1991- 2nd May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Jack BastockLiberal Democrats1985
Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal Democrats1581
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1444
Patrick Joseph RyanLiberal Democrats1404
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1321
*John Anthony CookeConservative Party1225
John David BennettLabour Party428
Geoffrey Ernest CleaveLabour Party394
Murial JohnstonLabour Party392
Nicholas Henry D’AmbrumenilGreen Party310
Paul William LewisIndependent135

Registered Voters 6273

Ballot Papers Issued 3665 (23 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 10,619 (58.4%)

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Thomas Anthony DaltonConservative Party818
*Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party812
Dennis Edmund RoystonLiberal Democrats608
Vera Maud RoystonLiberal Democrats575
Robin Rain WinnLabour Party383
Edwin Arthur John GriffithsLabour Party350
Philippa Cecily AustinGreen Party100

Registered Voters 3620

Ballot Papers Issued 1833 (2 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 3646 (50.6%)

St. John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Pauline Winifred EdwardsConservative Party2143
*Robert Ronald WoollerConservative Party1992
*Leslie Graham WindybankConservative Party1980
Barabra WardLiberal Democrats1009
Grace Lillian GunterLiberal Democrats991
David John PeggsLabour Party809
Helen Maria RufflesLabour Party786
Thomas ShallowLabour Party776
Robert Paul LanglandsGreen Party452
*denotes sitting councillor

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)

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