2006 Eastbourne Borough Council election

Map of the results of the 2006 Eastbourne Borough Council election. Conservatives in blue and Liberal Democrats in yellow.

The 2006 Eastbourne Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Eastbourne Borough Council in East Sussex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Background

Before the election the Conservatives controlled the council with 14 seats compared to 13 for the Liberal Democrats, after the Conservatives took control at the 2004 election.[3] 9 seats were contested by a total of 36 candidates, with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour Party and Green Party contesting every seat.[3] 2 Liberal Democrat councillors stood down at the election, Chris Berry and Beryl Healy, from Langney and Devonshire wards respectively.[3]

A major issue at the election was parking in Eastbourne, as well as a campaign to save the local hospital from closure.[3]

Election result

The Conservatives stayed in control of the council after gaining one seat from the Liberal Democrats.[4] The only change came in Old Town ward, where Conservative Anne Angel gained the seat with a majority of 253, defeating Liberal Democrat Maurice Skilton, who had been a councillor for over 40 years.[5] Meanwhile, Labour was in fourth place in every ward but one, behind the Green Party.[6] Overall turnout at the election was 40.70%,[7] compared to 40.97% in 2004.[8]

Eastbourne local election result 2006[7][2]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 5 1 0 +1 55.6 46.5 12,784 -3.8
  Liberal Democrats 4 0 1 -1 44.4 40.5 11,149 +4.5
  Green 0 0 0 0 0.0 7.9 2,164 0.0
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0.0 5.1 1,403 -0.8

Ward results

Devonshire[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Steven Wallis 1,491 56.8 +12.1
Conservative Brian Jones 749 28.5 −11.0
Green Zoe Vonderdell 201 7.7 −1.4
Labour Richard Goude 184 7.0 +0.2
Majority 742 28.3 +23.1
Turnout 2,625 35.4 +0.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Hampden Park[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mary Pooley 1,230 53.0 +8.1
Conservative Edward Abella 632 27.2 −1.7
Labour David Brinson 251 10.8 −5.4
Green Leslie Dalton 209 9.0 −1.1
Majority 598 25.8 +9.8
Turnout 2,322 33.5 +1.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Langney[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Troy Tester 1,209 52.0 +2.2
Conservative Stephanie Walters 809 34.8 −3.1
Green Christine Quarrington 161 6.9 +1.3
Labour Colin Akers 147 6.3 −0.4
Majority 400 17.2 +5.3
Turnout 2,326 32.3 −1.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Meads[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Stevens 2,440 66.4 −4.8
Liberal Democrats John Creaven 756 20.6 +4.9
Green Kate Arnold 306 8.3 +1.1
Labour Dennis Scard 173 4.7 −1.2
Majority 1,684 45.8 −9.7
Turnout 3,675 49.7 +0.1
Conservative hold Swing
Old Town[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anne Angel 1,843 46.6
Liberal Democrats Maurice Skilton 1,590 40.2
Green Clive Gross 416 10.5
Labour Helen Sedgewick 109 2.8
Majority 253 6.4
Turnout 3,958 50.5 −4.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Ratton[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colin Belsey 2,091 59.6 −6.2
Liberal Democrats Brian Staker 1,035 29.5 +8.8
Green Kevin Moore 225 6.4 −0.2
Labour Nora Ring 160 4.6 −2.3
Majority 1,056 30.1 −14.9
Turnout 3,511 46.6 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing
St Anthony's[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Tutt 1,913 59.9 +12.8
Conservative Tracy Moles 962 30.1 −9.1
Green Hugh Norris 204 6.4 −1.5
Labour Sharon Wentworth 116 3.6 −2.2
Majority 951 29.8 +21.9
Turnout 3,195 39.8 +1.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Sovereign[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Bowker 1,597 56.7 −2.7
Liberal Democrats Margaret Salsbury 914 32.4 +0.8
Green Jocelyn McCarthy 181 6.4 −2.6
Labour David Mieres 125 4.4 +4.4
Majority 683 24.2 −3.7
Turnout 2,817 36.2 −1.9
Conservative hold Swing
Upperton[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Graham Marsden 1,661 54.1 −5.5
Liberal Democrats Patrick Rodohan 1,011 32.9 +8.3
Green Catharine Birchwood 261 8.5 −0.2
Labour Elizabeth Goude 138 4.5 −2.7
Majority 650 21.2 −13.8
Turnout 3,071 41.3 +1.2
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Local elections: Eastbourne". BBC News Online. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Local elections 2006" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Key local issues could tilt the balance and bring surprises when votes are counted". The Argus. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Power decided by luck of the draw". The Argus. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Tories storm home in the polls". Eastbourne Herald. 10 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  6. ^ "90 candidates stand for election". Eastbourne Herald. 5 April 2007. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Results of elections held Thursday 4 May 2006". Eastbourne Borough Council. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Results of elections held Thursday 10 June 2004". Eastbourne Borough Council. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.