# 1979 Thurrock Borough Council election

The 1979 Thurrock Borough Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Thurrock Borough Council in Essex, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England and the 1979 general election.
The whole council was up for election on new ward boundaries. Labour lost control of the council to No overall control.

## Summary
### Election result

1979 Thurrock Borough Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
| Labour | 39 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 46.2 | 45.9 | 74,438 |
| Conservative | 39 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 38.5 | 41.6 | 67,400 |
| Independent | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | | 7.7 | 5.9 | 9,519 |
| Independent Labour | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 2,539 |
| Residents | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 2,997 |
| Liberal | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 3.2 | 5,180 |

## Ward results
### Aveley

Aveley (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Geaney* | 2,155 | 60.4 | –5.4 |
| | Labour | J. Clark | 1,926 | 53.9 | –5.1 |
| | Conservative | F. Beasley | 1,882 | 52.7 | +10.2 |
| | Labour | A. May* | 1,654 | 46.3 | –6.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Dobson | 1,550 | 43.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | V. Lanigan | 1,544 | 43.2 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~4,541 | 74.4 | +38.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,103 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Belhus

Belhus (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | P. Maynard* | 2,330 | 68.5 |
| | Labour | S. Davis* | 2,230 | 65.5 |
| | Labour | J. Aberdein* | 2,075 | 61.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Brereton | 1,302 | 38.3 |
| | Conservative | V. Dobson | 1,195 | 35.1 |
| | Conservative | L. Swain | 1,078 | 31.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~4,178 | 67.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,171 | |
| | 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) |

### Chadwell St Mary

Chadwell St Mary (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. Siddons* | 2,951 | 64.5 | +8.0 |
| | Labour | J. Taylor* | 2,842 | 62.1 | +13.7 |
| | Labour | P. Bolger* | 2,808 | 61.4 | +17.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Cleverley | 1,603 | 35.0 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | J. Everett | 1,527 | 33.4 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative | J. Everett | 1,390 | 30.4 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | M. Haynes | 603 | 13.2 | –4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,622 | 75.4 | +39.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,456 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Corringham & Fobbing

Corringham & Fobbing (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. Wood* | 3,345 | 53.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Hart* | 3,340 | 53.1 |
| | Labour | A. Price | 3,130 | 49.8 |
| | Conservative | D. Awcock | 3,108 | 49.4 |
| | Labour | A. Clarke | 3,030 | 48.2 |
| | Conservative | I. Harrison | 2,920 | 46.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~6,965 | 76.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,105 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### East Tilbury

East Tilbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Residents | D. Allchin | 1,384 | 44.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Hardy | 997 | 32.2 |
| | Labour | E. Godley | 716 | 23.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 387 | 12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,097 | 78.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,028 | |
| | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) | Residents win (new seat) |

### Grays Thurrock (North)

Grays Thurrock (North) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | M. Thomas | 1,224 | 60.4 |
| | Labour | B. Newsome | 804 | 39.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 420 | 20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,028 | 77.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,609 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Grays Thurrock (Town)

Grays Thurrock (Town) (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | S. Josling* | 2,015 | 50.1 |
| | Labour | R. Pye* | 2,000 | 49.8 |
| | Labour | K. Evans* | 1,908 | 47.5 |
| | Residents | B. Taylor | 1,613 | 40.1 |
| | Conservative | E. Attewell | 1,312 | 32.7 |
| | Conservative | D. Sutton | 1,280 | 31.9 |
| | Conservative | G. Riches | 1,207 | 30.0 |
| | Liberal | P. Gillard | 720 | 17.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~4,842 | 73.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,597 | |
| | 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) |

### Little Thurrock

Little Thurrock (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Andrews | 3,242 | 65.0 | +14.6 |
| | Conservative | A. Edwards* | 3,081 | 61.8 | +11.6 |
| | Conservative | J. Edwards* | 3,078 | 61.7 | +13.9 |
| | Labour | T. Codley | 1,910 | 38.3 | –4.3 |
| | Labour | B. Le Grys | 1,862 | 37.4 | –2.7 |
| | Labour | N. Hawes | 1,781 | 35.7 | –3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,810 | 77.3 | +28.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,516 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Ockendon

Ockendon (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | A. Barnes* | 2,297 | 62.9 |
| | Labour | J. Mathison | 2,166 | 59.3 |
| | Labour | R. Abel | 2,152 | 58.9 |
| | Conservative | A. Bland | 1,516 | 41.5 |
| | Conservative | C. Clark | 1,436 | 39.3 |
| | Conservative | B. Lawrence | 1,393 | 38.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,052 | 73.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,902 | |
| | 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) |

### Orsett

Orsett (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Greatrex* | 1,742 | 71.1 | –4.3 |
| | Conservative | B. Beardwell | 1,739 | 71.0 | –1.8 |
| | Labour | G. Miles | 743 | 30.3 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Z. Chaudhri | 675 | 27.6 | –0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~2,725 | 77.2 | +30.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,530 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Stanford-le-Hope

Stanford-le-Hope (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Butt | 2,559 | 53.1 | +9.2 |
| | Labour | F. Thompson | 2,519 | 52.3 | +10.2 |
| | Labour | M. Meen* | 2,443 | 50.7 | +13.3 |
| | Labour | J. Fuller | 2,389 | 49.6 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | P. Povey* | 2,281 | 47.3 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | A. McCartney | 2,266 | 47.0 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,661 | 75.2 | +41.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,528 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Stifford

Stifford (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Greatrex | 2,657 | 55.9 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | H. Lott | 2,463 | 51.8 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | A. Turner | 2,420 | 50.9 | +8.5 |
| | Labour | P. Rice* | 2,307 | 48.5 | –8.8 |
| | Labour | G. Watts* | 2,287 | 48.1 | –6.2 |
| | Labour | A. Fitzmaurice* | 2,131 | 44.8 | –8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,114 | 78.4 | +33.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,523 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### The Homesteads

The Homesteads (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | M. Dalton | 1,754 | 46.6 |
| | Conservative | L. Povey | 1,672 | 44.4 |
| | Conservative | B. Fenner | 1,661 | 44.1 |
| | Labour | D. Clarke | 1,257 | 33.4 |
| | Labour | R. Clark | 1,222 | 32.5 |
| | Labour | M. Bonfield | 1,146 | 30.4 |
| | Liberal | C. Farrand | 896 | 23.8 |
| | Liberal | G. Basson | 868 | 23.1 |
| | Liberal | C. Bowler | 820 | 21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~4,217 | 78.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,399 | |
| | 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) |

### Tilbury

Tilbury (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Bibby* | 3,646 | 72.7 | +10.5 |
| | Independent | A. Bragg* | 2,963 | 59.1 | +3.8 |
| | Independent | T. Kendel* | 2,910 | 58.0 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | T. Lockwood | 1,392 | 27.7 | –15.1 |
| | Labour | T. O'Neill | 1,319 | 26.3 | –14.6 |
| | Labour | E. Rimmell | 1,112 | 22.2 | –16.4 |
| | Conservative | T. Lester | 380 | 7.6 | –4.2 |
| | Conservative | R. Windley | 314 | 6.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Bamford | 298 | 5.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Revell | 288 | 5.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | A. Maynard | 230 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. Maynard | 199 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~5,665 | 68.3 | +30.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,295 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### West Thurrock

West Thurrock (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent Labour | E. Vellacott* | 1,406 | 51.2 |
| | Independent Labour | E. May | 1,133 | 41.3 |
| | Labour | L. Gay* | 782 | 28.5 |
| | Labour | M. Epsley | 627 | 22.8 |
| | Conservative | P. Budge | 522 | 19.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Grant | 477 | 17.4 |
| | Liberal | K. Crowson | 300 | 10.9 |
| | Liberal | J. Norris | 246 | 9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~2,953 | 74.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,975 | |
| | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour |
| | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour | Independent Labour gain from Labour |