# 1973 West Dorset District Council election

The 1973 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 10 May 1973 to elect councillors to the new West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom.
These were the first elections to the new district council, which would come into effect on 1 April 1974. Future elections would take place every three years, with the next election scheduled for 6 May 1976.
The 1973 election saw Independent councillors take a significant majority on the Council.

## Ward results
### Beaminster

Beaminster (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Hudson | 654 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Bugler | 488 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Coole | 456 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Chaffey | 391 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,239 | | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Bothenhampton

Bothenhampton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | O. Aburrow | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,197 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Winder | 269 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Bagnall | 259 | 49.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,244 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. West | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,137 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Bridport

Bridport (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Smith | 1,430 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Norfolk | 946 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | A. Tiltman | 840 | 27.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | L. Dibden | 812 | 26.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | H. Skevington | 721 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Samways | 701 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Cummins | 676 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | T. Storrs | 469 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | G. Fitzgerald | 385 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 59.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,169 | | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Liberal 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) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. White | 197 | 56.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | H. Ross-Skinner | 154 | 43.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 12.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,139 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Coate | 282 | 68.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Biggs | 129 | 31.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 | 37.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,032 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Cheney | 392 | 59.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Mallinson | 266 | 40.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 19.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 61.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,068 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Caundle Vale

Caundle Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | N. White | 181 | 37.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | E. Chant | 161 | 33.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | D. Randolph | 139 | 28.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 962 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Cerne Valley

Cerne Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. Best | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 928 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Charminster

Charminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Hanford | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,269 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Charmouth

Charmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Fouger | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,146 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Pengelly | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 993 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Chickerell

Chickerell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Bennett | 384 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | W. McCarthy | 336 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | M. Groves | 290 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 15.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,461 | | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Dorchester Central

Dorchester Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Phillips | 368 | 62.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | W. Bowering | 164 | 27.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Beards | 59 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 34.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 57.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,029 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Collins | 1,205 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Parsons | 1,029 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | Enid Stella Jones | 977 | 32.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | R. Brissenden | 963 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Woodroffe | 921 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Matthews | 894 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | P. Lucas | 823 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | F. Holme | 793 | 26.7 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Brown | 530 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | G. Megson | 529 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | P. Gregory | 529 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 68.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,354 | | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent 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) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Powell | 1,399 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | H. Durrant | 1,152 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Bird | 1,116 | 33.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | David Trevor Jones | 1,101 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | D. Anderson | 1,048 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | G. Standfeild | 775 | 23.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | S. Balistrari | 759 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Yelling | 704 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Waldron | 697 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | M. Murray | 661 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 71.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,622 | | |
| | 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) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent 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) | 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) |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Bryant | 282 | 58.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | I. Collins | 204 | 42.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 16.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 982 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Halstock

Halstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Frost | 299 | 67.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Hammick | 145 | 32.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 34.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,117 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Holnest

Holnest :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Cockburn | 211 | 47.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Gray | 121 | 26.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Hill | 117 | 26.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 20.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,028 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Golding | 399 | 76.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Lucas | 121 | 23.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 53.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 833 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Broom | 627 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Hallett | 580 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | V. Homyer | 529 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | G. Upjohn | 311 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Hill | 229 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 22.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,761 | | |
| | 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) | 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) |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Haward | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 959 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Netherbury

Netherbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Tiarks | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,216 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Baldwin | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,010 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Piddle Valley

Piddle Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Green | 379 | 89.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Clear | 44 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 335 | 79.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,054 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Bown | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 894 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Queen Thorne

Queen Thorne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Brewer | 290 | 64.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Thornton-Wood | 161 | 35.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 129 | 28.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,011 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Sherborne

Sherborne (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. King | 1,400 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Matson | 1,228 | 46.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Sweet | 1,217 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Dyke | 1,100 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Farrant | 1,030 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. Barker | 996 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | W. Vincent | 978 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Lugg | 917 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | V. Quick | 854 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,629 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | 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) | Liberal 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) | 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) |

### Stinsford

Stinsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Williams | 334 | 63.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | W. Wakely | 191 | 36.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 27.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 812 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Symondsbury

Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Forbes | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,032 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Thorncombe

Thorncombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Atyeo | 112 | 66.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | M. Saunders | 57 | 33.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 32.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 17.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 962 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Tolpuddle

Tolpuddle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Kraft | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 722 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Whitchurch Canonicorum

Whitchurch Canonicorum :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. Fowell | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,083 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Childs | 239 | 51.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Hyde | 224 | 48.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 930 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | F. Lawrence | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,071 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |