# 1973 Colchester Borough Council election

The 1973 Colchester Borough Council election were the first elections to the newly created Colchester Borough Council. They took place on 7 June 1973. This was on the same day as other local elections. The Local Government Act 1972 stipulated that the elected members were to shadow and eventually take over from the predecessor corporation on 1 April 1974.

## Summary

1973 Colchester Borough Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 28 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 46.7 | 43.1 | 39,985 | N/A |
| Labour | 26 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 43.3 | 44.4 | 41,266 | N/A |
| Tiptree Residents | 3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5.0 | 0.7 | 689 | N/A |
| Independent | 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3.3 | 5.4 | 5,020 | N/A |
| Liberal | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.7 | 6.4 | 5,914 | N/A |

## Ward results
### Birch-Messing

Birch-Messing (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Round | 362 | 41.9 |
| | Liberal | P. Leggett | 352 | 40.7 |
| | Labour | M. Dixon | 150 | 17.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 864 | 70.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,220 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Boxted & Langham

Boxted & Langham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | A. Sexton | 542 | 71.2 |
| | Labour | J. Goldsborough | 111 | 14.6 |
| | Independent | J. Slatter | 108 | 14.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 431 | 56.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 761 | 47.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,609 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Copford & Eight Ash Green

Copford & Eight Ash Green (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | A. Wilde | 422 | 62.2 |
| | Labour | M. Fraser | 120 | 17.7 |
| | Independent | J. Charnock | 89 | 13.1 |
| | Liberal | D. Wood | 47 | 6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 44.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 678 | 39.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,714 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Dedham

Dedham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Jackson | 413 | 52.3 |
| | Independent | B. Marsh | 212 | 26.8 |
| | Liberal | J. Mead | 136 | 17.2 |
| | Labour | A. Smith | 29 | 3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 201 | 25.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 790 | 58.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,350 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### East Donyland

East Donyland (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Sanderson | 341 | 50.3 |
| | Labour | Edward Lilley | 337 | 49.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 678 | 56.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,198 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Fordham

Fordham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. Marshall Forest | 263 | 37.6 |
| | Conservative | G. Penrose | 263 | 37.6 |
| | Labour | P. Mason | 174 | 24.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 700 | 54.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,294 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Great & Little Horkesley

Great & Little Horkesley (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | K. Knighton | 415 | 71.2 |
| | Independent | A. Linscott | 101 | 17.3 |
| | Labour | D. Brown | 67 | 11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 53.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 583 | 45.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,271 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Marks Tey

Marks Tey (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Browning | 475 | 68.6 |
| | Conservative | E. James | 474 | 68.5 |
| | Labour | H. Teagle | 218 | 31.5 |
| | Labour | W. Leach | 92 | 13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 692 | 53.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,293 | |
| | 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. 1 (Colchester: Berechurch)

No. 1 (Colchester: Berechurch) (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | C. Howe | 835 | 40.8 |
| | Liberal | M. Gage | 770 | 37.6 |
| | Labour | B. Ladbrook | 746 | 36.4 |
| | Labour | R. Boyles | 694 | 33.9 |
| | Labour | J. Orpe | 629 | 30.7 |
| | Conservative | V. Worth | 445 | 21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,048 | 38.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,390 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal 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 (Colchester: Castle)

No. 2 (Colchester: Castle) (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | C. Robb | 1,037 | 44.4 |
| | Labour | G. Sheward | 836 | 35.8 |
| | Labour | S. Wills | 829 | 35.5 |
| | Conservative | D. Lamberth | 762 | 32.6 |
| | Conservative | F. Clater | 668 | 28.6 |
| | Conservative | T. White | 645 | 27.6 |
| | Independent | A. Williams | 539 | 23.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,338 | 56.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,124 | |
| | 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. 3 (Colchester: Harbour)

No. 3 (Colchester: Harbour) (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Bird | 1,244 | 58.2 |
| | Labour | B. Evans | 1,180 | 55.2 |
| | Labour | C. Parmenter | 1,151 | 53.8 |
| | Conservative | A. Parsonson | 896 | 41.9 |
| | Conservative | B. Nicholls | 831 | 38.8 |
| | Conservative | F. Palmer | 824 | 38.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,139 | 47.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,551 | |
| | 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 (Colchester: Lexden)

No. 4 (Colchester: Lexden) (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Wheeler | 1,915 | 45.6 |
| | Conservative | C. Blaxill | 1,907 | 45.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Holt | 1,824 | 43.4 |
| | Conservative | C. Sergeant | 1,769 | 42.1 |
| | Conservative | T. Wilson | 1,650 | 39.3 |
| | Liberal | E. Blank | 888 | 21.1 |
| | Labour | D. Hughes | 781 | 18.6 |
| | Labour | A. Gould | 734 | 17.5 |
| | Labour | J. Wolton | 732 | 17.4 |
| | Labour | M. Pease | 699 | 16.6 |
| | Independent | C. Meadows | 618 | 14.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,201 | 61.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,830 | |
| | 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) |
| | 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. 5 (Colchester: Mile End)

No. 5 (Colchester: Mile End) (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Fulford | 1,010 | 55.5 |
| | Conservative | R. Fulford | 1,007 | 55.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Blackmore | 924 | 50.8 |
| | Labour | W. Buckingham | 809 | 44.5 |
| | Labour | B. White | 725 | 39.9 |
| | Labour | L. Rober | 706 | 38.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,819 | 51.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,511 | |
| | 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) |

### No. 6 (Colchester: New Town)

No. 6 (Colchester: New Town) (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Bensusan-Butt | 1,151 | 48.8 |
| | Labour | Bob Russell | 1,148 | 48.7 |
| | Labour | D. Williams | 1,040 | 44.1 |
| | Liberal | T. Brady | 708 | 30.0 |
| | Conservative | V. Gawthrop | 498 | 21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,358 | 49.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,783 | |
| | 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 (Colchester: St. John's)

No. 7 (Colchester: St. John's) (8 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Graham Bober | 2,114 | 46.1 |
| | Labour | P. Edwards | 2,009 | 43.8 |
| | Labour | D. Braddy | 2,008 | 43.8 |
| | Labour | R. Buxton | 2,002 | 43.7 |
| | Labour | G. Cooper | 1,998 | 43.6 |
| | Labour | B. Ready | 1,976 | 43.1 |
| | Labour | L. French | 1,940 | 42.3 |
| | Conservative | B. Falk | 1,538 | 33.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Pinnock | 1,489 | 32.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Gray | 1,460 | 31.8 |
| | Conservative | S. Giffard | 1,449 | 31.6 |
| | Conservative | R. Addison | 1,445 | 31.5 |
| | Labour | M. Frank | 1,032 | 22.5 |
| | Liberal | Y. Holly | 936 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,585 | 38.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,787 | |
| | 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) |
| | 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) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### No. 8 (Colchester: St. Mary's)

No. 8 (Colchester: St. Mary's) (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Brooks | 1,398 | 54.6 |
| | Conservative | P. Spendlove | 1,320 | 51.6 |
| | Conservative | R. Hilliam | 1,293 | 50.5 |
| | Conservative | B. Graver | 1,223 | 47.8 |
| | Liberal | R. Tuxford | 627 | 24.5 |
| | Labour | B. Brett | 535 | 20.9 |
| | Labour | T. Barker | 528 | 20.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,559 | 51.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,931 | |
| | 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) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### No. 9 (Colchester: Shrub End)

No. 9 (Colchester: Shrub End) (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | I. Woodrow | 1,009 | 32.8 |
| | Labour | E. Plowright | 920 | 29.9 |
| | Labour | Frank Wilkin | 893 | 29.0 |
| | Labour | I. Brown | 891 | 28.9 |
| | Independent | J. Williams | 798 | 25.9 |
| | Conservative | D. Purvis | 683 | 22.2 |
| | Conservative | G. White | 663 | 21.5 |
| | Conservative | G. Roberts | 610 | 19.8 |
| | Liberal | M. Livermore | 585 | 19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,078 | 49.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,256 | |
| | 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. 23 (Tiptree: Church)

No. 23 (Tiptree: Church) (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tiptree Residents | A. Garrod | 224 | 37.3 |
| | Conservative | C. Cansdale | 195 | 32.4 |
| | Labour | A. Lines | 182 | 30.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 601 | 36.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,648 | |
| | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) |

### No. 24 (Tiptree: Heath)

No. 24 (Tiptree: Heath) (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tiptree Residents | K. Brown | 222 | 58.3 |
| | Independent | R. Keeble | 95 | 24.9 |
| | Labour | G. Sollis | 64 | 16.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 33.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 381 | 35.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,076 | |
| | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) |

### No. 25 (Tiptree: Maypole)

No. 25 (Tiptree: Maypole) (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tiptree Residents | T. Webb | 243 | 38.1 |
| | Labour | H. Jones | 195 | 30.6 |
| | Conservative | H. Pierce | 126 | 19.8 |
| | Independent | R. Martin | 73 | 11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48 | 7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 637 | 30.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,060 | |
| | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) | Tiptree Residents win (new seat) |

### Pyefleet

Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | K. Ward | 387 | 70.5 |
| | Labour | P. Treacher | 162 | 29.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 41.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 549 | 36.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,500 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | T. Kirkby | 581 | 33.3 |
| | Labour | J. Knight | 554 | 31.8 |
| | Conservative | T. Holloway | 534 | 30.6 |
| | Conservative | E. Ayden | 484 | 27.8 |
| | Liberal | P. Leggett | 352 | 20.2 |
| | Independent | S. Duggan | 274 | 15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,743 | 49.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,535 | |
| | 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) |

### West Bergholt

West Bergholt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Lampon | 517 | 66.5 |
| | Labour | G. Hurst | 159 | 20.5 |
| | Independent | A. Linscott | 101 | 13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 358 | 46.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 777 | 45.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,713 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | A. Gray | 820 | 31.1 |
| | Independent | J. Williams | 798 | 30.2 |
| | Conservative | G. Roberts | 610 | 23.1 |
| | Liberal | T. Wargent | 513 | 19.4 |
| | Labour | L. Haines | 510 | 19.3 |
| | Conservative | R. D'Wit | 459 | 17.4 |
| | Independent | A. Smith | 356 | 13.5 |
| | Independent | E. Vince | 354 | 13.4 |
| | Independent | C. Smith | 241 | 9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,640 | 69.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,821 | |
| | 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) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Winstree

Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Faulds | 588 | 60.4 |
| | Labour | Ken Cooke | 235 | 24.1 |
| | Liberal | A. Watkins | 151 | 15.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 353 | 36.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 974 | 67.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,452 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | D. Wilkinson | 782 | 42.0 |
| | Labour | K. Coldwell | 597 | 32.1 |
| | Conservative | B. Grasby | 584 | 31.4 |
| | Labour | B. Mundell | 576 | 31.0 |
| | Labour | J. Greenman | 573 | 30.8 |
| | Conservative | S. Croucher | 571 | 30.7 |
| | Independent | N. Butler | 482 | 25.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,861 | 48.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,813 | |
| | 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) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |