Abbey Ward (3 seats)
Candidate | Party | Votes |
Jack Bastock | Liberal Democrats | 1985 |
Haydn Alan Thomas | Liberal Democrats | 1581 |
*Michael Francis Coker | Conservative Party | 1444 |
Patrick Joseph Ryan | Liberal Democrats | 1404 |
*Kenneth Rawnsley | Conservative Party | 1321 |
*John Anthony Cooke | Conservative Party | 1225 |
John David Bennett | Labour Party | 428 |
Geoffrey Ernest Cleave | Labour Party | 394 |
Murial Johnston | Labour Party | 392 |
Nicholas Henry D’Ambrumenil | Green Party | 310 |
Paul William Lewis | Independent | 135 |
Registered Voters 6273
Ballot Papers Issued 3665 (23 spoilt papers)
Votes Cast 10,619 (58.4%)
Park Hill Ward (2 seats)
Candidates | Party | Votes |
*Thomas Anthony Dalton | Conservative Party | 818 |
*Spencer Charlton Harrison | Conservative Party | 812 |
Dennis Edmund Royston | Liberal Democrats | 608 |
Vera Maud Royston | Liberal Democrats | 575 |
Robin Rain Winn | Labour Party | 383 |
Edwin Arthur John Griffiths | Labour Party | 350 |
Philippa Cecily Austin | Green Party | 100 |
Registered Voters 3620
Ballot Papers Issued 1833 (2 spoilt papers)
Votes Cast 3646 (50.6%)
St. John’s Ward (3 seats)
Candidate | Party | Votes |
Pauline Winifred Edwards | Conservative Party | 2143 |
*Robert Ronald Wooller | Conservative Party | 1992 |
*Leslie Graham Windybank | Conservative Party | 1980 |
Barabra Ward | Liberal Democrats | 1009 |
Grace Lillian Gunter | Liberal Democrats | 991 |
David John Peggs | Labour Party | 809 |
Helen Maria Ruffles | Labour Party | 786 |
Thomas Shallow | Labour Party | 776 |
Robert Paul Langlands | Green Party | 452 |
Registered Voters 7261
Ballot Papers Issued 3857 (10 spoilt papers)
Votes Cast 10,938 (53.1%)
FIGHT BACK BY LIB-DEMS IN DISTRICT AND IN KENILWORTH
In Kenilworth, the Tories had a much tougher time than usual in this years election. However, in Park Hill and St. John’s they won five from five seats.
But in Abbey ward it was a different tale all together. 35-year veteran of local government, Ken Rawnsley was out, as too was John Cooke. Michael Coker looked to be on his way as well, but after a long and nervous recount against Lib-Dem Pat Ryan, he scraped in by 40 votes. New to the Tories in St. John’s is Pauline Edwards, who had been on the town council since 1983.
Leamington Town Hall was awash with jubilant Liberal Democrats, all centred around Kenilworth’s Jack Bastock, the main man in Mr Rawnsley’s downfall. Mr Bastock topped the poll in Abbey with 1985 votes, well clear of all his rivals. He now has his seat back on the council, which he lost eight years ago. He said; “At this moment I’m thrilled but very tired. It’s been a tough few hours and I need some time to gather my thoughts”. Haydn Thomas was also back on the council after being eight years in the wilderness.
Both Rawnsley and Cooke blamed their demise on the national trend and some local issues. An emotional Mr. Rawnsley said; “Kenilworth Abbey has always been a marginal ward and I believe the electorate have mistaken the district council from the county council, who are responsible for the cuts and capping”.
Soon after the election, Tony Dalton who topped the poll in Park Hill, took over the top job as leader of the District Council from Kenneth Rawnsley. But he still considered himself a ‘new boy’ after only four year’s service. He believed his fellow Tories chose him because he was fresh and would bring new ideas to the council. But he admitted, that he would have to learn on the job and quickly. He said that he spent all weekend making sure there was an equal spread of councillors from all areas on the committees. Previously, it had been far too bias towards Kenilworth councillors.
Overall however, it was not all bad news for the Conservatives, receiving 39% share of the vote. Their six seats in Kenilworth helped strongly towards their narrow three seat majority on the 45 seat council. 24 Tories,10 Labour, 8 Lib-Dems, 3 Whitnash Residents Association.
Kenilworth District Councillors
6 Conservative Party (M. Coker, P. Edwards, B. Wooller, G. Windybank, T. Dalton, S. Harrison)
2 Liberal Democrats (J. Bastock, H. Thomas)