title: 1998 Colchester Borough Council election
text: # 1998 Colchester Borough Council election
  
  Elections to Colchester Borough Council took place on 7 May 1998. This was on the same day as other local elections across the United Kingdom.
  
  At the election, the Liberal Democrats lost control of the council to no overall control, with gains being made by both Labour and the Conservatives.
  
  ## Summary
  
  1998 Colchester Borough Council election :
  
  | Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
  | | Liberal Democrats | 8 | 4 | 40.0 | 19 | 27 | 45.0 | 11,266 | 34.7 | –5.2 |
  | | Labour | 5 | 2 | 25.0 | 13 | 18 | 30.0 | 10,327 | 31.8 | –2.4 |
  | | Conservative | 7 | 2 | 35.0 | 7 | 14 | 23.3 | 10,860 | 33.5 | +11.0 |
  | | Tiptree Residents | 0 | | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0.0 | –2.9 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Berechurch
  
  Berechurch :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | John Cooke | 971 | 49.0 | +6.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | W. Sutton* | 771 | 38.9 | -11.2 |
  | | Conservative | J. Dinglemans | 239 | 12.1 | +4.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 10.1 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,981 | 34.1 | -9.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,823 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 8.8 | |
  
  ### Birch Messing Copford
  
  Birch Messing Copford :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Peter Crowe* | 555 | 65.8 | +15.1 |
  | | Labour | T. Rogers | 197 | 23.4 | +1.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | D. Paton | 91 | 10.8 | -16.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 358 | 42.5 | +19.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 843 | 33.2 | -14.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,544 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.8 | |
  
  ### Castle
  
  Castle :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Chris Hall* | 907 | 44.5 | -1.1 |
  | | Labour | Chris Pearson | 585 | 28.7 | -9.2 |
  | | Conservative | N. Stock | 514 | 25.2 | +9.7 |
  | | Natural Law | Loretta Basker | 32 | 1.6 | +0.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 15.8 | +8.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,038 | 34.0 | -7.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,012 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.1 | |
  
  ### Harbour
  
  Harbour :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Blandon* | 800 | 43.8 | -9.2 |
  | | Labour | David Canning | 761 | 41.7 | +2.3 |
  | | Conservative | Sandra Rae | 264 | 14.5 | +6.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 | 2.1 | -11.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,825 | 29.1 | -8.7 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,283 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.8 | |
  
  ### Lexden
  
  Lexden :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | P. Walford | 1,030 | 50.4 | +2.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Una Jones | 802 | 39.3 | -1.9 |
  | | Labour | Stella Creasy | 210 | 10.3 | +1.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 228 | 11.2 | +4.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,042 | 46.5 | -6.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,387 | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 2.0 | |
  
  No Independent Conservative candidate as previous (1.3%).
  
  ### Mile End
  
  Mile End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | David Goatley* | 913 | 36.2 | +6.1 |
  | | Conservative | N. Taylor | 844 | 33.5 | +2.9 |
  | | Labour | J. Thomas | 766 | 30.4 | -6.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.7 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,523 | 25.5 | -7.7 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,916 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.6 | |
  
  ### New Town
  
  New Town :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell | 997 | 62.6 | -0.1 |
  | | Labour | Jean Quinn | 429 | 26.9 | -3.7 |
  | | Conservative | A. Allen | 166 | 10.4 | +3.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 568 | 35.7 | +3.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,592 | 30.2 | -6.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,273 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.8 | |
  
  ### Prettygate
  
  Prettygate :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J. Girdlestone | 838 | 40.7 | +15.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | David Goss* | 795 | 38.6 | -9.7 |
  | | Labour | P. Creasy | 426 | 20.7 | -5.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 2.1 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,059 | 34.6 | -6.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,951 | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 12.5 | |
  
  ### Pyefleet
  
  Pyefleet :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Robert Davidson | 573 | 66.7 | +20.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Watkins | 146 | 17.0 | -22.9 |
  | | Labour | John Coombes | 140 | 16.3 | +4.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 427 | 49.7 | +43.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 859 | 42.2 | -10.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,026 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 21.5 | |
  
  No Green candidate as previous (3.5%).
  
  ### Shrub End
  
  Shrub End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | W. Sandford* | 452 | 40.4 | -9.4 |
  | | Labour | R. Pryor | 436 | 38.9 | +0.5 |
  | | Conservative | A. Yalland | 232 | 20.7 | +8.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 1.4 | -10.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,120 | 21.7 | -7.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,175 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.0 | |
  
  ### St. Andrew's
  
  St. Andrew's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Julie Young | 688 | 58.4 | -2.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | John Gray | 375 | 31.8 | +1.3 |
  | | Conservative | Richard Lamberth | 116 | 9.8 | +1.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 26.5 | -4.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,179 | 21.7 | -1.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,432 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |
  
  ### St. Anne's
  
  St. Anne's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D. Fairbrother | 967 | 50.1 | -0.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | K. Hindle | 745 | 38.6 | -3.6 |
  | | Conservative | M. Girdlestone | 220 | 11.4 | +4.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 11.5 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,932 | 34.1 | -6.0 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,669 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 1.5 | |
  
  ### St. John's
  
  St. John's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Helen Chuah | 813 | 44.8 | -15.0 |
  | | Conservative | D. Smith | 661 | 36.4 | +12.1 |
  | | Labour | Dave Harris | 340 | 18.7 | +2.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 | 8.4 | -27.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,814 | 32.1 | -6.8 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,656 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 13.6 | |
  
  ### St. Mary's
  
  St. Mary's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Nick Cope* | 754 | 41.9 | -3.9 |
  | | Conservative | S. Candy | 681 | 37.8 | +4.4 |
  | | Labour | P. McGilvray | 366 | 20.3 | -0.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 4.1 | -8.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,801 | 33.0 | -10.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,453 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.2 | |
  
  ### Stanway
  
  Stanway :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Gwendoline Illot | 752 | 40.7 | -13.2 |
  | | Conservative | Ian McCord | 651 | 35.3 | +15.4 |
  | | Labour | Ian Yates | 443 | 24.0 | -2.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 5.5 | -22.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,846 | 30.5 | -3.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,074 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 14.3 | |
  
  ### Tiptree
  
  Tiptree :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Mike Dale | 913 | 60.0 | +18.0 |
  | | Conservative | Elizabeth Blundell | 410 | 26.9 | +17.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | A. Seaman | 199 | 13.1 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 503 | 33.0 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,522 | 24.3 | -12.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,263 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.5 | |
  
  No Tiptree Residents candidate as previous (48.2%).
  
  ### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green
  
  West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Nigel Chapman | 655 | 49.9 | +18.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Tyrrell | 481 | 36.7 | -11.9 |
  | | Labour | David Jones | 176 | 13.4 | -6.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 174 | 13.3 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,312 | 33.5 | -12.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,932 | | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 15.1 | |
  
  ### West Mersea
  
  West Mersea :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Margaret Kimberley* | 910 | 60.6 | +5.7 |
  | | Labour | Alan Mogridge | 361 | 24.0 | +2.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | B. Harrison | 231 | 15.4 | -7.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 549 | 36.6 | +4.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,502 | 25.9 | -9.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,806 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.9 | |
  
  ### Winstree
  
  Winstree :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | M. Fairhead* | 674 | 80.0 | +16.7 |
  | | Labour | Luke Dopson | 96 | 11.4 | +3.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | P. Gentry | 73 | 8.7 | -18.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 578 | 68.6 | +31.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 843 | 44.2 | -15.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,909 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.8 | |
  
  ### Wivenhoe
  
  Wivenhoe :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | R. Richardson* | 1,056 | 57.0 | -1.8 |
  | | Conservative | David Adams | 627 | 33.9 | +6.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | L. Warren | 169 | 9.1 | -5.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 429 | 23.2 | -7.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,852 | 25.7 | -8.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,223 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.0 | |
  
  ## By-elections
  
  ### Tiptree
  
  Tiptree: 25 June 1998 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 624 | 46.0 | -14.0 |
  | | Tiptree Residents | | 399 | 29.4 | N/A |
  | | Conservative | | 333 | 24.6 | -2.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 16.6 | -16.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,356 | 21.7 | -2.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  No Liberal Democrat candidate as previous (13.1%).
  
  