1973 – 7th June – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey & Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Helen DoreLiberal Party1384
Jack BastockLiberal Party1054
Haydn ThomasLiberal Party925
Peter MooreConservative Party870
Ronald StansfieldConservative Party867
Eleanor HogarthConservative Party687
Thomas LitterickLabour Party283
Mrs I. BarleyLabour Party236
G. ParkingtonLabour Party206

Windy Arbour Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
John WilsonConservative Party827
Thomas RobinsonConservative Party789
Jan MokrzyckiLiberal Party474
Lynn PollardLiberal Party444
Mrs M. McLellanLabour Party106

St John’s Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Chris WebsterLabour Party553
William WozencroftLabour Party500
Terry RogersLiberal Party380
Hugh MartyreLiberal Party376
E. I. MilliganConservative Party320
J. RickardConservative Party315

Castle Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party749
E. L. BurbidgeConservative Party728
Dora GreenwayLiberal Party564
Peter SimmondsLiberal Party545
Jane LitterickLabour Party119
B. CarrellLabour Party108

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Robert ButlerLiberal Party650
Graham BramwellLiberal Party588
Spencer HarrisonConservative Party586
Kenneth HogarthConservative Party569
W. J. ClarkeLabour Party151
Mrs S. Harris Labour Party132

FIRST EVER DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

In the re-organisation of local government, Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth were combined to form the new Warwick District Council. 11 of the 58 members were allocated to Kenilworth.

Five re-counts were required in the closely contested Park Hill ward, where Mr Bramwell beat Mr Harrison by just two votes for the second available seat.

Liberals dominated in the combined Abbey & Borrowell ward, gaining all three seats. Overall they had five candidates elected in the town.

Within the WDC, the Liberals have just seven seats, which may not seem many. But they now hold the balance of power at the new council as the Tories gained 26 seats and Labour 25.

Kenilworth District Councillors

5 Liberal Party (B. Butler, G. Bramwell, H. Dore, H. Thomas, J. Bastock)

4 Conservative Party (K. Rawnsley, E. Burbidge, J. Wilson, T. Robinson)

2 Labour Party (C. Webster, B. Wozencroft)

1976 – 6th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey & Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Helen Bainbridge DoreKenilworth Liberals1397
*Jack BastockKenilworth Liberals1226
Kenneth William HogarthConservative Party1224
Richard Mayne OldnallConservative Party1002
Patrica Francis AdamsConservative Party942
*Haydn Alan ThomasKenilworth Liberals918
Joseph William EnglandLabour Party277
Roger Christopher SmithLabour Party260
Susan Elizabeth O’DonovanLabour Party199

Registered Voters 4358

Ballot Papers Issued 2618 (Spoilt Papers 0)

Votes Cast 7445 (60%)

One Conservative gain from Liberal

Castle Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1057
Michael Francis CokerConservative Party977
John Henry DrewKenilworth Liberals502
John RiordanKenilworth Liberals443
Rosemary Mary EllisLabour Party93
Jane Ellen LitterickLabour Party89

Registered Voters 2737

Ballot Papers Issued 1622 (Spoilt Papers 16)

Votes Cast 3161 (59%)

No Change

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Henry Fredrick PottsConservative Party862
Ann Judith PearceConservative Party774
*Robert Charles ButlerKenilworth Liberals648
*George Lansbury BramwellKenilworth Liberals596
Malcolmn Leslie BurfittLabour Party109
Peter Rhydwen JonesLabour Party104

Registered Voters 2443

Ballot Papers Issued 1576 (Spoilt Papers 20)

Votes Cast 3093 (65%)

Two Conservative gains from Liberal

St John’s Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Richard Ernest MonningtonConservative Party561
*William Henry WozencroftLabour Party557
Jerry HickConservative Party551
Kevin John O’DonovanLabour Party435
Kenneth Charles EvansKenilworth Liberals353
John Keith OrdKenilworth Liberals309

Registered Voters 2276

Ballot Papers Issued 1462 (Spoilt Papers 34)

Votes Cast 2766 (64%)

One Conservative gain from Labour

Windy Arbour Ward (2 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*John Pearson WilsonConservative Party1134
*Thomas Fredrick RobinsonConservative Party1076
Derek ChingKenilworth Liberals482
Dennis George CoulsonKenilworth Liberals391
Peter Frederick SingerLabour Party79
Graham Charles HallLabour Party75
*denotes sitting councillor

Registered Voters 2544

Ballot Papers Issued 1651 (Spoilt Papers 2)

Votes Cast 3237 (67%)

No change

RIGHT TURN FOR WARWICK DISTRICT

Any influence the Liberals had on the WDC has now finally diminished following this election. Three years ago they had the balance of power with just seven members, as the Tories and Labour had almost the same number of seats. In Kenilworth they were down to just two councillors, Helen Dore and Jack Bastock. Both returned in Abbey ward. But Haydn Thomas was unsuccesful in retaining his seat in the same ward. Two other Liberals failed to be re-elected, Bob Butler and George Bramwell at Park Hill. Within the district the Liberals only have three members.

For the Tories, is was a good day with three of their members being re-elected plus five new councillors. This doubled their Kenilworth representation from the 1973 poll. In the district, the Tories took overall control.

Labour were down to only one councillor, Bill Wozencroft, who was returned in St. John’s ward. Chris Webster who had been elected at the 1973 poll, did not seek re-election.

Kenilworth District Councillors (11 seats)

8 Conservative Party (M. Coker, K. Hogarth, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, R. Monnington, H. Potts, A. Pearce, K. Rawnsley)

2 Liberal Party (H. Dore, J. Bastock)

1 Labour Party (B. Wozencroft)

1977 – 24th November – Warwick District Council – By Election

Park Hill Ward

Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party465
Lance Bramwell Liberal Party421
Malcolm Leslie BurfittLabour Party76

CONSERVATIVES RETAIN SEAT

This by-election was called due to the resignation of sitting member Ann Pearce, who was leaving the town and moving to London with her husband.

But the Tories held the seat with a majority of 44. Winner, Spencer Harrison had contested the inaugural district council election in 1973 but was unsuccessful, losing by just 2 votes in Park Hill to Liberal, Graham Bramwell. He did not stand in last years poll.

Mr Harrison is 52 years-old and lives in Station Road. He is a director of Buckingham Swimming Pools in Priory Road and has four children, all attending local schools. He had previous been on the old KUDC for seven years, also representing Park Hill.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservative Party (M.Coker, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, R. Monnington, H. Potts, K. Rawnsley, K. Hogarth, S. Harrison)

2 Liberal Party (H. Dore, J. Bastock)

1 Labour Party (B. Wozencroft)

1979 – 3rd May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey & Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Helen Bainbridge DoreLiberal Party1986
*Jack BastockLiberal Party1795
Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal Party1387
*Kenneth William HogarthConservative Party1340
Ronald StansfieldConservative Party1245
Nicholas Russell WilsonConservative Party1141
Wendy Jane EnglandLabour Party474
Susan Elizabeth O’DonovanLabour Party322
Collen Bernadette RamseyLabour Party259

Registered Voters 4287

Ballot Papers Issued 3474 (7 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 9949 (81% Turnout)

Liberal gain from Conservative

Castle Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1277
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1199
Leslie Graham WindybankLiberal Party699
David Arthur PreeceLiberal Party681
Thomas SwallowLabour Party166
Gordon Herbert MitchellLabour Party161

Registered Voters 2765

Ballot Papers Issued 2271 (16 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 4183 (82.1% Turnout)

No Change

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Robert Charles ButlerLiberal Party1080
Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party968
Kenneth BulmerConservative Party922
Kenneth Charles Evans Liberal Party869
Peter Rhydwen JonesLabour Party249
Peter Frederick SingerLabour Party222

Registered Voters 2684

Ballot Papers Issued 2237 (1 spoilt paper)

Votes Cast 4310 (83.3% Turnout)

Liberal gain from Conservative

St John’s Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*William Henry WozencroftLabour Party790
*Richard Ernest MonningtonConservative Party710
Robert Ronald WoollerConservative Party678
Malcolm Leslie BurfittLabour Party566
Mary Muirhead ArcherLiberal Party377
Leonard Charles DavisLiberal Party354

Registered Voters 2241

Ballot Papers Issued 1816 (2 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 3475 (81% Turnout)

No Change

Windy Arbour Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*John Pearson WilsonConservative Party1381
James Herbert WhitbyConservative Party1282
Lynn Annette PollardLiberal Party601
Stephen James Francis AdamsLiberal Party524
Joseph William EnglandLabour Party213
Elizabeth Evelyn LeeLabour Party176
*denotes sitting councillor

Registered Voters 2609

Ballot Papers Issued 2194 (10 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 4177 (84.1% Turnout)

No Change

MASSIVE TURNOUT BY KENILWORTH VOTERS

Not for many years has a Kenilworth election produced such a large turnout of voters. Every ward produced more that 80%, un-heard of in recent times. In the event, the Liberals gained two seats from the Tories, much to everyones surprise. The lone Labour voice is Bill Wozencroft, who retained his seat by topped the poll in St John’s ward with 790 votes.

Liberal, Helen Dore received the highest vote in the whole election, 1,986 in Abbey & Borrowell.

Four Conservatives who seeked re-election retained their seats. One surprise return to the Tory ranks was James Whitby. He was first elected in Kenilworth in 1964, during the days of the old KUDC but did not seek re-election in the1967 poll. The Tories also saw the return of Spencer Harrision, another veteran of the old council.

In Kenilworth, the Tories took 46.6% of votes cast, Liberals 39.7 and Labour 13.5.

In the district, the Tories have overall control of the council with 40 of the 58 seats. Liberals have just 4 seats (all in Kenilworth), Labour have 13 seats and for the first time ever, one Independent, representing the Ratepayers of Whitnash (later renamed Whitnash Residents Association)

Kenilworth District Councillors

6 Conservative Party (J. Pearson, J. Whitby, R. Monnington, S. Harrison, M. Coker, K. Rawnsley)

4 Liberal Party (R. Butler, H. Dore, J. Bastock, H. Thomas)

1 Labour Party (B. Wozencroft)

1982 – 25th November – Warwick District Council – By Election – Kenilworth

Abbey & Borrowell Ward

CandidatePartyVotes
Leslie Graham WindybankLiberal Party834
John Anthony CookeConservative Party758
Melanie Ruth LomasLabour Party150

LIBERAL HOLD

Turnout 49%

LIBERALS RETAIN SEAT

This by-election was called due to the resignation of Liberal, Helen Dore, who had been on the district council since its inception in 1973.

Graham Windybank, leader of the town council managed to retain the seat for the Liberals by a majority of 76 votes over rival, John Cooke. It was never going to be an easy task for the Conservatives who needed more than a 7% swing from 1979 poll, to be victorious.

Labour candidate, Melanie Lomas, a former Kenilworth Grammar School pupil, faced an up-hill struggle to get anywhere near the winning line. District elections for Labour have always been poor in Kenilworth, especially in Abbey & Borrowell, where they have never had a candidate elected.

1983 – 5th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1934
*Michael CokerConservative Party1823
John CookeConservative Party1787
*Jack BastockLiberal Party1766
*Graham WindybankLiberal Party1577
*Haydn ThomasLiberal Party1557
Melonie LomasLabour Party313
Geoffrey CleaveLabour Party300
Teresa BlackwellLabour Party294

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Spencer HarrisonConservative Party911
*Robert ButlerLiberal Party898
Tony DaltonConservative Party896
Paul WeatherallLiberal Party840
John AireyLabour Party182
Chris PayneLabour Party166

St John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Bob WoollerConservative Party2029
*John WilsonConservative Party2009
*James WhitbyConservative Party1933
*William WozencroftLabour Party1170
John WhitehouseSocial Democratic Party830
Mary HarrisonSocial Democratic Party733
Brenda Payne Labour Party651
Mark JubyLabour Party564
*denotes sitting councillor

TORY LANDSLIDE IN DISTRICT AND IN KENILWORTH

The district council had reduced the number of councillors down to 45 from the previous 58. This left Kenilworth with only 8 seats to contest. This meant a restructuring of the ward boundaries and the reduction from five wards to three, which did not go down well with the Liberals. Abbey & Borrowell was renamed just Abbey with Castle and Windy Arbour being the two wards that disappeared.

The Consevatives took seven of the seats, leaving only one Liberal left, Bob Butler, who only just got elected by two votes over Tory rival Tony Dalton in Park Hill. But Jack Bastock and Haydn Thomas were the biggest casulties of all the Liberals, both being dumped out of Abbey ward. Mr Thomas said; “There is no doubt the boundary changes have helped the Tories and the Labour party took votes off us”. He added; “People voting Labour had effectively put the Tories in. If it were not for the Labour vote the Liberals would have been comfortably elected”.

Town mayor, Labour’s Bill Wozencroft, lost his seat in St. John’s. The newly formed SDP didn’t fair well, with their two candidates, John Whitehouse and Mary Harrison being unsuccessful in St. John’s ward.

Six of the Tories who stood for re-election, retained their seats. For John Cooke, this was the first district council election he had contested beating Liberal rival Jack Bastock by just 21 votes.

Overall in the district council, the Conservatives hold a 17-seat majority, winning 31 seats to Labour’s 7, Liberals 5 and the Whitnash Ratepayers Association 3.

Kenilworth District Councillors

7 Conservative Party (M. Coker, J. Cooke, B. Wooller, J. Wilson, J. Whitby, S. Harrison, K. Rawnsley)

1 Liberal Party (B. Butler)

1987 – 7th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party2027
*John Anthony CookeConservative Party2025
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1989
Jack BastockSDP-Liberal Alliance1887
Haydn Alan ThomasSDP-Liberal Alliance1586
Mary Latham HarrisonSDP-Liberal Alliance1470
Teresa Margaret BlackwellLabour Party400
Garry John LucasLabour Party302
Leonora EverittLabour Party260

Votes Cast 11,946 (spoilt papers 29)

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party1189
Thomas Anthony DaltonConservative Party1116
Kenneth James GriffithsSDP-Liberal Alliance689
*Robert Charles ButlerSDP-Liberal Alliance649
Lesley Jane BowenLabour Party242
Anthony BowenLabour Party240

Votes Cast 4,125 (spoilt papers 10)

St. John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Robert Ronald WoollerConservative Party2348
*John Pearson WilsonConservative Party2334
*James Herbert WhitbyConservative Party2214
William Henry WozencroftSDP-Liberal Alliance1581
Dennis Edmund RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1206
Vera Maud RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1187
John David BennettLabour Party415
John PayneLabour Party393
Geoffrey Ernest CleaveLabour Party378
*denotes sitting councillor

Votes Cast 12,056 (spoilt papers 9)

CLEAN SWEEP FOR TORIES IN KENILWORTH

Bob Butler, the lone SDP-Liberal Alliance from the 1983 poll, lost his seat in Park Hill. He said he was very disappointed and puzzled by the result. He also lost his town council seat and he said he is contemplating standing down from local politics. He said., “This might be my ‘swan song’, I’ve worked hard in Kenilworth for the last 12 years but if this is what the voters want, then that is what they will get, you never really know the reasons why. I haven’t faced any animosity from people or the oppostion”.

Town Mayor-elect, Bob Wooller was of course delighted with the Kenilworth and overall district results, saying it is down to the good and hard working Tory group. Councillor Rawnsley, currently the leader of the Conservative group on the district council, believed the success was due to their record over the last four years. He was disappointed to lose three councillors in Leamington but happy that they had a sweeping success in Kenilworth.

The Conservatives kept their overall majority at the district council. Overall, they lost two seats to the Alliance but still have a good majority of 29 over their rivals. Labour have 7 seats, Alliance 6 and the Whitnash Ratepayers 3.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservative Party (K. Rawnsley, M. Coker, J. Cooke, B. Wooller, J. Wilson, J. Whitby, T. Dalton, S. Harrison)

1990 – 28th June – Warwick District Council – By Election – Kenilworth

St. John’s Ward

CandidatePartyVotes
Leslie Graham WindybankConservative Party1308
Diana Margaret BashamLabour Party650
Enys Parthenia ThomasLiberal Democrats313
Paul Steven LloydGreen Party200

Turnout 43%

TORIES HOLD SEAT IN ST JOHN’S

Kenilworth’s St John’s remains with the Conservatives following Graham Windybank’s victory. This means they still hold all eight seats in Kenilworth on the district council.

This by-election was called because of the death of James Whitby who died last month. He had been a district councillor since 1983 and also served on both the town council and the old KUDC.

Mr Windybank, who lives in Brookside Ave, has lived in the town for 27 years. He is a widower with two children. He has spent his life in advertising and is a director of a midland agency. As a member of the town council he was chairman of the open spaces working party and was involved in the work on a management plan for the Common.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservatives (K. Rawnsley, M. Coker, J. Cooke, B. Wooller, J. Wilson, T. Dalton, S. Harrison, G. Windybank)

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)

1995 – 4th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Jack BastockLiberal Democrats1763
*Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal Democrats1468
Patrick Joseph RyanLiberal Democrats1270
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1114
James FinnieConservative Party904
Terence John QuaintonConservative Party883
Rosemary May EllisLabour Party787
Geoffrey Ernest CleaveLabour Party761
Christopher John EdgertonLabour Party719

Registered Voters 6287

Ballot Papers Issued 3289 (18 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 9687 (52.5% Turnout)

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
David John ShiltonLiberal Democrats665
*Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative Party600
Muriel JohnstonLabour Party511
Henry ScarboroughLabour Party489
*Thomas Anthony DaltonConservative Party487
Judith Ann RawsonLiberal Democrats471

Registered Voters 3679

Ballot Papers Issued 1787 (5 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 3223 (48.6% Turnout)

St. John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Pauline Winifred EdwardsConservative Party1694
*Robert Ronald WoollerConservative Party1613
*Leslie Graham WindybankConservative Party1610
David John HattonLabour Party1152
David John PeggsLabour Party1151
Jill MurdochLabour Party1107
Richard Guy DicksonLiberal Democrats763
Barbara WardLiberal Democrats729
Graham John ThomasLiberal Democrats681
*denote sitting councillor

Registered Voters 7450

Ballot Papers Issued 3584 (17 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 10,500 (48.1% Turnout)

MISERY FOR TORIES AT DISTRICT COUNCIL

The biggest shock of the election was in Park Hill, where former district council leader, Tony Dalton lost his seat, finishing fifth out of six candidates. If that wasn’t enough, he also lost his town council seat. Mr Dalton was of course disappointed by the results but he had expected it. He said; “I have been on the district council for eight years and I’m proud of what I have achieved but I’ll be back”. New to the district council is Lib-Dem, Dave Shilton, who topped the poll with 665 votes. Spencer Harrison once again retained his seat for the Tories, which he had first gained at a by-election in 1977.

In Abbey ward, Jack Bastock and Haydn Thomas easily retained their seats and were joined by fellow Lib-Dem, the rejuvenated Pat Ryan, who overcame sitting Tory member Michael Coker by 156 votes. Mr Coker had been on the district council since 1976, said that he had enjoyed every minute of it, but with the national situation, it’s a fair result. I’ve succeeded in the five previous elections on the strength of the government but now I’ve gone out on the strength of it. At least my garden will benefit from the result, he joked!

At St. John’s it was a clean sweep for the Conservatives with all their three candidates finishing well ahead of the field. Although knowhere near gaining a seat, the Labour party had a far better poll than is normally the case. Each candidate polled over 1,100 votes, up by around 300 from the 1991 election. It was a ward they had specifically targeted, spokesman for the group, Dave Peggs, said he was very pleased with the outcome. But St. John’s continues to be a graveyard for the Liberal Democrats and the Liberals/Alliance before that. Not one of their candidates has ever been elected there since the district council elections began in 1973.

The outcome of the election produced no overall majority.

17 Labour, 13 Tories, 11 Lib-Dems, 3 Whitnash Residents Association, 1 Independent.

Kenilworth District Councillors

4 Liberal Democrats (J. Bastock, H, Thomas, P. Ryan, D. Shilton)

4 Conservatives (P. Edwards. B. Wooller, G. Windybank, S. Harrison)