title: 1979 Horsham District Council election
text: # 1979 Horsham District Council election
  
  The 1979 Horsham District Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Horsham District Council in England. It was held on the same day as other local elections and the 1979 United Kingdom general election. The Conservatives retained control of the council with 33 seats, a majority of 12. The Independents had eight councillors elected, a decrease of three from last time. The Liberals gained a seat in Bramber & Upper Beeding and the Residents' association held on to their Henfield seat.
  
  ## Council composition
  
  Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:
  
  | 30 | 12 | 1 |
  | - | - | - |
  | Con | Ind | RA |
  
  After the election, the composition of the council was:
  
  | 33 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Con | Ind | Lib | RA |
  
  ## Results summary
  
  1979 Horsham District Council election :
  
  | Party | Seats | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Conservative | 33 | 3 | 76.7 | 60.6 | 46,817 | +6.4 |
  | Independent | 8 | 4 | 18.6 | 11.5 | 8,899 | -8.8 |
  | Liberal | 1 | 1 | 2.3 | 5.3 | 4,087 | +0.5 |
  | RA | 1 | | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2,246 | +0.5 |
  | Labour | 0 | | 0.0 | 17.9 | 13,862 | -0.1 |
  | Other | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1,368 | - |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Billingshurst
  
  Billingshurst :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Linney C. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Independent | Griffin C. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Bramber & Upper Beeding
  
  Bramber & Upper Beeding :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Campbell J. Ms. | 1,658 | 42.1 | +24.2 |
  | | Independent | Sanford L. | 1,218 | 30.9 | -5.0 |
  | | Conservative | Goss P. Ms. | 1,061 | 26.9 | -19.3 |
  | | Conservative | Wright C. | 1,007 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.4 | |
  | | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Broadbridge Heath
  
  Broadbridge Heath :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | McGregor R. | 762 | 59.3 |
  | | Labour | Lamb H. Ms. | 522 | 40.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 80.8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Chanctonbury
  
  Chanctonbury :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Brazier F. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative | Jenkins E. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  ### Cowfold
  
  Cowfold :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Fowler S. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
  
  Fowler S. was elected unopposed in Cowfold as an Independent in 1976, when this seat was last contested.
  
  ### Denne
  
  Denne :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Pinion G. | 2,022 | 62.2 | |
  | | Conservative | Windrum A. | 2,013 | | |
  | | Conservative | Berkley P. Ms. | 2,008 | | |
  | | Labour | Lyons J. | 1,231 | 37.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 79.9 | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  ### Forest
  
  Forest :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Miller E. | 2,507 | 61.5 | |
  | | Conservative | Taylor J. | 2,416 | | |
  | | Conservative | Sheppard A. | 2,269 | | |
  | | Labour | Battersby R. | 1,572 | 38.5 | |
  | | Labour | Lamb P. | 1,473 | | |
  | | Labour | Nevins R. | 1,404 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  ### Henfield
  
  Henfield :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | RA | Jones K. | 2,246 | 45.5 | +14.8 |
  | | Independent | Corp G. | 1,517 | 30.7 | +30.7 |
  | | Conservative | Jones T. | 1,173 | 23.8 | -6.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.7 | |
  | | RA hold | RA hold | Swing | | |
  | | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  
  Corp G. was elected in Henfield as a Conservative in 1976, when this seat was last contested.
  
  ### Itchingfield & Shipley
  
  Itchingfield & Shipley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Keen D. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  Keen D. was elected unopposed in Shipley as an Independent in 1976.
  
  ### Nuthurst
  
  Nuthurst :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Mackenzie J. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Pulborough & Coldwatham
  
  Pulborough & Coldwatham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Cousins B. | 2,080 | 73.7 |
  | | Conservative | Gocher H. | 2,022 | |
  | | | Bodman A. | 742 | 26.3 |
  | | | Doyle M. | 626 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.7 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Riverside
  
  Riverside :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Watson B. | 2,614 | 57.1 | |
  | | Conservative | Mauchel E. Ms. | 2,401 | | |
  | | Conservative | Roberts W. | 2,399 | | |
  | | Labour | Clements R. | 1,964 | 42.9 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.7 | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  ### Roffey
  
  Roffey :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Bosanquet D. | 2,336 | 42.2 | -36.4 |
  | | Conservative | Houghton I. Ms. | 2,051 | | |
  | | Independent | Gue P. Ms. | 1,949 | 35.2 | +35.2 |
  | | Conservative | Chick D. | 1,850 | | |
  | | Labour | McMillan A. | 1,255 | 22.7 | +1.3 |
  | | Labour | Ivatts J. | 1,200 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 79.6 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  | | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
  
  ### Rudgwick
  
  Rudgwick :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Henderson P. Ms. | 882 | 65.1 |
  | | Conservative | Taylor E. Ms. | 473 | 34.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 79.6 |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Rusper
  
  Rusper :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Calvert H. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative | Phelps A. Ms. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  
  ### Slinfold
  
  Slinfold :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Maydwell R. | 520 | 62.9 |
  | | Independent | Shields N. | 307 | 37.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 80.8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Southwater
  
  Southwater :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Albrecht R. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | | Conservative | Charman M. Ms. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
  
  Charman M. Ms. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1976, when this seat was last contested.
  
  ### Steyning
  
  Steyning :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Honeywood M. Ms. | 1,193 | 36.3 | +14.6 |
  | | Independent | Mimmack J. | 1,190 | 36.2 | +8.9 |
  | | Conservative | Scott J. | 929 | | |
  | | Liberal | Campbell J. | 905 | 27.5 | +17.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.3 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Storrington
  
  Storrington :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Shepherd F. | 1,813 | 64.4 | +14.8 |
  | | Conservative | Tunnell R. | 1,567 | | |
  | | Liberal | Wigg R. | 1,003 | 35.6 | +13.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.4 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Sullington
  
  Sullington :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Armour-Milne J. | 715 | 57.8 | -1.0 |
  | | Liberal | Dean P. | 521 | 42.2 | +1.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.8 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Trafalgar
  
  Trafalgar :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Walters J. | 2,081 | 41.0 | |
  | | Conservative | West H. Ms. | 1,871 | | |
  | | Independent | Parsons W. | 1,836 | 36.2 | |
  | | Labour | Evenden R. | 1,155 | 22.8 | |
  | | Labour | Thurston J. Ms. | 906 | | |
  | | Labour | Shopland E. | 744 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 82.2 | |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
  | | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
  
  ### Warnham
  
  Warnham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Hodgson A. | 664 | 60.4 | -10.1 |
  | | Labour | Ward G. | 436 | 39.6 | +10.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 79.8 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### West Chiltington
  
  West Chiltington :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Dolphin C. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### West Grinstead
  
  West Grinstead :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Scragg J. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
  