# 1976 Horsham District Council election

The 1976 Horsham District Council election took place on 6 May 1976 to elect members of Horsham District Council in England. It was held on the same day as other local elections. The Conservatives won a majority of 9 on the council, gaining from Independent. In a number of seats, candidates who stood as an Independent in 1973, when these seats were last contested, stood again as a Conservative Party candidate. Residents' association won their first seat to the council, winning a seat in Henfield. The Liberal Party lost both of their seats from the previous election three years ago.

## Council Composition

Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:
| 23 | 17 | 2 |
| Ind | Con | Lib |
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| 30 | 12 | 1 |
| Con | Ind | RA |

## Results summary

1976 Horsham District Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 30 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 69.8 | 54.2 | 30,945 | +19.0 |
| Independent | 12 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 27.9 | 20.3 | 11,607 | -14.9 |
| RA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1,342 | +2.4 |
| Labour | 0 | – | – | | 0.0 | 18.0 | 10,285 | -3.4 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 4.8 | 2,765 | -10.3 |
| National Party | 0 | – | – | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 180 | +0.3 |

## Ward results
### Ashington & Washington

Ashington & Washington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rowland T. | 676 | 73.5 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | Francis V. | 244 | 26.5 | +26.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.3 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Billingshurst

Billingshurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Longhurst K. | 981 | 48.8 |
| | Independent | Griffin C. | 850 | 42.3 |
| | National Party | Saunders D. | 180 | 9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
Griffin C. stood as a Conservative candidate and Longhurst K. stood as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.

### Bramber & Upper Beeding

Bramber & Upper Beeding :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Milburn M. | 983 | 46.2 | +46.2 |
| | Independent | Sanford L. | 765 | 35.9 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal | Callard P. | 380 | 17.9 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Broadbridge Heath

Broadbridge Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | McGregor R. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Cowfold

Cowfold :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Fowler S. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Henfield

Henfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | RA | Jones K. | 832 | 30.7 |
| | Conservative | Jones T. | 811 | 30.0 |
| | Conservative | Corp G. | 750 | |
| | Conservative | Wright F. | 633 | |
| | Independent | Bishop L. Ms. | 537 | 19.8 |
| | RA | Summarsell R. | 510 | |
| | Independent | Rickard W. | 329 | 12.2 |
| | Liberal | Seymour E. | 198 | 7.3 |
| | Liberal | Tysoe F. | 174 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.2 |
| | Residents’ association gain from Independent | Residents’ association gain from Independent | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | |

### Horsham South

Horsham South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pinion G. | 1,512 | 59.5 | +17.7 |
| | Conservative | Mauchel E. Ms. | 1,503 | | |
| | Conservative | Gould G. | 1,458 | | |
| | Conservative | Roberts W. | 1,450 | | |
| | Labour | O'Connor T. | 1,029 | 40.5 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | Thurston J. Ms. | 900 | | |
| | Labour | Colville P. | 892 | | |
| | Labour | Clements R. | 882 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Horsham West

Horsham West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Parsons W. | 1,991 | 36.0 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative | Jeffries D. | 1,794 | 32.3 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Collins M. | 1,715 | | |
| | Conservative | Moore B. Ms. | 1,686 | | |
| | Independent | Martin G. | 987 | 17.9 | −12.1 |
| | Labour | Evenden R. | 756 | 13.7 | +13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.4 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Horsham North

Horsham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Murrell A. | 2,132 | 66.8 | +29.3 |
| | Conservative | Link C. Ms. | 2,122 | | |
| | Conservative | Miller E. | 2,092 | | |
| | Conservative | West H. Ms. | 2,061 | | |
| | Conservative | Taylor J. | 1,065 | | |
| | Labour | Lamb P. | 1,059 | 33.2 | +4.6 |
| | Labour | Nevins R. | 1,042 | | |
| | Labour | Harris J. | 1,033 | | |
| | Labour | Battersby R. | 1,007 | | |
| | Labour | Prodger T. | 949 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Nuthurst

Here :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mackenzie J. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Mackenzie J. was elected as an Independent unopposed when this seat was last contested.

### Pulborough & Coldwatham

Pulborough & Coldwatham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cousins B. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Gocher H. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Roffey

Roffey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bosanquet D. | 1,043 | 78.6 | |
| | Conservative | Sheppard A. | 935 | | |
| | Labour | Harris R. Ms. | 284 | 21.4 | |
| | Labour | Ivatts J. | 249 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
Bosanquet D. was elected as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.

### Rudgwick

Rudgwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Henderson P. Ms. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Rusper

Rusper :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Phelps A. Ms. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Phelps A. Ms. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.

### Shipley

Shipley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Keen D. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Slinfold

Slinfold :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anderson A. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | N/A | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Southwater

Southwater :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Cheal J. | 813 | 34.3 | −2.3 |
| | Independent | Charman M. Ms. | 795 | 33.6 | +1.3 |
| | Independent | Charman E. | 512 | 21.7 | +21.7 |
| | Independent | Francis R. | 243 | 10.3 | +10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.1 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Steyning

Steyning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Dingemans M. Ms | 1,121 | 40.6 | −5.0 |
| | Independent | Mimmack J. | 755 | 27.3 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Foster P. | 600 | 21.7 | +21.7 |
| | Liberal | Paice R. | 286 | 10.4 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.1 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Storrington

Storrington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Shepherd F. | 979 | 49.6 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | Tunnell R. | 707 | | |
| | Independent | Ellis L. | 558 | 28.3 | +28.3 |
| | Liberal | Marlow D. | 438 | 22.2 | −15.1 |
| | Liberal | Dean P. | 245 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Sullington

Sullington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rogers H. | 406 | 58.8 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | Donaldson P. | 284 | 41.2 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Thakeham

Thakeham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jenkins E. | 366 | 66.7 | +24.0 |
| | Independent | Skinner H. | 183 | 33.3 | −24.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 60.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Warnham

Warnham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hodgson A. | 484 | 70.5 |
| | Labour | Ward G. | 203 | 29.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | |
Hodgson A. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.

### West Chiltington

West Chiltington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gardner J. | 677 | 84.3 |
| | Liberal | Cleaver M. Ms. | 126 | 15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | |
Gardner J. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.

### West Grinstead

West Grinstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Scragg J. | 492 | 55.8 |
| | Liberal | Pike D. | 390 | 44.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.9 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |