# 1973 Braintree District Council election

The 1973 Braintree District Council election took place on 7 June 1973 to elect members of Braintree District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
This was the inaugural election of Braintree District Council.

## Summary
### Election result

1973 Braintree District Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 22 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 37.9 | 39.2 | 25,332 | N/A |
| Conservative | 15 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25.9 | 30.2 | 19,498 | N/A |
| Independent | 15 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25.9 | 17.6 | 11,349 | N/A |
| Liberal | 3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5.2 | 9.8 | 6,319 | N/A |
| Ind. Conservative | 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3.4 | 0.9 | 613 | N/A |
| Residents | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1,137 | N/A |
| Communist | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.0 | 0.6 | 411 | N/A |

## Ward results
### Black Notley

Black Notley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | E. Mills | 269 | 57.0 |
| | Labour | B. Burden | 142 | 30.1 |
| | Independent | T. Ward | 61 | 12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 26.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 472 | 39.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,188 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Bumpstead

Bumpstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | S. Drapkin | 381 | 77.9 |
| | Labour | M. Watson | 63 | 12.9 |
| | Independent | G. King | 45 | 9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 65.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 489 | 39.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,228 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Castle Headingham

Castle Headingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Lynch | 302 | 51.1 |
| | Independent | L. Barrington | 289 | 48.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 591 | 50.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,183 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Coggeshall

Coggeshall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | C. Sansom | 660 | |
| | Liberal | W. Onions | 614 | |
| | Independent | W. Drake | 469 | |
| | Independent | W. McMillan | 403 | |
| | Independent | C. Potter | 402 | |
| | Independent | L. Brough | 398 | |
| | Labour | F. Dearman | 378 | |
| | Labour | R. Miles | 375 | |
| | Independent | R. Few | 246 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,653 | 44.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,715 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Colne Engaine & Greenstead Green

Colne Engaine & Greenstead Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ind. Conservative | G. Courtauld | 344 | 58.7 |
| | Independent | E. Wilson | 161 | 27.5 |
| | Labour | J. Plumb | 81 | 13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 31.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 586 | 45.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,295 | |
| | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) |

### Cressing

Cressing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | A. Allen | 194 | 54.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Ratcliffe | 163 | 45.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 357 | 29.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,199 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Earls Colne

Earls Colne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | P. Taylor | 557 | 53.0 |
| | Independent | L. Dearsley | 492 | 46.9 |
| | Conservative | M. Walker | 375 | 35.7 |
| | Labour | D. Lock | 118 | 11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,050 | 50.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,062 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Gosfield

Gosfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | G. Seymour | 207 | 51.8 |
| | Independent | D. Marlow | 193 | 48.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 400 | 38.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,054 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Halstead Holy Trinity

Halstead Holy Trinity :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Cutting | 889 | 56.0 |
| | Labour | R. Dixey | 772 | 48.6 |
| | Labour | N. Bugbee | 740 | 46.6 |
| | Liberal | R. Graham | 699 | 44.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,587 | 49.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,225 | |
| | 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) |

### Halstead St. Andrew's

Halstead St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Residents | E. McDowell | 646 | 39.4 |
| | Conservative | O. Joyce | 584 | 35.6 |
| | Conservative | R. Starling | 528 | 32.2 |
| | Residents | M. Gage | 491 | 30.0 |
| | Labour | R. Mayes | 408 | 24.9 |
| | Labour | K. Jones | 407 | 24.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,639 | 58.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,796 | |
| | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Hatfield Peverel

Hatfield Peverel :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | C. Leicester | 657 | 56.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Claydon | 578 | 50.1 |
| | Labour | J. Gilbert | 497 | 43.1 |
| | Labour | A. Deane | 489 | 42.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,154 | 43.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,677 | |
| | 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) |

### Kelvedon

Kelvedon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | B. Andrews | 761 | 46.7 |
| | Independent | J. De Denne Yule | 613 | 37.6 |
| | Independent | B. Kentish | 488 | 29.9 |
| | Conservative | M. Edwards | 346 | 21.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Crowe | 325 | 19.9 |
| | Labour | E. Hatton | 257 | 15.8 |
| | Labour | J. Reekie | 251 | 15.4 |
| | Labour | H. Young | 250 | 15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,631 | 53.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,072 | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### No. 1 (Braintree: East)

No. 1 (Braintree: East) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. Warren | 877 | 42.7 |
| | Labour | H. Warren | 829 | 40.4 |
| | Labour | W. Clarke | 789 | 38.4 |
| | Labour | T. Dearman | 771 | 37.6 |
| | Conservative | A. Lobb | 569 | 27.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Hammond | 517 | 25.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Tyrell | 515 | 25.1 |
| | Liberal | L. Brown | 507 | 24.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Vernon | 478 | 23.3 |
| | Communist | B. O'Hare | 102 | 5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,053 | 41.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,008 | |
| | 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) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### No. 2 (Braintree: West)

No. 2 (Braintree: West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | J. Ross | 1,257 | 42.0 |
| | Liberal | M. Collins | 1,071 | 35.8 |
| | Conservative | S. Harper | 1,030 | 34.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Legg | 949 | 31.7 |
| | Conservative | H. Everitt | 805 | 26.9 |
| | Labour | P. Kent | 706 | 23.6 |
| | Conservative | D. Church | 694 | 23.2 |
| | Labour | L. Baker | 584 | 19.5 |
| | Labour | B. Hearn | 535 | 17.9 |
| | Labour | J. Pryke | 512 | 17.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,991 | 61.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,855 | |
| | 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) |
| | 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) |

### No. 3 (Bocking: North)

No. 3 (Bocking: North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | A. Everard | 853 | 59.1 |
| | Labour | S. Hounsell | 778 | 53.9 |
| | Labour | A. Millam | 715 | 49.5 |
| | Conservative | M. Lewis | 592 | 41.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Illingworth | 590 | 40.9 |
| | Conservative | A. Wyatt | 553 | 38.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,444 | 40.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,530 | |
| | 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) |

### No. 4 (Bocking: South)

No. 4 (Bocking: South) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. Warne | 1,403 | 45.3 |
| | Labour | R. Suckling | 1,205 | 38.9 |
| | Labour | R. Watson | 1,116 | 36.1 |
| | Labour | A. Mackenzie | 1,031 | 33.3 |
| | Liberal | L. Goddard | 889 | 28.7 |
| | Liberal | W. Margetts | 839 | 27.1 |
| | Conservative | A. Comfort | 804 | 26.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Ireson | 638 | 20.6 |
| | Conservative | J. Overfield | 612 | 19.8 |
| | Conservative | C. Murcott | 602 | 19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,095 | 55.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,566 | |
| | 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) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### No. 7 (Witham: West)

No. 7 (Witham: West) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | I. Kinloch | 488 | 38.7 |
| | Independent | W. Shortridge | 416 | 33.0 |
| | Labour | D. Clampin | 324 | 25.7 |
| | Labour | J. Keeling | 310 | 24.6 |
| | Conservative | D. Willetts | 210 | 16.7 |
| | Conservative | M. Lager | 195 | 15.5 |
| | Liberal | M. Sadler | 137 | 10.9 |
| | Communist | F. Brown | 101 | 8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,260 | 38.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,238 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### No. 8 (Witham: North)

No. 8 (Witham: North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | S. Smith | 574 | 44.5 |
| | Labour | A. Bentley | 568 | 44.1 |
| | Independent | J. Sweeting | 335 | 26.0 |
| | Conservative | G. Gibbs | 206 | 16.0 |
| | Independent | I. Sullivan | 173 | 13.4 |
| | Conservative | P. Gibbs | 161 | 12.5 |
| | Independent | B. Lowry | 159 | 12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,289 | 35.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,631 | |
| | 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) |

### No. 9 (Witham: Rivenhall North)

No. 9 (Witham: Rivenhall North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. Bartlett | 526 | 54.0 |
| | Labour | J. Lyon | 484 | 49.7 |
| | Conservative | N. Wallace | 448 | 46.0 |
| | Conservative | P. Cutmore | 339 | 34.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 974 | 50.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,913 | |
| | 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) |

### No. 10 (Witham: Rivenhall South)

No. 10 (Witham: Rivenhall South) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Wicks | 271 | 38.7 |
| | Labour | C. Edwards | 233 | 33.2 |
| | Independent | J. Valentine | 195 | 27.8 |
| | Liberal | D. Sibley | 140 | 20.0 |
| | Independent | P. Bond | 95 | 13.6 |
| | Independent | S. Jones | 93 | 13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 701 | 41.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,672 | |
| | 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) |

### No. 11 (Witham: Central)

No. 11 (Witham: Central) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | H. Pitchforth | 242 | 46.3 |
| | Conservative | K. Richards | 217 | 41.5 |
| | Liberal | D. Cudmore | 37 | 7.1 |
| | Labour | D. Franklin | 27 | 5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 523 | 52.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 991 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### No. 12 (Witham: South)

No. 12 (Witham: South) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Howe | 372 | 55.2 |
| | Independent | M. Cooper-Cocks | 302 | 44.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 674 | 46.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,445 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Panfield

Panfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Chandler | 282 | 52.4 |
| | Labour | R. Budge | 256 | 47.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 538 | 46.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,167 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Rayne

Rayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | R. Carder | 261 | 64.0 |
| | Labour | K. Locke | 147 | 36.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 | 27.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 408 | 32.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,274 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Sible Headingham

Sible Headingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | G. Tanner | 544 | 36.5 |
| | Conservative | P. Belither | 518 | 34.8 |
| | Labour | J. Waldron | 428 | 28.7 |
| | Labour | E. Snarey | 217 | 14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,489 | 61.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,413 | |
| | 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) |

### Stour Valley Central

Stour Valley Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | K. Nott | 375 | 71.4 |
| | Labour | L. Tolliday | 150 | 28.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 42.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 525 | 46.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,123 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Stour Valley North

Stour Valley North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | E. Powell | 365 | 75.6 |
| | Labour | P. Ellis | 118 | 24.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 247 | 51.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 483 | 43.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,107 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Stour Valley South

Stour Valley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Abinger | 338 | 47.9 |
| | Independent | G. Nott | 335 | 47.5 |
| | Labour | M. Andrews | 32 | 4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 705 | 53.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,326 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Terling

Terling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | G. Isted | 364 | 64.5 |
| | Labour | C. Foy | 200 | 35.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 29.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 564 | 45.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,248 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Three Fields

Three Fields :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Hawkins | 443 | 39.4 |
| | Conservative | O. Sebag-Monteflore | 357 | 31.8 |
| | Independent | J. Nottage | 354 | 31.5 |
| | Independent | W. Crossman | 342 | 30.5 |
| | Labour | E. Gray | 327 | 29.1 |
| | Independent | E. Cox | 231 | 20.6 |
| | Labour | C. Westwood | 221 | 19.7 |
| | Independent | J. Bowen Roberts | 162 | 14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,123 | 46.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,420 | |
| | 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) |

### Upper Colne

Upper Colne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | D. Johnson | 511 | 67.1 |
| | Labour | G. Watson | 250 | 32.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 34.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 761 | 61.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,238 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Yeldham

Yeldham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ind. Conservative | P. Innes | 269 | 34.5 |
| | Communist | J. Cohen | 208 | 26.7 |
| | Labour | W. Elliott | 174 | 22.3 |
| | Liberal | R. Wilson | 129 | 16.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61 | 7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 780 | 63.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,225 | |
| | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) |