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Sparks 319 26.1 -15.9
Labour Jason Scott-Taggart 154 12.6 +12.6
Majority 430 35.2 +19.1
Turnout 1,222 51.3 +11.0
Conservative hold Swing
Uckfield New Town[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Helen Firth 452 48.4 +11.8
Liberal Democrats Sarah Hall 273 29.2 -34.2
Labour David Sudbery 209 22.4 N/A
Majority 179 19.2 -7.5
Turnout 934 44.8 +13.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Uckfield North (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Louise Eastwood 877
Conservative Michael Lunn 683
Liberal Democrats John Collins 498
Liberal Democrats Alan Whittaker 493
Labour Bruce Meredeen 268
Turnout 2,819 38.8 +8.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Uckfield Ridgewood[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Carvey 705 61.7 +13.3
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Sparks 269 23.6 -28.0
Labour Vanessa Setford-Smith 168 14.7 +14.7
Majority 436 38.1
Turnout 1,142 48.1 +7.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Wadhurst (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Standley 1,277
Conservative Graham Wells 1,229
Green Beth Martin 382
Independent Serena Gadd 307
Liberal Democrats Michael Cooper 206
Labour Felicity Harvest 204
Labour Christopher Morris 175
Independent Melissa Gates 146
Turnout 3,926 52.4 +14.0
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Willingdon (3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Stephen Shing 2,338
Independent Raymond Shing 2,151
Conservative Ronald Cussons 1,006
Conservative Douglas Murray 840
Independent Ray Ingram 807
Conservative Susan Hunt 790
Liberal Democrats Bonnie Beck 387
Liberal Democrats David Hancock 375
Liberal Democrats Lauren Holt 300
Turnout 8,994 56.6 -0.5
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

By-elections between 2011 and 2015

Polegate North

A by-election was held in Polegate North on 2 August 2012 following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Roy Martin.[13] The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Don Broadbent with a majority of 227 votes over an independent candidate.[13]

Polegate North by-election 2 August 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Don Broadbent 494 37.7 +14.3
Independent Joseph O'Riordan 267 20.4 -14.5
Conservative Edward Broad 263 20.0 +1.4
UKIP Bernard Goodwin 212 16.2 +16.2
Labour Alexius Mthobi 76 5.8 +5.8
Majority 227 17.3
Turnout 1,312 30.7 -19.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Heathfield North and Central

A by-election was held in Heathfield North and Central on 29 November 2012 after the death of Conservative councillor Peter Newnham.[14] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Raymond Cade with a majority of 384 votes over the UK Independence Party.[14]

Heathfield North and Central by-election 29 November 2012[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Raymond Cade 685 49.1 -21.3
UKIP Bob Bowdler 301 21.6 +21.6
Labour Craig Austen-White 225 16.1 -13.5
Liberal Democrats Jim Benson 184 13.2 +13.2
Majority 384 27.5
Turnout 1,395 22.8 -20.8
Conservative hold Swing

Crowborough West

A by-election was held in Crowborough West on 22 January 2015 after the death of Conservative councillor Antony Quin.[15][16] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Simon Staveley with a majority of 138 votes over the UK Independence Party.[17]

Crowborough West by-election 22 January 2015[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeannette Towey 465 58.7 -14.1
UKIP Simon Staveley 327 41.3 +41.3
Majority 138 17.4
Turnout 792 20.5 -28.4
Conservative hold Swing

References
  1. "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  2. "Wealden". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  3. "LibDems win by-election". Sussex Express. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  4. Cromie, Claire (22 April 2011). "Tories aim for total control of Wealden: Labour field more, Lib Dems fewer candidates". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 2.
  5. "Wealden District polls". Eastbourne Herald. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. "Wealden District Council election - Conservatives face down Lib Dems". Sussex Express. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  7. "Tory clean sweep in Uckfield area". Uckfield News. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  8. Cromie, Claire (13 May 2011). "Tories dominate as Lib Dems suffer". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 2.
  9. "District election results - May 2007". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  10. Cromie, Claire (13 May 2011). "Tories in trouble for 'racist' web post: Groups furious at Chinese slightTories are lambasted for racist caricature". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 1.
  11. "District Council election". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  12. "Local authority elections: England". The Guardian. 7 May 2011. p. 30.
  13. "Lib Dems hold onto Polegate North - By Election". Sussex Express. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  14. "Heathfield's new district councillor named as Raymond Cade". Kent and Sussex Courier. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  15. "Wealden member for Crowborough dies". Sussex Express. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  16. "Forthcoming Elections". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  17. "Election Results". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
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