# 2003 West Dorset District Council election

The 2003 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 1 May 2003 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom. The entire council was up for election. Following boundary changes the number of wards were reduced by five, and the number of seats reduced from 55 to 48.
The 2003 election saw the Conservatives take majority control of the District Council.

## Ward results
### Beaminster

Beaminster (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Lucy Payne | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative | V. Ivory * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,213 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Garrett * | 390 | 66.1 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Longdon | 200 | 33.9 | +14.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 32.2 | –3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.6 | –9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,541 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald William Coatsworth * | 406 | 78.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Fifield | 111 | 21.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 57.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,673 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Bridport North

Bridport North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Stoodley | 445 | 31.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Martin Ray | 393 | 27.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Keith Allan Day | 333 | – | |
| | Labour | R. Nicholls | 325 | 23.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Wallace | 305 | – | |
| | Independent | J. Shaw | 250 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,389 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Bridport South & Bothenhampton

Bridport South & Bothenhampton (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Brown * | 842 | 29.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | D. Tett | 715 | 25.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G. Pritchard * | 599 | – | |
| | Labour | C. Wild * | 556 | 19.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | H. Samuel | 347 | – | |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Harrison | 339 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Bagnall | 325 | – | |
| | Green | L. Sea | 272 | 9.6 | N/A |
| | Dorset Stop The War | D. Partridge | 102 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,409 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Thacker * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,559 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Sewell * | 384 | 58.4 | –5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Prysor-Jones | 273 | 41.6 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 16.9 | –10.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.6 | +1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,447 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Parsons | 637 | 67.2 | +26.2 |
| | Conservative | M. Pritchard * | 311 | 32.8 | –26.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 326 | 34.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 59.1 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,608 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Cam Vale

Cam Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Friar * | 456 | 59.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P. Sargent * | 315 | 40.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 141 | 18.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,652 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Charminster & Cerne Valley

Charminster & Cerne Valley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. East * | 1,012 | 74.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | A. Horsington | 984 | – | |
| | Independent | L. Clarke | 352 | 25.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,334 | | |
| | 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) |

### Charmouth

Charmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Newson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,475 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. Bartlett | 494 | 61.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | I. Lewis | 315 | 38.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 22.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.6 | +0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,788 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Chickerell

Chickerell (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | I. Gardner * | 578 | 42.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Rogers | 557 | – | |
| | Conservative | M. Jolliffe | 533 | 38.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Denton-White | 461 | – | |
| | Conservative | M. Dunseith | 452 | – | |
| | Conservative | J. Wilson | 392 | – | |
| | Independent | D. Smithson | 259 | 18.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,332 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Chideock & Symondsbury

Chideock & Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Summers * | 386 | 67.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Morgan-Smith | 186 | 32.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 35.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,468 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Enid Stella Jones * | 734 | 59.1 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | T. Harries * | 620 | – | |
| | Conservative | R. Thorogood | 508 | 40.9 | +15.7 |
| | Conservative | B. Parkhurst | 503 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.0 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,548 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Dorchester North

Dorchester North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew James Canning | 550 | 38.8 | +4.7 |
| | Independent | A. Beard | 481 | 33.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Tarr | 459 | – | |
| | Conservative | A. Parry | 386 | 27.2 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | J. Bell | 362 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.0 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,938 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Dorchester South

Dorchester South (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Rennie * | 760 | 57.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Potter | 639 | – | |
| | Conservative | R. Martindale | 572 | 42.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J. Halewood | 567 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,312 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Barrett * | 757 | 40.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Trevor Jones * | 705 | 37.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | T. Parsley | 616 | – | |
| | Conservative | I. Birt | 406 | 21.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,381 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Penfold * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,656 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Halstock

Halstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Frost * | 462 | 63.3 | –1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Dearlove | 268 | 36.7 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 194 | 26.6 | –2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.0 | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,504 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Roberts | 298 | 50.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Brown | 172 | 28.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | V. Barnes | 125 | 21.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 21.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,437 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | O. Lovell * | 510 | – | N/A |
| | Conservative | K. Meech * | 452 | 47.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Hicks | 438 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Williams | 397 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,131 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | N. Patmore | 357 | 51.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P. Gregson | 335 | 48.4 | +20.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.9 | –0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,549 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Marshwood Vale

Marshwood Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | I. Gillespie * | 407 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | H. Thomas * | 394 | 49.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 55.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,440 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Netherbury

Netherbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Alford | 399 | 62.1 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Pawley | 244 | 37.9 | –10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155 | 24.1 | +20.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.0 | – |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,512 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. Seall * | 662 | 52.5 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Smy * | 626 | – | |
| | Independent | R. Russell | 600 | 47.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.5 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,774 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Piddle Valley

Piddle Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Barker | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,618 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Pearce | 290 | 36.4 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | G. Harries * | 277 | 34.8 | –4.7 |
| | Independent | I. Mayo * | 229 | 28.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.7 | +3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,762 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Queen Thorne

Queen Thorne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Andrew Gould | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,602 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Sherborne East

Sherborne East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Terence Peter Farmer * | 628 | 43.7 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | M. Clark | 567 | – | |
| | Green | Jenny Susan Greene | 467 | 32.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Robert James Bygrave | 343 | 23.9 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.0 | –6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,308 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Sherborne West

Sherborne West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Robert Shorland * | 731 | 56.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Marjorie Snowden | 660 | – | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin Andrew Shane Legg * | 564 | 43.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,509 | | |
| | 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) |

### Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Stephen John Slade * | 448 | 46.5 | +18.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Rickard | 239 | 34.8 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 30.4 | +13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.6 | –1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,663 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. House * | 386 | 69.8 | –0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Hewson | 167 | 30.2 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | 39.6 | –1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.3 | –1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,343 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |