South Lakeland District Council election, 2003
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 Democrat |
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 |
+1.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Brenda Tidmarsh-Stephen |
812 |
42.4 |
-11.7 |
|
Labour |
Jocelyn Innes |
198 |
10.3 |
+10.3 |
Majority |
94 |
4.9 |
|
Turnout |
1,916 |
54.1 |
|
|
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat |
Swing |
|
|
Burneside[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Frank Hodson |
385 |
60.6 |
|
|
Conservative |
Stephen Procter |
250 |
39.4 |
|
Majority |
135 |
21.2 |
|
Turnout |
635 |
40.7 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Crake Valley[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Noel Spendlove |
360 |
65.9 |
|
|
Conservative |
Robert Webster |
186 |
34.1 |
|
Majority |
174 |
31.8 |
|
Turnout |
546 |
37.9 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Kirkby Lonsdale[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Barclay Stainton |
629 |
61.2 |
|
|
Independent |
Alan Day |
338 |
32.9 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Christopher Lansdowne |
61 |
5.9 |
|
Majority |
291 |
28.3 |
|
Turnout |
1,028 |
54.2 |
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Lakes Ambleside[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
David Vatcher |
499 |
45.1 |
-1.7 |
|
Conservative |
Brian Barton |
480 |
43.4 |
+5.6 |
|
Independent |
George Middleton |
127 |
11.5 |
-3.8 |
Majority |
19 |
1.7 |
-7.3 |
Turnout |
1,106 |
36.2 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Low Furness & Swarthmoor[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Sonjie Marshall |
710 |
52.6 |
|
|
Conservative |
William Tyson |
640 |
47.4 |
|
Majority |
70 |
5.2 |
|
Turnout |
1,350 |
39.7 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative |
Swing |
|
|
Whinfell[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Peter Thornton |
489 |
55.7 |
|
|
Independent |
William Robinson |
389 |
44.3 |
|
Majority |
110 |
11.4 |
|
Turnout |
878 |
48.2 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Windermere Bowness North[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Deidre Cranwell |
478 |
57.1 |
|
|
Conservative |
Martin Hall |
359 |
42.9 |
|
Majority |
119 |
14.2 |
|
Turnout |
837 |
52.7 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Windermere Town[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Kathleen Atkinson |
481 |
76.3 |
|
|
Conservative |
Elizabeth Graham |
149 |
23.7 |
|
Majority |
332 |
52.6 |
|
Turnout |
630 |
37.4 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
References