# 2007 North Devon District Council election

The 2007 North Devon District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of North Devon District Council in Devon, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from the Liberal Democrats.

## Election result

The results saw the Conservatives gain 12 seats to take control of the council from the Liberal Democrats with 22 councillors. These gains came at the expense of the Liberal Democrats who were down 5 to 17 seats and the independents who fell 7 to have 4 seats. Overall turnout in the election was 40.25%.
North Devon Local Election Result 2007 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 22 | 12 | 0 | +12 | 51.2 | 39.8 | 17,737 | +8.7% |
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 39.5 | 42.8 | 19,101 | +0.9% |
| Independent | 4 | 0 | 7 | -7 | 9.3 | 7.5 | 3,360 | -17.1% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.3 | 4,152 | +8.6% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 109 | +0.2% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 96 | +0.2% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 63 | -0.2% |
1 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat candidates were unopposed.

## Ward results

Bickington & Roundswell (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rodney Cann* | 792 | 65.3 | +14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol McCormack-Hole* | 540 | 44.5 | +10.1 |
| | Green | Linda Mack | 343 | 28.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,220 | 34.87 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Bishops Nympton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Eric Ley* | 728 | 84.2 | +6.5 |
| | Green | John Hextall | 137 | 15.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 591 | 68.3 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 872 | 52.09 | −17.2 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Bratton Fleming :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Prowse* | 702 | 78.9 | +14.9 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Keene | 188 | 21.1 | −14.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 514 | 57.8 | +29.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 895 | 56.57 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Braunton East (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roy Lucas* | 653 | 50.0 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | Philip Daniel* | 531 | 40.6 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Alexander | 514 | 39.3 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Welch | 469 | 35.9 | +3.5 |
| | Green | Liz Wood | 220 | 16.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,312 | 40.57 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Braunton West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Caroline Chugg | 808 | 57.1 | +30.1 |
| | Conservative | Jasmine Chesters* | 732 | 51.7 | +14.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marquerite Shapland* | 493 | 34.8 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Hoult | 462 | 32.7 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | Danny Neary | 109 | 7.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,433 | 43.44 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Central Town (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Faye Webber* | 658 | 53.3 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Wilsher* | 584 | 47.3 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Simon Harvey | 446 | 36.1 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | Debbie Lewis | 267 | 21.6 | −7.7 |
| | Green | Simon Clift | 186 | 15.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Martin Hewlett | 179 | 14.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,252 | 33.49 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Chittlehampton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Albert Cook* | 578 | 72.3 | +72.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marek Donaldson | 222 | 27.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 44.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 802 | 43.66 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Chulmleigh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Susan Croft | 433 | 48.5 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Butt* | 315 | 35.3 | −20.7 |
| | Green | Matthew Knight | 145 | 16.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 118 | 13.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 895 | 50.34 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Combe Martin (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Yvette Gubb* | 922 | 55.7 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | Susan Sussex | 909 | 55.0 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julia Clark* | 753 | 45.5 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Yelton | 534 | 32.3 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,658 | 50.87 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Haywood | 505 | 60.6 | +28.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie Hunt | 427 | 51.3 | +21.4 |
| | Conservative | Eileen Lyons | 210 | 25.2 | +7.3 |
| | Green | Robert Cornish | 183 | 22.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Earl Bramley-Howard | 158 | 19.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 839 | 26.07 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Fremington (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dick Jones | 563 | 39.2 | +16.6 |
| | Conservative | John Gill | 537 | 37.4 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Pascoe | 383 | 26.7 | +17.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Batt | 380 | 26.4 | +17.8 |
| | Independent | Bowser Harris | 335 | 23.3 | −2.9 |
| | Independent | Charles Piper | 255 | 17.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Stephen Barnes | 123 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,453 | 42.93 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Georgeham & Mortehoe (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Wilkinson* | 602 | 48.1 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | Pat Barker | 464 | 37.1 | −7.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Maskell | 461 | 36.8 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative | Eddie Short | 417 | 33.3 | −9.0 |
| | Green | Michael Harrison | 203 | 16.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Rosemary Brian | 165 | 13.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,254 | 41.13 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Heanton Punchardon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrea Davis* | 345 | 71.0 | +17.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rod Hawes | 141 | 29.0 | −17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 42.0 | +34.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 487 | 32.00 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe Central (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Paul Crabb | 594 | 58.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Brian Yabsley | 493 | 48.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Butler | 313 | 30.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Pearson | 313 | 30.9 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,013 | 30.28 | −3.7 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mike Edmunds* | 386 | 48.3 | +9.9 |
| | Conservative | Paul Crockett | 351 | 43.9 | +11.7 |
| | BNP | Dave Moore | 63 | 7.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 4.4 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 816 | 42.36 | −3.9 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Wright | 740 | 60.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Robert Darell | 588 | 48.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoff Fowler* | 525 | 42.9 | −12.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janice Donovan | 419 | 34.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,230 | 34.10 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Instow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Moores | 316 | 53.2 | +17.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Reginald Cane | 278 | 46.8 | +12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38 | 6.4 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 594 | 44.33 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Butt* | 630 | 36.2 | +36.2 |
| | Conservative | David Luggar | 621 | 35.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Walter White | 603 | 34.7 | +34.7 |
| | Independent | Cliff Bell | 484 | 27.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Robert Street | 424 | 24.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Ian Godfrey | 222 | 12.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Anna Wotton | 162 | 9.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,741 | 43.90 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Longbridge (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Des Brailey* | 895 | 59.9 | +19.6 |
| | Conservative | Silvia Harrison | 667 | 44.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Cann | 418 | 28.0 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Upcott | 310 | 20.7 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Clive Robins | 209 | 14.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,495 | 41.14 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Swing | | |
Lynton & Lynmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Suzette Hibbert | unopposed | 0.0 | −88.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Marwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Tucker* | 416 | 47.5 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Jim Pile | 373 | 42.6 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Micky Darling | 87 | 9.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 4.9 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 878 | 57.95 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Newport (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Harrison* | 623 | 40.2 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | John Mathews | 611 | 39.4 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Edwards | 495 | 31.9 | −7.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Macbeth* | 470 | 30.3 | −9.5 |
| | Green | Ricky Knight | 450 | 29.0 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Amanda Wycherley | 281 | 18.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,564 | 43.61 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
North Molton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Edgell* | unopposed | 0.0 | −50.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Pilton (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Greenslade* | 768 | 59.3 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mair Manuel* | 727 | 56.1 | −5.6 |
| | Green | L'Anne Knight | 310 | 23.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | June Pearson | 280 | 21.6 | −8.8 |
| | Conservative | Robert Tickell | 254 | 19.6 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,299 | 39.69 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
South Molton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Worden | 664 | 50.3 | −15.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Sewell* | 612 | 46.3 | −12.7 |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Yabsley | 532 | 40.3 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Dowling | 430 | 32.6 | +10.1 |
| | Green | Jackie Morningmist | 199 | 15.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,322 | 37.40 | −10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Witheridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nancy Lewis* | 511 | 58.7 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kate Palmer | 360 | 41.3 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 151 | 17.3 | +13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 875 | 48.61 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Haywood* | 637 | 64.5 | +64.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Payne* | 610 | 61.7 | +61.7 |
| | Conservative | Kath Chugg | 199 | 20.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Sarah Willoughby | 190 | 19.2 | N/A |
| | Communist | Paul Dyer | 96 | 9.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 998 | 28.88 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections

Witheridge (25 October 2007) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Yabsley | 448 | 58.5 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kate Palmer | 318 | 41.5 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 17.0 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 768 | 42 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |