# 2007 Colchester Borough Council election

The 2007 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
After the election, the composition of the council was
* Conservative 30
* Liberal Democrats 21
* Labour 6
* Independent 3

## Campaign

Before the election the Conservatives had 30 of the 60 seats on the council, while the Liberal Democrats had 21, Labour had 7 and there were 2 independents.
With the Conservative party needing to gain one seat to gain a majority on the council for the first time since 1986, Colchester attracted national attention with the Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague, coming to the marginal Shrub End ward to campaign for the Conservatives. Meanwhile, one of the Green party's Principal Speakers Siân Berry came to Colchester and campaigned on the importance of public transport, with the Greens contesting every seat at the election.

## Election result

The Conservatives narrowly failed to gain a majority on the council after failing to take Wivenhoe Quay from Labour by two votes after two recounts. This meant the Conservatives remained on 30 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats stayed on 21 seats. Labour's loss of Shrub End to the Conservatives meant they dropped to 6 councillors, while the Greens failed to win any seats despite getting 32% of the vote in Castle ward. Overall turnout at the election was 34.7%.
2007 Colchester Borough Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 9 | | 45.0 | 21 | 30 | 50.0 | 14,342 | 41.8 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 7 | | 35.0 | 14 | 21 | 35.0 | 10,052 | 29.3 | –4.5 |
| | Labour | 3 | 1 | 15.0 | 3 | 6 | 10.0 | 5,581 | 16.3 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | 1,052 | 3.1 | –2.4 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,267 | 9.5 | +1.0 |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dave Harris* | 931 | 49.7 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Hindle | 483 | 25.8 | −16.4 |
| | Conservative | Claire Bright | 352 | 18.8 | +0.7 |
| | Green | Philippa Lane | 109 | 5.8 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 | 23.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,875 | 32.7 | −1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,740 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16.9 | |

### Birch & Winstree

Birch & Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Crowe* | 1,164 | 70.1 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Longman | 313 | 18.9 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | James Spencer | 100 | 6.0 | −1.0 |
| | Green | Tobie Glenny | 83 | 5.0 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 851 | 51.3 | +2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,660 | 37.5 | −4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,438 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Barlow | 940 | 41.0 | −7.7 |
| | Green | Peter Lynn | 740 | 32.3 | +9.7 |
| | Conservative | Glenn Granger | 469 | 20.5 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Michael Powell | 142 | 6.2 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 8.7 | −17.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,291 | 37.4 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,182 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 8.7 | |

### Christ Church

Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hunt* | 588 | 42.4 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Bright | 474 | 34.2 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Alexander Cave | 245 | 17.7 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | David Canning | 79 | 5.7 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 | 8.2 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,386 | 46.0 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,018 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.1 | |

### Copford & West Stanway

Copford & West Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jackie Maclean | 394 | 69.1 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Waite | 82 | 14.4 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Ian Spademan | 48 | 8.4 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Sophie Lovejoy | 46 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 54.7 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 570 | 38.4 | +4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,494 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Fordham & Stour

Fordham & Stour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman* | 913 | 67.2 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Shakespeare | 180 | 13.2 | +0.8 |
| | Green | Mervyn Carter | 146 | 10.7 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | Jo Aldous | 120 | 8.8 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 733 | 53.9 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,359 | 34.3 | −2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,983 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.1 | |

### Great Tey

Great Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Chillingworth* | 670 | 71.9 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carolyn Catney | 105 | 11.3 | −9.6 |
| | Labour | John Wood | 90 | 9.7 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Paul Goldsmith | 67 | 7.2 | −7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 60.6 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 932 | 41.9 | −0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,226 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.5 | |

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Philip Oxford | 1,052 | 52.6 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | Simon Lucas | 427 | 21.4 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Baker | 306 | 15.3 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Janet Smith | 127 | 6.4 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Gary Kittle | 88 | 4.4 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 625 | 31.3 | −11.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,000 | 30.9 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,484 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | 6.1 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Turrell* | 1,081 | 47.1 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | Marianne Anderson | 995 | 43.4 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Steve Crawshaw | 118 | 5.1 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Mary Bryan | 99 | 4.3 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,293 | 39.5 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,812 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.5 | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Fisher* | 872 | 55.6 | −9.8 |
| | Conservative | George Askew | 271 | 17.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Linda Wonnacott | 252 | 16.1 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | Luke Dopson | 173 | 11.0 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 601 | 38.3 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,568 | 27.0 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,867 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wyn Foster | 1,404 | 54.2 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Ost | 875 | 33.8 | −0.9 |
| | Labour | Michael Dale | 182 | 7.0 | −0.3 |
| | Green | Peter Appleton | 129 | 5.0 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 529 | 20.4 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,590 | 43.7 | +0.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,958 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 0.8 | |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tim Young* | 969 | 61.6 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Price | 299 | 19.0 | −10.2 |
| | Conservative | Alex Wilson | 237 | 15.1 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Andrew Senter | 68 | 4.3 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 670 | 42.6 | +18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,573 | 24.8 | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,363 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.0 | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barrie Cook* | 1,000 | 49.3 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | Kim Naish | 548 | 27.0 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | Anne Allan | 368 | 18.2 | +4.5 |
| | Green | Annick Collins-Leyssen | 111 | 5.5 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 452 | 22.3 | −3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,027 | 32.2 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,336 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.6 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pauline Hazell | 718 | 38.5 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Offen | 643 | 34.5 | −7.5 |
| | Labour | Richard Bourne* | 404 | 21.7 | +2.1 |
| | Green | Walter Schwarz | 100 | 5.4 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,865 | 31.2 | −1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,008 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 6.2 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Scott-Boutell* | 1,214 | 52.2 | +10.2 |
| | Conservative | Beverly Davies | 897 | 38.6 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 141 | 6.1 | −2.4 |
| | Green | Pam Nelson | 74 | 3.2 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 | 13.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,326 | 37.7 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,166 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.8 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Crowe* | 1,185 | 65.4 | +11.0 |
| | Labour | Audrey Spencer | 330 | 18.2 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Turrell | 151 | 8.3 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Katherine Bamforth | 146 | 8.1 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 855 | 47.2 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,812 | 30.2 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,008 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.7 | |

### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jill Todd* | 877 | 62.9 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 177 | 12.7 | −4.8 |
| | Labour | Abigail Tootal | 173 | 12.4 | +4.5 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 167 | 12.0 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 700 | 50.2 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,394 | 36.4 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,849 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.1 | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Kimberley* | 1,510 | 74.1 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Butler | 201 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| | Labour | Barbara Nichols | 178 | 8.7 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Beverley Maltby | 148 | 7.3 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,309 | 64.3 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,037 | 35.0 | +0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,837 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.2 | |

### Wivenhoe Cross

Wivenhoe Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Cory | 395 | 42.5 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | David Adams* | 371 | 39.9 | −6.5 |
| | Green | Maria Iacovou | 83 | 8.9 | +8.9 |
| | Labour | Rossanna Trudgian | 80 | 8.6 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 2.6 | −4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 929 | 27.3 | +0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,428 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 5.0 | |

### Wivenhoe Quay

Wivenhoe Quay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Ford* | 648 | 35.9 | +17.2 |
| | Conservative | Penny Kraft | 646 | 35.7 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Chris Fox | 366 | 20.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sharon Humphrey | 147 | 8.1 | −8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,807 | 44.4 | +0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,125 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.1 | |