2003 – 1st May – Kenilworth Town Council – Election

Abbey Ward (5 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Ann BlacklockLiberal Democrats1121
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1055
*John Edmond HatfieldConservative Party1006
Patrick Joseph RyanLiberal Democrats920
George Reginald IllingworthConservative Party907
Alan RickersConservative Party876
Lois DarleyLiberal Democrats821
Kevin HoltLiberal Democrats807
John Richard WhitehouseLiberal Democrats798
Dave SkinnerConservative Party774
Jacky SmithLabour Party296
Dave PeggsLabour Party285
Chris GallonLabour Party271
Jacqui JonesLabour Party258
Andrew Keith RoadnightLabour Party231

Turnout 41.4%

Park Hill Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Dave John ShiltonLiberal Democrats1161
*Felicity Gena BunkerConservative Party1030
Dominic CokerConservative Party985
*Douglas Alan GolbyLiberal Democrats927
Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party922
Ursula Stella DurrantConservative Party921
Daphne Rose HarrisonConservative Party917
John Sheehan (aka Tony Walsh)Conservative Party893
Richard SweeneyLiberal Democrats845
Alison Rita Margaret TylerLiberal Democrats817
Adrian SellarsLiberal Democrats782
Alec WouldLiberal Democrats705
Maureen Teresa HazelwoodLabour Party356
Peter HodgkinsonLabour Party350
Henry ScarboroughLabour Party327
Peter Joseph ShielsLabour Party315
Robin Rain WinnLabour Party303
Elizabeth SaxonLabour Party299

Turnout 38.5%

St John’s Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Pauline Winifred EdwardsConservative Party1198
*Alan James Lancaster CockburnConservative Party1172
Trevor MartinKenilworth Regeneration1157
*Leslie Graham WindybankConservative Party1102
Richard Ivor Graham DaviesConservative Party1065
Norman John VincentConservative Party958
*Paul SpillmanConservative Party942
Shirley Beatrice ShiltonLiberal Democrats736
Mary Latham HarrisonLiberal Democrats609
*Judith RawsonLiberal Democrats582
Michael CollierLabour Party563
Alan AinsworthLabour Party556
Jan FordLabour Party556
Ruth Tennant Labour Party468
Kieth ThompsonLabour Party456
Caryll GreenGreen Party417
Christopher Edgerton24/7 Care For The Elderly409
Pippa AustinGreen Party402
*denotes retiring councillor

Turnout 44.8%

TORIES GAIN MASSIVE MAJORITY

There was a bit of a shake-up in this year’s election, not only in the overall result but the restructuring of the wards. One extra seat was allocated to the town, which now has a total of 17 members. Abbey ward was down to five seats, while Park Hill was increased from four to six. St John’s remained the same on 6 seats.

At the last poll in 1999, the Conservatives had a slendor majority of just two (9-7), but that was vastly increased to a 12-5 majority. New to the Tory ranks are George Illingworth, Dominic Coker, Richard Davies, Norman Vincent, Ursula Durrant and veteran, Spencer Harrision. He has admitted that he would have preferred a younger person to stand in his place. He said that he would be quite happy to have become a ‘has-been’. But we can’t get any 40 year-olds to stand, local government loses out by not having young councillors, who are willing and able to give up their time. Mr Harrision refuses to reveal his age but he confesses being at Leamington Town Hall when the votes were being counted, 72 years-ago!

The Liberal Democrats were slowly fading away in Kenilworth, being down to only four members. The ‘big guns’ of Jack Bastock, Haydn Thomas and Helen Pavier, did not stand for re-election and Judith Rawson, was un-successful in St. John’s. However, Ann Blacklock topped the poll in Abbey with 1121 and Dave Shilton was well clear in Park Hill with 1161. Former Kenilworth Weekly News editor, Doug Golby was also returned for the third time since 1995. Stalwart Pat Ryan, was back on the council after the lost nomination papers fiasco of 1999, came fourth in Abbey ward.

Kenilworth Regeneration Shock

The biggest shock of the election was Independent candidate, Trevor Martin, who stood on a ticket of ‘Kenilworth Regeneration’, coming third in St John’s with 1157 votes . Mr Martin, of Bullimore Grove, did not expect to be elected and it was not only a shock to himself but to many others as well. He admitted that his legs were a bit wobbly when he heard the results come through. He was the first ever Independent candidate to be elected to the town council. The last time any Independent sat in Kenilworth was way back in 1964, when it was the old KUDC.

During his campaign, Mr. Martin wasted several days taking down posters that were later found to be legal. He was informed that his leaflets that he had placed in shop windows were not allowed, as ‘fly-posting’ was an offence. It later transpired that it was legal for him to display his posters in shop windows. Gillian Friar, from the election office at Warwick District Council said; “The Electoral Commission said that it was not infact an offence, because the businesses were private premises and he had asked personally to display the leaflets”. She added; “You can’t fly-post and the other parties thought this was unfair, but the commission said Mr. Martin wasn’t breaking any rules”.

But Mr. Martin’s initial elation then turned to frustration after only one council meeting. The meeting was only to decide on planning applications and who serves on the various committees. Mr. Martin left the meeting feeling very angry and disappointed. He believes that procedure and red-tape is already preventing him from starting work on the regeneration of Kenilworth town centre.

From Labour to the Elderly

One other Independent who stood in St John’s was Chris Edgerton, a former Abbey High school pupil, who ran on a ticket of ’24/7 Care for The Elderly’. This was due to him becoming a full-time carer for his mother and all the issues that come along with it. He is a familar name in Kenilworth town elections, normally as a Labour candidate. But he had resigned his membership in protest of the Iraq war. He said “Many people have left the Labour party but its difficult to say how I would have done if I was still a member”.

The Green’s Arrive in Kenilworth

The Green Party stood for the very first time in a Town Council election with two candidates, Pippa Austin and Caryll Green, but both came near the bottom of the pile in St John’s. But who knows what the future may bring for the party. Maybe in 20 years time, they could even be in control of the council?

Kenilworth Town Councillors

12 Conservatives (M. Coker, D. Coker, A. Cockburn, S. Harrison, F. Bunker, P. Edwards, R. Davies, N. Vincent, G. Windybank, U. Durrant, J. Hatfield, G. Illingworth)

4 Liberal Democrats (P. Ryan, A. Blacklock, D. Shilton, D. Golby)

1 Independent (T. Martin)

Mayors

2003-04 Douglas Golby

2004-05 Pauline Edwards

2005-06 Norman Vincent

2006-07 Michael Coker

Town Clerk – Susan Howell

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