![](../I/m/Wealden_UK_local_election_2007_map.svg.png)
Map of the results of the 2007 Wealden council election.
Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow, independents in grey and
Greens in green.
The 2007 Wealden District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 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]
Background
At the 2003 election the Conservatives held control of the council with 34 seats, compared to 15 for the Liberal Democrats and 6 independents.[2] However in September 2006 Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Shing was expelled from the Liberal Democrats and continued on the council as an independent.[3]
The Conservatives took 4 seats without any opposition and were also guaranteed seats in other wards where there were not enough candidates from other parties for the number of seats being contested.[4] The returning officer for Wealden, Charlie Lant, formed a band called The Council Tax Band with other council officers and performed a song called Vote! in an effort to boost turnout at the election.[5][6]
An important issue at the election was a legal loophole, which was allowing developers to build increased numbers of houses in the area.[4]
Election result
The Conservatives held control of the council staying on 34 seats, but both the Conservative leader of the council Nigel Coltman and the Liberal Democrat group leader Laura Murphy were defeated.[7] The Liberal Democrats lost 2 seats, dropping to 12 councillors, while independents remained on 7 seats and the Green party won its first councillors on the council after gaining 2 seats.[8][9][10] Overall turnout at the election was 38.51%,[2] up from 35% in 2003.[11]
The Conservative leader Nigel Coltman was defeated by Liberal Democrat Brian Cook in Hailsham East by a 55 vote majority, with the Conservatives also losing 2 seats to the Greens in Forest Row.[7] However the Conservatives did not suffer a net loss of seats as they also made gains including defeating the Liberal Democrat group leader Laura Murphy in Hailsham Central and North.[7] The Liberal Democrats did gain a seat in Polegate South from an independent by 1 vote, but Stephen Shing was re-elected as an independent in Willingdon, while Shing's son Daniel also gained a seat in the same ward and Shing's wife Oi Lin gained one in Polegate North.[7]
Wealden local election result 2007[12][13] |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Conservative |
34 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
61.8 |
54.6 |
36,928 |
+5.2% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
12 |
3 |
5 |
-2 |
21.8 |
23.4 |
15,820 |
-11.6% |
|
Independent |
7 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
12.7 |
15.0 |
10,153 |
+5.5% |
|
Green |
2 |
2 |
0 |
+2 |
3.6 |
6.0 |
4,082 |
+4.1% |
|
Labour |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.6 |
424 |
-3.3% |
|
English Democrats |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.3 |
190 |
+0.3% |
|
UKIP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.1 |
57 |
-0.1% |
Ward results
Chiddingly and East Hoathly[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Barby Dashwood-Hall |
628 |
66.2 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Barbara Holbrook |
321 |
33.8 |
|
Majority |
307 |
32.3 |
|
Turnout |
949 |
42.3 |
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Crowborough Jarvis Brook[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Martin Prestage |
222 |
45.0 |
+6.2 |
|
Conservative |
John Stevens |
215 |
43.6 |
+21.5 |
|
Green |
Colin Stocks |
56 |
11.4 |
+11.4 |
Majority |
7 |
1.4 |
|
Turnout |
493 |
25.3 |
-3.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Crowborough St Johns[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Jim Hollins |
469 |
59.4 |
-15.9 |
|
English Democrats |
Paul Adams |
190 |
24.1 |
+24.1 |
|
Labour |
Jean McCarthy |
47 |
6.0 |
-1.7 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Valerie Banks |
43 |
5.4 |
-11.5 |
|
Green |
Gabrielle Symonds |
40 |
5.1 |
+5.1 |
Majority |
279 |
35.4 |
-23.0 |
Turnout |
789 |
40.4 |
+8.4 |
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Hailsham Central and North (2)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Paul Holbrook |
687 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Jo Bentley |
644 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Laura Murphy |
641 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Angela Geall |
577 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Glover |
291 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Robin Kempe |
242 |
|
|
Turnout |
3,082 |
36.1 |
+4.0 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat |
Swing |
|
|
Hailsham East[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Brian Cock |
323 |
54.7 |
+29.4 |
|
Conservative |
Nigel Coltman |
268 |
45.3 |
+11.6 |
Majority |
55 |
9.3 |
|
Turnout |
591 |
30.2 |
+3.6 |
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative |
Swing |
|
|
Hailsham South and West (3)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Nick Ellwood |
742 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Ian Haffenden |
690 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Geoff Rowe |
675 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Lynn Bowman |
628 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Anne Blake-Coggins |
606 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Ann Murrey |
599 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Arthur Kay |
508 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Ginny Heard |
497 |
|
|
Turnout |
4,945 |
29.1 |
+0.4 |
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Hellingly (2)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
John Blake |
943 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
David White |
929 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Keith Byatt |
727 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
James Kennedy |
653 |
|
|
Turnout |
3,252 |
39.7 |
+2.8 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Mayfield[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Brian Redman |
647 |
72.3 |
+18.0 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Sharon Cottingham |
124 |
13.9 |
-31.8 |
|
Green |
Derek Forman |
124 |
13.9 |
+13.9 |
Majority |
523 |
58.4 |
+49.9 |
Turnout |
895 |
43.7 |
+2.0 |
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Polegate North (2)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Oi Shing |
764 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Roy Martin |
683 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Chris Berry |
554 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Harmer |
394 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Gerald Carter |
333 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Derrick Wilkins |
271 |
|
|
|
Green |
Peter Wright |
108 |
|
|
Turnout |
3,107 |
42.8 |
+5.1 |
|
Independent gain from Liberal Democrat |
Swing |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Polegate South[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Don Broadbent |
302 |
36.9 |
+5.3 |
|
Independent |
Ivy Scarborough |
301 |
36.8 |
-8.9 |
|
Conservative |
Anne McIlvenny |
216 |
26.4 |
+3.7 |
Majority |
1 |
0.1 |
|
Turnout |
819 |
41.7 |
+3.0 |
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Uckfield Central[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Claire Dowling |
542 |
58.0 |
+5.3 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Dorothy Sparks |
392 |
42.0 |
+3.8 |
Majority |
150 |
16.1 |
+1.6 |
Turnout |
934 |
40.3 |
+5.2 |
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Uckfield New Town[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Julia Hey |
410 |
63.4 |
+9.2 |
|
Conservative |
Terence Clark |
237 |
36.6 |
+13.8 |
Majority |
173 |
26.7 |
-4.5 |
Turnout |
647 |
31.4 |
+0.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Uckfield North (2)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Paul Sparks |
693 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Alan Whittaker |
532 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Michael Lunn |
453 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Anne Sabine |
373 |
|
|
|
Green |
Sam Bryant |
250 |
|
|
Turnout |
2,301 |
30.0 |
+2.2 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Uckfield Ridgewood[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Robert Sweetland |
469 |
51.6 |
-5.6 |
|
Conservative |
Kim Clark |
440 |
48.4 |
+11.7 |
Majority |
29 |
3.2 |
-17.3 |
Turnout |
909 |
40.9 |
+1.8 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Willingdon (3)[12] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Stephen Shing |
2,275 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Daniel Shing |
2,087 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Ron Cussons |
890 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Dick Broady |
812 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Douglas Murray |
793 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Andy Watkins |
614 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Kay Dewick |
475 |
|
|
|
Green |
Izzy Riach |
280 |
|
|
Turnout |
8,226 |
57.1 |
+8.4 |
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Independent gain from Liberal Democrat |
Swing |
|
|
|
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat |
Swing |
|
|
By-elections between 2007 and 2011
Uckfield New Town
A by-election was held in Uckfield New Town on 17 July 2008 after Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Hey resigned from the council.[14]
Uckfield New Town By-Election 17 July 2008[15] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Carol Sweetland |
311 |
47.4 |
-16.0 |
|
Conservative |
John Carvey |
289 |
44.1 |
+7.5 |
|
UKIP |
Michael Pursglove |
56 |
8.5 |
+8.5 |
Majority |
22 |
3.3 |
-23.4 |
Turnout |
656 |
31.8 |
+0.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Alfriston
A by-election was held in Alfriston on 25 September 2008 after Conservative Keith Whitehead stood down from the council.[16] The seat was gained from the Conservatives by Liberal Democrat Andy Watkins with a 30 vote majority, defeating the former Conservative leader of Wealden council, Nigel Coltman who had been trying to return to the council.[16]
Alfriston By-Election 25 September 2008[15][16] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Andrew Watkins |
495 |
51.6 |
+23.4 |
|
Conservative |
Nigel Coltman |
465 |
48.4 |
-23.4 |
Majority |
30 |
3.2 |
|
Turnout |
960 |
48.0 |
-0.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative |
Swing |
|
|
Heathfield North and Central
A by-election was held in Heathfield North and Central on 23 September 2010 after the death of Conservative councillor Niki Oakes in June 2010.[17]
Heathfield North and Central By-Election 23 September 2010[15] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Peter Newnham |
802 |
69.2 |
-2.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Jim Benson |
357 |
30.8 |
+2.5 |
Majority |
445 |
38.4 |
|
Turnout |
1,159 |
19.4 |
-13.8 |
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
References