# 1979 Adur District Council election

Elections to the Adur District Council were held on 3 May 1979, alongside the general election. The entire council was up for election, following boundary changes that reduced the number of wards by one, but all together had added two seats. Overall turnout was recorded at 74.4%.
The election resulted in the Conservatives gaining control of the council.

## Election result

Adur District Council Election Result 1979 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 20 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 51.3 | 45.1 | 15,819 | +0.3 |
| Liberal | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43.6 | 35.3 | 12,364 | -0.9 |
| Residents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 1,408 | +0.5 |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0.0 | 15.6 | 5,452 | +0.1 |
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Conservative | 16 | 20 |
| | Liberal | 17 | 17 |
| | Labour | 2 | 0 |
| | Independent Residents | 2 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 37 | 39 | 39 |
| Working majority | Working majority | -5 | 1 |

## Ward results

Buckingham (4025) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Merrick A. | 1,960 | 60.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Morris H. Ms. | 1,890 | | |
| | Conservative | Smith M. | 1,850 | | |
| | Liberal | Symonds A. | 891 | 27.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Wright G. Ms. | 861 | | |
| | Liberal | Jewiss A. | 795 | | |
| | Labour | Bovingdon K. | 372 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,069 | 33.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,223 | 80.1 | N/A |
| | 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) |
Churchill (3781) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Burley Y. Ms. | 1,322 | 46.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Kemp C. | 1,283 | | |
| | Conservative | Stepney L. Ms. | 1,226 | | |
| | Liberal | Denyer P. | 1,132 | 39.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Dolding R. | 1,093 | | |
| | Liberal | Martin E. Ms. | 1,046 | | |
| | Labour | Woods J. Ms. | 389 | 13.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 6.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,843 | 75.2 | N/A |
| | 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) |
Cokeham (3596) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Cheal J. | 1,413 | 49.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Martin D. | 1,340 | | |
| | Liberal | Spalding M. | 1,277 | | |
| | Conservative | Lodge R. | 1,061 | 37.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Newman H. | 852 | | |
| | Labour | Atkins B. | 377 | 13.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 | 12.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,851 | 79.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Eastbrook (3692) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Coghlan J. | 1,338 | 55.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Dunn R. | 1,318 | | |
| | Conservative | Parish D. Ms. | 1,238 | | |
| | Labour | Hobbis J. | 1,087 | 44.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Barnard I. | 1,059 | | |
| | Labour | Boreham J. | 666 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,425 | 65.7 | N/A |
| | 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) |
Hillside (3891) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Barber B. | 1,613 | 50.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Wey G. | 1,495 | | |
| | Conservative | Moore M. | 1,436 | | |
| | Labour | Colville P. | 840 | 26.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Hammond D. | 754 | 23.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Kimmings R. | 684 | | |
| | Liberal | Ongley C. | 569 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,207 | 82.4 | N/A |
| | 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) |
Manor (3336) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robinson C. | 1,444 | 56.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Barton J. | 1,313 | | |
| | Liberal | Cooper M. | 1,195 | | |
| | Conservative | Lewis J. | 1,101 | 43.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Hockett L. | 1,058 | | |
| | Conservative | Shackleton P. Ms. | 1,039 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 343 | 13.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,545 | 76.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Marine (2577)2 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | Warner B. Ms. | 1,408 | 65.2 | N/A |
| | Residents | James P. Ms. | 1,369 | | |
| | Conservative | Harding I. Ms. | 618 | 28.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Kell D. | 134 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 790 | 36.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,160 | 83.8 | N/A |
| | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) |
| | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) |
Mash Barn (2809) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Allen C. Ms. | 1,046 | 51.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Hartley J. Ms. | 1,017 | | |
| | Liberal | Deedman D. | 1,001 | | |
| | Conservative | Floyd J. | 755 | 36.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Clothier W. | 724 | | |
| | Conservative | Grover M. | 709 | | |
| | Labour | Harwood R. | 243 | 11.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Grafton R. | 237 | | |
| | Labour | Jacques W. | 233 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 14.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,044 | 72.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Peverel (3178) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Davis G. | 1,213 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Green W. | 1,203 | | |
| | Liberal | Hall M. Ms. | 1,107 | | |
| | Conservative | Glynn E. | 829 | 34.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Donegan I. Ms. | 818 | | |
| | Conservative | Martin P. Ms. | 773 | | |
| | Labour | Atkins H. Ms. | 343 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 384 | 16.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,385 | 75.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Southlands (3282) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Little S. | 1,147 | 48.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edwards A. | 1,095 | | |
| | Liberal | Robinson J. | 1,055 | | |
| | Conservative | Osmond P. | 866 | 36.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Cakebread J. | 776 | | |
| | Conservative | Thomson W. | 696 | | |
| | Labour | Whipp B. | 344 | 14.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Paling A. | 327 | | |
| | Labour | Paling M. Ms. | 292 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 281 | 11.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,357 | 71.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Southwick Green (3479) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Davies B. Ms. | 1,298 | 52.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Divers N. | 1,286 | | |
| | Conservative | Sweet I. Ms. | 1,245 | | |
| | Liberal | Hutchinson J. Ms. | 686 | 27.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Biggs A. | 642 | | |
| | Liberal | Isherwood P. | 557 | | |
| | Labour | Munnery D. | 511 | 20.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 612 | 24.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,495 | 71.7 | N/A |
| | 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) |
St. Marys (1069) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richards R. | 345 | 47.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Bienati C. Ms. | 279 | 38.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Whipp L. Ms. | 98 | 13.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 9.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 722 | 67.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
St. Nicolas (3687)3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carr G. | 1,404 | 50.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Huber J. | 1,372 | | |
| | Conservative | Potter E. | 1,332 | | |
| | Liberal | Atrill D. Ms. | 1,017 | 36.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Lock M. | 902 | | |
| | Liberal | Stanley A. | 867 | | |
| | Labour | Phillips J. | 373 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Pirie M. Ms. | 310 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 387 | 13.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,794 | 75.8 | N/A |
| | 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) |
Widewater (3968) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gasson J. | 1,342 | 44.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Melvey T. | 1,309 | 43.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Sherlock M. Ms. | 1,299 | | |
| | Conservative | Mitchell M. Ms. | 1,276 | | |
| | Liberal | Isherwood D. Ms. | 1,268 | | |
| | Conservative | Charlton S. | 1,232 | | |
| | Labour | Harwood J. Ms. | 341 | 11.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,992 | 75.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |