1978 Broxbourne Borough Council election

The 1978 Broxbourne Council election was held to elect council members of the Broxbourne Borough Council, the local government authority of the borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England.

Composition of expiring seats before election

Ward Party Incumbent Elected Incumbent Standing again?
Broxbourne Conservative 1976 D C Smith Yes
Bury Green Conservative 1976 S G Johnson Yes
Cheshunt Central Conservative 1976 G F Batchelor Yes
Cheshunt North Conservative 1976 D F Poole Yes
Flamstead End Conservative 1976 L W Goodman Yes
Goffs Oak Independent 1976 D T Hickman No[Table note 1]
Hoddesdon North Conservative 1976 R A S Key Yes
Hoddesdon Town Conservative 1976 B D G Fallace Yes
Rosedale Labour 1976 Mark Farrington Yes
Rye Park Conservative 1976 A P Bridgeman No
Theobalds Conservative 1976 H J Collins Yes
Waltham Cross North Conservative 1976 N M Sanderson No
Waltham Cross South Labour 1976 J K Paice Yes
Wormley & Turnford Conservative 1976 B F Hill Yes
  1. ^ Dan Hickman was elected as a Conservative in 1976.

Election results

Broxbourne Local Election Result 1978
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 13 2 0 +2 92.86 65.17 13,642
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 7.14 31.97 6,692
  National Front 0 0 0 0 0.00 2.16 454
  Liberal 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.70 146
  Independent 0 0 1 -1 0.00 0.00 0

Results summary

An election was held in 14 wards on 4 May 1978.

14 seats were contested at this election.

The Conservative Party made 2 gains winning Rosedale Ward from Labour and retaking Goffs Oak Ward from Councillor D T Hickman who had left the Conservative Group shortly after the 1976 election to sit as an Independent.

This was the first Broxbourne Election to see National Front candidates, who stood in 4 wards.

The new political balance of the council following this election was:

Ward results

Broxbourne Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Don Smith 1,432 80.04
Labour Cherry Robbins 259 14.48
National Front Vera Wain 98 5.48
Majority 1,173
Turnout 1,789
Conservative hold Swing
Bury Green Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Johnson 946 55.84
Labour Chris Robbins 748 44.16
Majority 198
Turnout 1,694
Conservative hold Swing
Cheshunt Central Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Batchelor 1,145 75.48
Labour Les Goodrum 372 24.52
Majority 773
Turnout 1,517
Conservative hold Swing
Cheshunt North Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Don Poole 1,149 65.51
Labour Deidre Welsh 605 34.49
Majority 544
Turnout 1,754
Conservative hold Swing
Flamstead End Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leonard Goodman 1,132 64.65
Labour Pat Whitthread 486 27.76
National Front Frederick Venables 133 7.59
Majority 646
Turnout 1,751
Conservative hold Swing
Goffs Oak Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marie Dowsett 1,181 82.99
Labour Roy Shaw 242 17.01
Majority 939
Turnout 1,423
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Hoddesdon North Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Kay 1,293 78.27
Labour Dave Wall 359 21.73
Majority 934
Turnout 1,652
Conservative hold Swing
Hoddesdon Town Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Fallace 934 70.86
Labour Henry Lucas 384 29.14
Majority 550
Turnout 1,318
Conservative hold Swing
Rosedale Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Adrian Ebeling 375 46.18
Labour Mark Farrington 357 43.97
National Front Ramon Johns 80 9.85
Majority 18
Turnout 812
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Rye Park Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Grethe 960 57.87
Labour Mike Pye 699 42.13
Majority 261
Turnout 1,659
Conservative hold Swing
Theobalds Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Collins 1,012 68.24
Labour Doris Hadju 471 31.76
Majority 541
Turnout 1,483
Conservative hold Swing
Waltham Cross North Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman Ames 771 61.14
Labour Joan Carter 490 38.86
Majority 281
Turnout 1,261
Conservative hold Swing
Waltham Cross South Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jean Paice 896 52.40
Conservative Amy Testro 671 39.24
National Front Albert Wain 143 8.36
Majority 225
Turnout 1,710
Labour hold Swing
Wormley / Turnford Ward Result 4 May 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Hill 641 57.70
Labour Edward Nicholls 324 29.16
Liberal Barbara Wade 146 13.14
Majority 317
Turnout 1,111
Conservative hold Swing

References

  • Lea Valley Mercury Friday 12 May 1978 Edition