# 2003 Christchurch Borough Council election

The 2003 Christchurch Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset, England. The whole council was up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by one. The Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Election result

The Conservatives remained in control of the council after winning 14 of the 24 seats on the council, despite losing three seats. The Liberal Democrats gained three seats to have eight councillors, while two independents were elected.
Christchurch local election result 2003 :
| Party | Seats | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
| Conservative | 14 | -3 | 58.3 | 55.3 | 17,350 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | +3 | 33.3 | 31.7 | 9,945 |
| Independent | 2 | -1 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 2,369 |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 1,608 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 129 |

## Ward results

Burton and Winkton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Flagg | 721 | |
| | Conservative | Colin Jamieson | 721 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Evans | 587 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Phillpot | 420 | |
| | Labour | Martin Jacques | 127 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,576 | 41.8 |
Grange (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Campbell | 460 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Freeman | 436 | |
| | Conservative | Denise Jones | 248 | |
| | Conservative | Denise Flagg | 245 | |
| | Labour | Christopher Thompson | 198 | |
| | Labour | Carol Wilcox | 189 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,776 | 26.7 |
Highcliffe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Mawbey | 854 | |
| | Conservative | John Lofts | 719 | |
| | Independent | Linda Hammond | 580 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Hall | 325 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lanz | 238 | |
| | Labour | Robert Maskell | 131 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,847 | 50.3 |
Jumpers (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Colin Bungey | 569 | |
| | Independent | Robert McArthur | 502 | |
| | Conservative | Trevor Watts | 332 | |
| | Conservative | Shaun Flynn | 321 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Gola | 268 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Jenkinson | 252 | |
| | Independent | William Welsh | 59 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,303 | 38.9 |
Mudeford and Friars Cliff (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Josephine Spencer | 1,495 | |
| | Conservative | Michael Duckworth | 1,426 | |
| | Conservative | Eric Spreadbury | 1,340 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derrick Roberts | 598 | |
| | Labour | Jennifer Carlton | 381 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,240 | 47.0 |
North Highcliffe and Walkford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Sally Derham Wilkes | 651 | |
| | Conservative | Kevin Dingley | 627 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Critchley | 503 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Wright | 470 | |
| | UKIP | Janet Hatton | 129 | |
| | Labour | Abdulhaye Qureshi | 65 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,445 | 44.3 |
Portfield (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Darch | 501 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lillian Jefferis | 482 | |
| | Independent | Susan Bungey | 328 | |
| | Conservative | Bernice Pardy | 289 | |
| | Conservative | Desmond Pardy | 272 | |
| | Labour | Jerry Brenton | 106 | |
| | Labour | Vera Hill | 77 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,055 | 36.5 |
Purewell and Stanpit (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Payne | 702 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Lloyd | 689 | |
| | Conservative | John Newman | 575 | |
| | Conservative | Mark Agg-Jones | 562 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,528 | 40.6 |
St Catherine's and Hurn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Fox | 720 | |
| | Conservative | Susan Spittle | 691 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jason Viney | 577 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,988 | 42.7 |
Town Centre (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Hall | 766 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Legg | 699 | |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Geary | 447 | |
| | Conservative | Michael Hodges | 405 | |
| | Independent | John Lovell | 331 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,648 | 45.7 |
West Highcliffe (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Alan Griffiths | 1,247 | |
| | Conservative | Patricia Jamieson | 1,238 | |
| | Conservative | David Jones | 1,204 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Curran | 496 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Curran | 476 | |
| | Labour | Raymond Manning | 334 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,995 | 41.2 |

## By-elections between 2003 and 2007
### Jumpers

A by-election was held in Jumpers ward on 5 May 2005 after the resignation of independent councillor Bob McArthur. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Jason Viney with a majority of 333 votes over Conservative Trevor Watts.
Jumpers by-election 5 May 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jason Viney | 1,224 | 57.9 | +35.0 |
| | Conservative | Trevor Watts | 891 | 42.1 | +13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 333 | 15.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,115 | 70.8 | +31.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Portfield

A by-election was held in Portfield on 5 May 2005 following the resignation of councillor Susan Darch due to poor health. Darch had been elected as a Liberal Democrat in 2003, but together with her fellow councillor for Portfied Lillian Jefferis, she subsequently defected to the Conservatives. The seat was regained for the Liberal Democrats by David Vick with a majority of 222 votes over Conservative Tavis Fox.
Portfield by-election 5 May 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Vick | 1,023 | 56.1 | +15.1 |
| | Conservative | Tavis Fox | 801 | 43.9 | +20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 12.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,824 | 64.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Purewell and Stanpit

A by-election was held in Purewell and Stanpit on 5 May 2005 after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Wendy Lloyd. The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Alan Wright with a majority of 34 votes over Conservative Nicholas Geary.
Purewell and Stanpit by-election 5 May 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Wright | 1,067 | 50.8 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Geary | 1,033 | 49.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 1.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,100 | 67.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |