# 1976 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to Colchester Borough Council were held in 1976 alongside other local elections across the country. The whole council was up for election on new ward boundaries.

## Results summary

1976 Colchester Borough Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 39 | 5 | 1 | 65.0 | 55.9 | 51,152 | +12.8 |
| Labour | 18 | 0 | 3 | 30.0 | 31.7 | 29,001 | -12.7 |
| Tiptree Residents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2,855 | +2.4 |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1,339 | -3.9 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7.9 | 7,199 | +1.5 |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | W. Ladbrook | 770 | 37.2 |
| | Labour | C. Howe | 769 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative | L. Long | 742 | 35.8 |
| | Labour | R. McQuitty | 741 | 35.8 |
| | Conservative | V. Worth | 675 | 32.6 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman | 642 | 31.0 |
| | Liberal | M. Gage | 611 | 29.5 |
| | Liberal | T. Davis | 389 | 18.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,070 | 38.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,432 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Birch-Messing

Birch-Messing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Wayman | 546 | 70.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J. Crowe | 234 | 30.0 | −11.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 780 | 61.6 | −9.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,267 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Boxted & Langham

Boxted & Langham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Sexton | 699 | 85.2 | +14.0 |
| | Labour | T. Morecroft | 121 | 14.8 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 576 | 70.4 | +13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 820 | 51.7 | +4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,586 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.9 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | S. Wills | 1,122 | 47.5 |
| | Labour | J. Dunn | 1,048 | 44.4 |
| | Labour | Ken Cooke | 1,025 | 43.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Lamberth | 1,023 | 43.3 |
| | Conservative | K. Wheeler | 995 | 42.1 |
| | Conservative | K. Wilson | 969 | 41.0 |
| | Liberal | O. Reeves | 196 | 8.3 |
| | Liberal | D. Marshall | 185 | 7.8 |
| | Liberal | P. Mills | 184 | 7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,361 | 49.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,799 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Copford & Eight Ash Green

Copford & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Wilde | 610 | 76.6 | +14.4 |
| | Labour | D. Clark | 186 | 23.4 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 424 | 53.2 | +8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 796 | 47.6 | +8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,554 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.4 | |

### Dedham

Dedham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Jackson | 474 | 67.0 | +14.7 |
| | Independent | G. Curtis | 233 | 33.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 241 | 34.0 | +8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 707 | 52.3 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,355 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### East Donyland

East Donyland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Sanderson | 482 | 57.6 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | E. Lilley | 355 | 42.4 | −7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 15.2 | +14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 837 | 67.3 | +10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,245 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.3 | |

### Fordham

Fordham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Penrose | 448 | 55.2 | +17.6 |
| | Liberal | G. Williams | 363 | 44.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 811 | 63.8 | +9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,275 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | N/A | |

### Great & Little Horkesley

Great & Little Horkesley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Knighton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,554 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Great Tey

Great Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Browning | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,341 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Harbour

Harbour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Bird | 989 | 44.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Coyne | 915 | 41.3 |
| | Conservative | E. White | 877 | 39.6 |
| | Labour | C. Parmenter | 839 | 37.9 |
| | Labour | A. Blishen | 834 | 37.7 |
| | Conservative | K. White | 827 | 37.4 |
| | Liberal | D. Wisbey | 263 | 11.9 |
| | Liberal | N. Wake | 261 | 11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,213 | 45.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,822 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour 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) |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Wheeler | 1,403 | 62.9 |
| | Conservative | C. Sargeant | 1,402 | 62.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Holt | 1,375 | 61.7 |
| | Liberal | M. Fisher | 506 | 22.7 |
| | Liberal | C. Cole | 441 | 19.8 |
| | Liberal | Ian Trusler | 437 | 19.6 |
| | Labour | J. Coombes | 362 | 16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,229 | 58.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,824 | |
| | 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) |

### Marks Tey

Marks Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. James | 566 | 78.2 | +9.7 |
| | Labour | Jim Orpe | 158 | 21.8 | −9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 408 | 56.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 724 | 47.7 | −5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,525 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.7 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Blackmore | 1,119 | 69.6 | |
| | Conservative | D. Fulford | 1,087 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Fulford | 1,084 | | |
| | Labour | P. Baker | 489 | 30.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 39.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.2 | |
| | 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) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Bob Russell | 1,284 | 56.6 |
| | Labour | D. Williams | 1,191 | 52.5 |
| | Labour | J. Bensusan-Butt | 1,078 | 47.5 |
| | Conservative | E. Chapman | 640 | 28.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Willburn | 606 | 26.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Harvey | 541 | 23.9 |
| | Liberal | T. Brady | 525 | 23.1 |
| | Liberal | A. Grant | 408 | 18.0 |
| | Liberal | M. Pawsey | 373 | 16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,268 | 48.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,656 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | E. Kent | 1,378 | 61.1 |
| | Conservative | F. Clater | 1,362 | 60.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Purvis | 1,356 | 60.1 |
| | Labour | R. Read | 664 | 29.4 |
| | Labour | B. Sawyer | 588 | 26.1 |
| | Labour | P. Perera | 545 | 24.2 |
| | Liberal | J. Smith | 415 | 18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,255 | 47.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,798 | |
| | 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) |

### Pyefleet

Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Parsonson | 562 | 75.0 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | J. Jopling | 187 | 25.0 | −4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 375 | 50.0 | +9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 749 | 61.2 | +24.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,231 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.5 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | L. Woodrow | 939 | 41.6 |
| | Labour | Frank Wilkin | 881 | 39.1 |
| | Labour | E. Plowright | 866 | 38.4 |
| | Conservative | I. Davis | 547 | 24.3 |
| | Conservative | C. Barritt | 515 | 22.8 |
| | Conservative | C. Crossley | 498 | 22.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,255 | 47.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,760 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | A. Leighton | 1,345 | 77.3 |
| | Labour | D. Braddy | 1,116 | 64.1 |
| | Labour | Graham Bober | 1,068 | 61.3 |
| | Conservative | J. Duke | 516 | 29.6 |
| | Conservative | V. Watts | 476 | 27.3 |
| | Conservative | G. Stubbs | 470 | 27.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,741 | 31.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,456 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Mary Frank | 771 | 50.6 |
| | Labour | J. Fraser | 753 | 49.4 |
| | Labour | G. Cooper | 717 | 47.0 |
| | Conservative | W. Falk | 636 | 41.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Dunlop | 635 | 41.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Richardson | 629 | 41.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,524 | 38.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,001 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | C. Diggens | 1,112 | 68.5 |
| | Conservative | B. West | 1,041 | 64.1 |
| | Conservative | M. Pinnock | 1,031 | 63.5 |
| | Labour | P. Treacher | 522 | 32.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,624 | 49.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,308 | |
| | 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) |

### St. Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Brooks | 1,582 | 62.5 |
| | Conservative | R. Spendlove | 1,348 | 53.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Hilham | 1,264 | 49.9 |
| | Labour | Tim Oxton | 564 | 22.3 |
| | Liberal | Martin Hunt | 536 | 21.2 |
| | Liberal | A. Spyvee | 534 | 21.1 |
| | Liberal | L. Baker | 508 | 20.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,532 | 50.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,985 | |
| | 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) |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | T. Claydon | 1,008 | 53.7 |
| | Conservative | P. Holloway | 993 | 52.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Arrondelle | 964 | 51.4 |
| | Labour | E. Kirkby | 797 | 42.5 |
| | Labour | J. Knight | 772 | 41.2 |
| | Labour | K. Rodgers | 652 | 34.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,876 | 52.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,593 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tiptree Residents | A. Garrod | 1,006 | 41.1 |
| | Conservative | C. Cansdale | 1,005 | 41.0 |
| | Tiptree Residents | J. Webb | 966 | 39.4 |
| | Tiptree Residents | D. Burke | 883 | 36.1 |
| | Conservative | R. Martin | 869 | 35.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Lawrence | 743 | 30.3 |
| | Labour | B. Jones | 566 | 23.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,449 | 46.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,221 | |
| | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) |

### West Bergholt

West Bergholt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Lampon | 662 | 81.5 | +15.0 |
| | Labour | T. Fleet | 86 | 10.6 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | M. Livermore | 64 | 7.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 576 | 70.9 | +24.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 812 | 47.4 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,721 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.5 | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | A. Gray | 1,439 | 76.6 |
| | Conservative | J. Williams | 1,285 | 68.4 |
| | Conservative | G. Roberts | 1,238 | 65.9 |
| | Independent | A. Smith | 518 | 27.6 |
| | Labour | C. Barrett | 202 | 10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,879 | 46.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,024 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Winstree

Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Fairhead | 823 | 72.8 | +12.4 |
| | Labour | S. McAndrew | 266 | 23.5 | −0.6 |
| | Independent | W. Judge | 42 | 3.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 557 | 49.3 | +13.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,131 | 60.6 | −6.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,875 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.5 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | D. Wilkinson | 1,009 | 51.6 |
| | Conservative | B. Grasby | 905 | 46.3 |
| | Conservative | K. Brereton | 816 | 41.7 |
| | Labour | G. Davies | 773 | 39.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,956 | 42.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,560 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |