# 1976 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Trafford Council were held on Thursday, 6 May 1976. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 1980. The Conservative Party retained overall control of the council.

## Election result

| Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council |
| Conservative Party | 40,753 (57.4%) | 1.3 | 17 (81.0%) | 17 / 21 | 5 | 47 (74.6%) | 47 / 63 |
| Labour Party | 19,344 (27.3%) | 5.1 | 4 (19.0%) | 4 / 21 | 1 | 12 (19.0%) | 12 / 63 |
| Liberal Party | 10,421 (14.7%) | 6.6 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 21 | 4 | 4 (6.3%) | 4 / 63 |
| Communist Party | 263 (0.4%) | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 21 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 63 |
| Independent | 192 (0.3%) | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 21 | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 63 |
| 12 | 4 | 47 |

## Ward results
### No.1 (Altrincham South West)

Altrincham South West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Catherine Gordon | 1,373 | 53.5 | +10.6 |
| | Labour | E. Axon | 687 | 26.8 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | P. C. Feanhley | 506 | 19.7 | −10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 686 | 26.7 | +13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,566 | 40.3 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.2 (Altrincham East)

Altrincham East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roy Hall | 2,209 | 54.5 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Glen Stuart | 1,153 | 28.4 | −8.9 |
| | Labour | Robert Coulthard | 691 | 17.0 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,056 | 26.1 | +15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,053 | 42.6 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### No.3 (Altrincham North)

Altrincham North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Finch | 1,610 | 54.3 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal | Eric Faulkner | 719 | 24.3 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | Alan Hadley | 635 | 21.4 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 891 | 30.1 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,964 | 45.0 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.4 (Timperley)

Timperley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Audrey Weedall | 1,695 | 47.6 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | Raymond Bowker* | 983 | 27.6 | +5.8 |
| | Labour | J. Gregory | 884 | 24.8 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 712 | 20.0 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,562 | 44.5 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### No.5 (Mersey-St. Mary’s)

Mersey-St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ivor Hurst* | 2,451 | 60.8 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal | R. Elliott | 1,184 | 29.4 | −14.1 |
| | Labour | Raymond Tully | 393 | 9.8 | +9.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 | 31.5 | +18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,028 | 45.0 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.6 (St. Martin’s)

St. Martin's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Morgan Evans* | 2,778 | 66.8 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | G. T. Pollitt | 1,378 | 33.2 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,400 | 33.7 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,156 | 38.2 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.7 (Sale Moor)

Sale Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. D. Turner | 1,231 | 43.9 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | Barry Brotherton | 1,221 | 43.6 | +9.5 |
| | Liberal | B. Willshaw | 301 | 10.7 | −10.4 |
| | Communist | V. T. Eddisford | 49 | 1.7 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.4 | −4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,802 | 42.1 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### No.8 (St. Anne’s)

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Sutton | 1,789 | 46.4 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal | John Golding* | 1,208 | 31.3 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | J. K. Morgan | 858 | 22.3 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 15.1 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,855 | 45.3 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### No.9 (Brooklands)

Brooklands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. B. Ludlam | 2,393 | 64.8 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Hilary Hughes | 1,302 | 35.2 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,091 | 29.5 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,695 | 45.2 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### No.10 (Talbot North)

Talbot North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Daniel Sullivan* | 1,786 | 52.8 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | T. W. Thompson | 1,143 | 33.8 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | T. A. Dixon | 451 | 13.3 | −10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 19.0 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,380 | 37.9 | +3.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### No.11 (Clifford)

Clifford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Vincent Wynne* | 1,355 | 49.6 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative | Edward Kelson | 1,172 | 42.9 | −14.3 |
| | Liberal | R. N. Stott | 206 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 6.7 | −7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,733 | 41.5 | +6.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### No.12 (Longford)

Longford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Olive Chandler* | 2,033 | 53.5 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Tony Lloyd | 1,319 | 34.7 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | H. D. Locksley | 446 | 11.7 | −4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 714 | 18.8 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,798 | 39.0 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.13 (Stretford)

Stretford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Warbrick* | 1,587 | 64.4 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | G. R. Scott | 698 | 28.3 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | C. R. Hedley | 181 | 7.3 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 889 | 36.1 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,466 | 42.3 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.14 (Park)

Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Herber Pyper* | 1,353 | 49.9 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative | William Matthews | 1,282 | 47.3 | +4.5 |
| | Communist | M. A. Murray | 75 | 2.8 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 71 | 2.6 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,710 | 43.3 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### No.15 (Bowdon)

Bowdon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Barbara Sutton Hall* | 2,948 | 84.7 | +12.8 |
| | Labour | J. Wynne | 534 | 15.3 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,414 | 69.3 | +13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,482 | 48.6 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.16 (Hale)

Hale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roy Godwin* | 3,807 | 87.2 | +5.9 |
| | Labour | P. Scott | 560 | 12.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,247 | 74.4 | +23.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,367 | 47.4 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.17 (Partington)

Partington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Paul* | 1,438 | 48.7 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | M. E. Hindley | 1,182 | 40.1 | −6.7 |
| | Communist | P. S. Gallagher | 139 | 4.7 | −1.9 |
| | Independent | W. J. Graham | 120 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | K. M. Stewart | 72 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 256 | 8.7 | +8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,951 | 37.4 | +9.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### No.18 (Urmston West East)

Urmston West East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ruth Royle-Higginson* | 1,798 | 56.8 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | D. T. Taylor | 763 | 24.1 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal | A. Scanlon | 604 | 19.1 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,035 | 32.7 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,165 | 37.6 | −5.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.19 (Flixton East Central)

Flixton East Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Fitzpatrick* | 2,492 | 62.9 | +8.4 |
| | Labour | D. J. Watts | 894 | 22.6 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | M. G. Maxfield | 575 | 14.5 | −11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,598 | 40.3 | +11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,961 | 42.9 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.20 (Flixton West)

Flixton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. E. Williams* | 2,432 | 60.4 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | Laura Seex | 1,212 | 30.1 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | D. J. Gilbert | 384 | 9.5 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,220 | 30.3 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,028 | 41.2 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### No.21 (Davyhulme East)

Davyhulme East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frank Eadie* | 1,348 | 59.9 | +9.8 |
| | Labour | M. F. Treadaway | 685 | 30.4 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal | W. A. Munden | 218 | 9.7 | −15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 663 | 29.5 | +4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,251 | 41.4 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 1976 and 1978

No.4 (Timperley) By-Election 14 October 1976 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald Holden | 1,307 | 67.1 | +19.5 |
| | Labour | J. Gregory | 640 | 32.9 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 667 | 34.3 | +11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,947 | 24.3 | −20.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
No.3 (Altrincham North) By-Election 24 March 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. G. Currie | 1,183 | 56.7 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal | Eric Faulkner | 579 | 27.7 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | P. B. Ayo | 325 | 15.6 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 604 | 28.9 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,087 | 31.7 | −13.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
No.6 (St. Martin's) By-Election 24 March 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T. Almond | 1,862 | 58.7 | −8.1 |
| | Labour | Barry Brotherton | 744 | 23.5 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal | John Golding | 566 | 17.8 | +17.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,118 | 35.2 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,172 | 28.1 | −10.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |