title: 1996 Colchester Borough Council election
text: # 1996 Colchester Borough Council election
  
  Elections to Colchester Borough Council took place on 2 May 1996. They were held on the same day as other local elections across the United Kingdom.
  
  At the election, the Liberal Democrats maintained their majority on the council. The Labour Party made a net gain of 4 seats to displace the Conservatives as the official opposition. This is the first time since the 1984 election that the Labour Party has held the official opposition.
  
  ## Summary
  
  1996 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 | 10 | 1 | 50.0 | 22 | 32 | 53.3 | 15,202 | 39.9 | +2.1 |
  | | Labour | 5 | 4 | 25.0 | 11 | 16 | 26.7 | 13,001 | 34.2 | –1.9 |
  | | Conservative | 4 | 3 | 20.0 | 7 | 11 | 18.3 | 8,577 | 22.5 | –2.8 |
  | | Tiptree Residents | 1 | | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 1,085 | 2.9 | N/A |
  | | Ind. Conservative | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 174 | 0.5 | N/A |
  | | Natural Law | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 22 | 0.1 | N/A |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Berechurch
  
  Berechurch :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | John William Stevens* | 1,231 | 50.1 | +1.7 |
  | | Labour | O. Bishop | 1,047 | 42.6 | -1.7 |
  | | Conservative | N. Peckston | 180 | 7.3 | ±0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 184 | 7.5 | +3.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,458 | 43.2 | +1.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,700 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.7 | |
  
  ### Castle
  
  Castle :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | William Spyvee* | 1,076 | 45.6 | +10.4 |
  | | Labour | J. Thomas | 895 | 37.9 | -8.4 |
  | | Conservative | J. Lucas | 366 | 15.5 | -0.2 |
  | | Natural Law | J. Basker | 22 | 0.9 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 7.7 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,359 | 41.6 | -2.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,679 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.4 | |
  
  No Green candidate as previous (2.0%).
  
  ### Dedham
  
  Dedham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Williams* | 531 | 57.9 | +3.7 |
  | | Conservative | W. Scattergood | 318 | 34.7 | -8.5 |
  | | Labour | Dave Harris | 68 | 7.4 | +4.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 | 23.2 | +12.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 917 | 59.4 | -1.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,550 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 6.1 | |
  
  ### East Donyland
  
  East Donyland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Tina Cooke | 402 | 48.4 | +10.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 245 | 29.5 | +13.6 |
  | | Conservative | V. Watson | 149 | 17.9 | -26.7 |
  | | Ind. Conservative | D. Newman | 35 | 4.2 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 157 | 18.9 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 831 | 47.8 | -10.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,738 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.7 | |
  
  ### Fordham
  
  Fordham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | David Cannon* | 365 | 48.4 | -10.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R. Tyrrell | 231 | 30.6 | +1.9 |
  | | Labour | J. Coombes | 145 | 19.2 | +6.4 |
  | | Ind. Conservative | K. Roberts | 13 | 1.7 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 134 | 17.8 | -12.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 754 | 51.7 | -2.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,465 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.0 | |
  
  ### Harbour
  
  Harbour :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Edna Fowler* | 1,219 | 53.0 | +18.6 |
  | | Labour | S. Webb | 906 | 39.4 | -16.4 |
  | | Conservative | Mike Coyne | 176 | 7.6 | -2.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 13.6 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,301 | 37.8 | -2.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,088 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 17.5 | |
  
  No Green candidate as previous (1.4%).
  
  ### Lexden
  
  Lexden :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Sonia Lewis* | 1,098 | 48.3 | +8.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | B. Trusler | 935 | 41.2 | -6.9 |
  | | Labour | P. Creasy | 210 | 9.2 | -3.1 |
  | | Ind. Conservative | I. Juliff | 29 | 1.3 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 163 | 7.2 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,272 | 52.5 | +1.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,337 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.8 | |
  
  ### Marks Tey
  
  Marks Tey :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Richard Gower* | 312 | 34.7 | -16.5 |
  | | Labour | T. Rogers | 285 | 31.7 | +14.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Ambridge | 275 | 30.6 | -0.7 |
  | | Ind. Conservative | G. Francis | 27 | 3.0 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 3.0 | -16.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 899 | 44.3 | +1.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,028 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 15.4 | |
  
  ### Mile End
  
  Mile End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Lucy Wood | 1,089 | 37.0 | +1.1 |
  | | Conservative | P. Borges* | 900 | 30.5 | -0.9 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | G. Folkard | 887 | 30.1 | -0.7 |
  | | Ind. Conservative | D. Pallett | 70 | 2.4 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 189 | 6.4 | +1.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,946 | 33.2 | -2.8 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,875 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.0 | |
  
  ### New Town
  
  New Town :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Stevens* | 1,178 | 62.7 | +3.8 |
  | | Labour | C. Tighe | 576 | 30.6 | -2.8 |
  | | Conservative | J. Girdlestone | 126 | 6.7 | +1.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 602 | 32.0 | +6.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,880 | 36.8 | -4.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,112 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.2 | |
  
  No Green candidate as previous (2.5%).
  
  ### Prettygate
  
  Prettygate :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hunt | 1,164 | 48.3 | -1.0 |
  | | Labour | F. Somerville | 629 | 26.1 | -0.5 |
  | | Conservative | Ron Levy | 615 | 25.5 | +1.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 535 | 22.2 | -0.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,408 | 40.6 | -1.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,904 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.3 | |
  
  ### Shrub End
  
  Shrub End :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Steve Cawley* | 687 | 49.8 | +7.4 |
  | | Labour | A. Frost | 529 | 38.4 | -8.4 |
  | | Conservative | R. Bunn | 163 | 11.8 | +1.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 158 | 11.5 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,379 | 28.7 | -0.3 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,806 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.9 | |
  
  ### St. Andrew's
  
  St. Andrew's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Robert Newman | 776 | 61.0 | -6.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | John Gray | 388 | 30.5 | +3.5 |
  | | Conservative | D. Smith | 109 | 8.6 | +2.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | 30.5 | -9.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,273 | 23.6 | -7.4 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,397 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.9 | |
  
  ### St. Anne's
  
  St. Anne's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Mary Frank | 1,124 | 50.7 | +6.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | J. Fellows* | 937 | 42.2 | -6.8 |
  | | Conservative | M. Miller | 157 | 7.1 | +0.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 8.4 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,218 | 40.1 | -0.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,534 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 6.5 | |
  
  ### St. John's
  
  St. John's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Ray Gamble* | 1,324 | 59.8 | +9.5 |
  | | Conservative | N. Taylor | 538 | 24.3 | -1.3 |
  | | Labour | John Cooke | 353 | 15.9 | -8.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 786 | 35.5 | +10.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,215 | 38.9 | -0.1 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,697 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.4 | |
  
  ### St. Mary's
  
  St. Mary's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | J. Kirchner | 983 | 45.8 | +2.5 |
  | | Conservative | R. Pawsey | 718 | 33.4 | +1.2 |
  | | Labour | K. Hindle | 447 | 20.8 | -3.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 12.3 | +1.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,148 | 43.2 | +0.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,047 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.8 | |
  
  ### Stanway
  
  Stanway :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Colin Sykes* | 1,100 | 53.9 | +0.3 |
  | | Labour | Julie Young | 535 | 26.2 | +1.7 |
  | | Conservative | J. Orpen-Smellie | 405 | 19.9 | -2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 27.7 | -1.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,040 | 34.4 | -1.6 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,936 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.7 | |
  
  ### Tiptree
  
  Tiptree :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Tiptree Residents | Tony Webb* | 1,085 | 48.2 | N/A |
  | | Labour | Mike Dale | 947 | 42.0 | +0.1 |
  | | Conservative | Elizabeth Blundell | 221 | 9.8 | -28.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 6.1 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,253 | 36.8 | -2.2 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,122 | | |
  | | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  ### West Mersea
  
  West Mersea :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Jowers* | 1,089 | 54.9 | -6.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | M. Hargreaves | 458 | 23.1 | +8.5 |
  | | Labour | Alan Mogridge | 436 | 22.0 | -2.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 631 | 31.8 | -4.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,983 | 35.5 | +1.5 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,634 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.3 | |
  
  ### Wivenhoe
  
  Wivenhoe :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Tom Prosser* | 1,235 | 58.8 | +2.7 |
  | | Conservative | P. Osbourne | 583 | 27.8 | -3.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | P. Gentry | 282 | 13.4 | +4.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 652 | 31.0 | +5.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,100 | 34.1 | -4.9 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,127 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 2.9 | |
  
  No Green candidate as previous (4.1%).
  
  ## By-elections
  
  ### Dedham
  
  Dedham: 4 September 1997 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 374 | 45.8 | +11.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 352 | 43.1 | -14.8 |
  | | Labour | | 91 | 11.1 | +3.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 | 2.7 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 817 | 51.9 | -7.5 |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 13.0 | |
  