title: Aird and Loch Ness (ward)
text: # Aird and Loch Ness (ward)
  
  Aird and Loch Ness is one of the 21 wards used to elect members of the Highland Council. It includes Loch Ness, the town of Beauly, and the village of Fort Augustus. It elects four Councillors.
  
  ## Councillors
  
  | Election | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 2007 | Margaret Davidson (Ind.) | | Helen Carmichael (Ind.) | | Drew Hendry (SNP) | Hamish Wood (Liberal Democrats) |
  | 2012 | Margaret Davidson (Ind.) | | Helen Carmichael (Ind.) | | Drew Hendry (SNP) | Hamish Wood (Liberal Democrats) |
  | Oct 2015 | Margaret Davidson (Ind.) | Jean Davis (Liberal Democrats) | Helen Carmichael (Ind.) | | | Hamish Wood (Liberal Democrats) |
  | 2017 | Margaret Davidson (Ind.) | Emma Knox (SNP) | Helen Carmichael (Ind.) | | George Cruickshank (Conservative) |
  | Mar 2021 | Margaret Davidson (Ind.) | Emma Knox (SNP) | Helen Carmichael (Ind.) | David Fraser (Ind.) |
  | 2022 | Helen Crawford (Conservative) | Emma Knox (SNP) | | David Fraser (Ind.) | Chris Ballance (Green) |
  
  ## Election Results
  
  ### 2021 by-election
  
  A by-election was originally scheduled to take place on 5 November 2020 to elect one councillor after the death of George Cruickshank. However, it was postponed to 11 March 2021.
  
  ### 2015 by-election
  
  A by-election was triggered by the resignation of Drew Hendry in July 2015, following his election as an MP.
  
  ### 2003 Election
  
  Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.
  
  **Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 2003: Beauly and Strathglass :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Garry Coutts (incumbent) | 555 | 50.3 | 5.7 |
  | | Independent | Helen Carmichael | 549 | 49.7 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.8 | 11.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 56.6 | 10.1 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 2003: Kirkhill :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Jack Shiels (incumbent) | 572 | 44.3 | 16.1 |
  | | Independent | Graham Cross | 407 | 31.5 | New |
  | | Independent | Hamish Wood | 312 | 24.2 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 165 | 12.8 | 7.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 52.6 | 8.8 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Margaret Davidson (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  
  The Highland Council election, 2003: Loch Ness East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Ella MacRae (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  
  **Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 2003: Inverness West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Ronald Lyon (incumbent) | 546 | 66.1 | 5.1 |
  | | Independent | Joan Stewart | 280 | 33.9 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 266 | 32.2 | 10.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 41.9 | 12.7 |
  
  ### 1999 Election
  
  Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1999-2007 wards of Loch Ness West, Loch Ness East, Beauly and Strathglass and Kirkhill. A large part of the old Inverness West ward is also included. Seven other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.
  
  **Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 1999: Beauly and Strathglass :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Garry Coutts | 734 | 56.0 |
  | | Independent | John Sellar | 577 | 44.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 157 | 12.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 66.7 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1999: Kirkhill :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Jack Shiels (incumbent)¹ | 906 | 60.4 |
  | | Independent | Molly Doyle | 595 | 39.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 311 | 20.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 61.4 |
  
  ¹For previous Kirkhill ward boundary
  
  The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Margaret Davidson (incumbent)² | 1,018 | 67.8 |
  | | Independent | Patrick Paterson | 483 | 32.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 535 | 35.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 70.5 |
  
  ²For Drumnadrochit ward
  
  The Highland Council election, 1999: Loch Ness East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Ella MacRae (incumbent)³ | Unopposed | Unopposed |
  
  ³For East Loch Ness ward
  
  **Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 1999: Inverness West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Ronald Lyon | 708 | 61.0 |
  | | Labour | Debra Lake | 452 | 39.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 256 | 22.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 54.6 |
  
  ### 1995 Election
  
  Prior to 2007, council elections used single member wards with a first-past-the-post voting system. The current boundaries for Aird and Loch Ness mainly include the 1995 wards of Beauly, Drumnadrochit, Kirkhill, Fort Augustus and East Loch Ness. Large parts of the Scorguie and Strathnairn and Strathdearn wards are also included. Five other old wards overlap with Aird and Loch Ness, but the vast majority of their areas lie outside the present boundary.
  
  **Wards almost entirely contained within Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: East Loch Ness :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | E MacRae | 483 | 72.4 |
  | | SNP | LA MacRae | 184 | 27.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 | 44.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 42.9 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Fort Augustus :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | PC Paterson | 415 | 38.0 |
  | | Independent | HM Cary | 290 | 26.5 |
  | | Independent | AW MacKenzie | 217 | 19.9 |
  | | SNP | PJ Findlay | 171 | 15.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 | 11.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 63.3 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Drumnadrochit :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | MC Davidson | 251 | 51.5 |
  | | SNP | AK MacPherson | 236 | 48.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 3.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 36.8 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Beauly :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | SNP | JS Munro | 611 | 67.3 |
  | | Independent | JA Sellar | 297 | 32.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 34.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 55.1 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Kirkhill :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | SJ Shiels | 360 | 46.7 |
  | | Independent | M Doyle | 263 | 34.1 |
  | | Conservative | CF Spencer-Nairn | 148 | 19.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 12.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 41.6 |
  
  **Wards with a significant portion in Aird and Loch Ness**
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Scorguie :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | JT MacDonald | 639 | 61.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | RJ Mackay | 237 | 22.7 |
  | | SNP | S MacKenzie | 168 | 16.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 38.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 34.4 |
  
  The Highland Council election, 1995: Strathnairn and Strathdearn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | KG Matheson | 443 | 51.3 |
  | | SNP | DA Cunningham | 253 | 29.3 |
  | | Independent | CM Thomson | 167 | 19.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 22.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Unknown | 45.7 |
  