2003 South Lakeland District Council election

The 2003 South Lakeland District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of South Lakeland District Council in Cumbria, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was

Background

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats, the Conservatives 19, Labour 9 and independents 3.[3] 17 seats were being contested with the Conservatives defending 10, the Liberal Democrats 6 and an independent 1 seat.[3] 2 sitting Liberal Democrat councillors stood down at the election, Patricia Himsworth in Arnside and Beetham, and Claire Chorley in Burneside.[3][4]

Major issues in the election included housing, regeneration, recycling, public toilets,[5] affordable transport and refuse collection.[6]

Election result

The results saw the Liberal Democrats remain the largest party with 23 seats,[7] but without a majority, after gaining 2 seats from the Conservatives in Cartmel and Low Furness & Swarthmoor and 1 seat from an independent in Whinfell.[3] However the Conservatives did take 1 seat back from the Liberal Democrats in Arnside & Beetham to hold 18 seats.[3] Labour remained on 9 seats, while independents dropped to 2 seats.[3] Overall turnout in the election was 44%, with a low of 33.9% in Windermere Applethwaite to a high of 54.2% in Kirkby Lonsdale.[3]

South Lakeland Local Election Result 2003[3][8]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 9 1 2 -1 52.9 49.7 7,923 +19.1%
  Liberal Democrats 8 3 1 +2 47.1 43.7 6,967 -2.1%
  Independent 0 0 1 -1 0 5.4 854 +3.9%
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 198 -20.9%

Ward results
Arnside and Beetham[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Richard Rollins 906 47.3 +1.4
Liberal Democrats Brenda Tidmarsh-Stephen 812 42.4 -11.7
Labour Jocelyn Innes 198 10.3 +10.3
Majority 94 4.9
Turnout 1,916 54.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Broughton[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Joss Curwen 700 75.7
Liberal Democrats John Humberstone 225 24.3
Majority 475 51.4
Turnout 925 48.9
Conservative hold Swing
Burneside[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Frank Hodson 385 60.6
Conservative Stephen Procter 250 39.4
Majority 135 21.2
Turnout 635 40.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Cartmel[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Howard Martin 364 54.2
Conservative Leslie Hadwin 308 45.8
Majority 56 8.4
Turnout 672 44.6
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Crake Valley[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Noel Spendlove 360 65.9
Conservative Robert Webster 186 34.1
Majority 174 31.8
Turnout 546 37.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Crooklands[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Galbraith 440 51.0
Liberal Democrats Sheila Eccles 423 49.0
Majority 17 2.0
Turnout 863 49.0
Conservative hold Swing
Grange[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Reginald Parker 907 53.0
Liberal Democrats Ronald Shapland 803 47.0
Majority 104 6.0
Turnout 1,710 46.7
Conservative hold Swing
Holker[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Manning 519 67.8
Liberal Democrats Susan Rawsthorn 246 32.2
Majority 273 35.6
Turnout 765 51.9
Conservative hold Swing
Kirkby Lonsdale[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Barclay Stainton 629 61.2
Independent Alan Day 338 32.9
Liberal Democrats Christopher Lansdowne 61 5.9
Majority 291 28.3
Turnout 1,028 54.2
Conservative hold Swing
Lakes Ambleside[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats David Vatcher 499 45.1 -1.7
Conservative Brian Barton 480 43.4 +5.6
Independent George Middleton 127 11.5 -3.8
Majority 19 1.7 -7.3
Turnout 1,106 36.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Low Furness & Swarthmoor[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Sonjie Marshall 710 52.6
Conservative William Tyson 640 47.4
Majority 70 5.2
Turnout 1,350 39.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Sedbergh[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Kevin Lancaster 697 71.4 -1.1
Liberal Democrats Sydney McLennan 279 28.6 +1.1
Majority 418 42.8 -2.2
Turnout 976 34.5
Conservative hold Swing
Whinfell[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Peter Thornton 489 55.7
Independent William Robinson 389 44.3
Majority 110 11.4
Turnout 878 48.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Windermere Applethwaite[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Jennifer Borer 343 60.7
Liberal Democrats Audrey Ahmad 222 39.3
Majority 121 21.4
Turnout 565 33.9
Conservative hold Swing
Windermere Bowness North[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Deidre Cranwell 478 57.1
Conservative Martin Hall 359 42.9
Majority 119 14.2
Turnout 837 52.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Windermere Bowness South[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Jane Hoyle 410 75.9
Liberal Democrats Helen Scott-Parker 130 24.1
Majority 280 51.8
Turnout 540 38.5
Conservative hold Swing
Windermere Town[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Kathleen Atkinson 481 76.3
Conservative Elizabeth Graham 149 23.7
Majority 332 52.6
Turnout 630 37.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References
  1. "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  2. "Local council election results". The Daily Telegraph. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  3. "Local Council Elections May 2003". South Lakeland District Council. Archived from the original on 6 June 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. "Election: Lib Dem women bow out". The Westmorland Gazette. 11 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  5. "Election: Battle lines are drawn in the fight for votes". The Westmorland Gazette. 11 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  6. "Election: Candidates in the running". The Westmorland Gazette. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  7. "Election: No change of power at South Lakeland District Council". The Westmorland Gazette. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  8. "Local Elections 1 May 2003". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
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