# 1998 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to Colchester Borough Council took place on 7 May 1998. This was on the same day as other local elections across the United Kingdom.
At the election, the Liberal Democrats lost control of the council to no overall control, with gains being made by both Labour and the Conservatives.

## Summary

1998 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 % | +/− |
| | Liberal Democrats | 8 | 4 | 40.0 | 19 | 27 | 45.0 | 11,266 | 34.7 | –5.2 |
| | Labour | 5 | 2 | 25.0 | 13 | 18 | 30.0 | 10,327 | 31.8 | –2.4 |
| | Conservative | 7 | 2 | 35.0 | 7 | 14 | 23.3 | 10,860 | 33.5 | +11.0 |
| | Tiptree Residents | 0 | | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0.0 | –2.9 |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cooke | 971 | 49.0 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Sutton* | 771 | 38.9 | −11.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Dinglemans | 239 | 12.1 | +4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,981 | 34.1 | −9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,823 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 8.8 | |

### Birch Messing Copford

Birch Messing Copford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Crowe* | 555 | 65.8 | +15.1 |
| | Labour | T. Rogers | 197 | 23.4 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Paton | 91 | 10.8 | −16.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 358 | 42.5 | +19.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 843 | 33.2 | −14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,544 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.8 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Hall* | 907 | 44.5 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | Chris Pearson | 585 | 28.7 | −9.2 |
| | Conservative | N. Stock | 514 | 25.2 | +9.7 |
| | Natural Law | Loretta Basker | 32 | 1.6 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 15.8 | +8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,038 | 34.0 | −7.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,012 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.1 | |

### Harbour

Harbour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Blandon* | 800 | 43.8 | −9.2 |
| | Labour | David Canning | 761 | 41.7 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | Sandra Rae | 264 | 14.5 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 | 2.1 | −11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,825 | 29.1 | −8.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,283 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.8 | |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Walford | 1,030 | 50.4 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Una Jones | 802 | 39.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Stella Creasy | 210 | 10.3 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 228 | 11.2 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,042 | 46.5 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,387 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 2.0 | |
No Independent Conservative candidate as previous (1.3%).

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Goatley* | 913 | 36.2 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | N. Taylor | 844 | 33.5 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | J. Thomas | 766 | 30.4 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,523 | 25.5 | −7.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,916 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.6 | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell | 997 | 62.6 | −0.1 |
| | Labour | Jean Quinn | 429 | 26.9 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Allen | 166 | 10.4 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 568 | 35.7 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,592 | 30.2 | −6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,273 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.8 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Girdlestone | 838 | 40.7 | +15.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Goss* | 795 | 38.6 | −9.7 |
| | Labour | P. Creasy | 426 | 20.7 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,059 | 34.6 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,951 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 12.5 | |

### Pyefleet

Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Davidson | 573 | 66.7 | +20.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Watkins | 146 | 17.0 | −22.9 |
| | Labour | John Coombes | 140 | 16.3 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 427 | 49.7 | +43.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 859 | 42.2 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,026 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 21.5 | |
No Green candidate as previous (3.5%).

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Sandford* | 452 | 40.4 | −9.4 |
| | Labour | R. Pryor | 436 | 38.9 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Yalland | 232 | 20.7 | +8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 1.4 | −10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,120 | 21.7 | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,175 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.0 | |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julie Young | 688 | 58.4 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Gray | 375 | 31.8 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Lamberth | 116 | 9.8 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 26.5 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,179 | 21.7 | −1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,432 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Fairbrother | 967 | 50.1 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Hindle | 745 | 38.6 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | M. Girdlestone | 220 | 11.4 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,932 | 34.1 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,669 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 1.5 | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helen Chuah | 813 | 44.8 | −15.0 |
| | Conservative | D. Smith | 661 | 36.4 | +12.1 |
| | Labour | Dave Harris | 340 | 18.7 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 | 8.4 | −27.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,814 | 32.1 | −6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,656 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 13.6 | |

### St. Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Cope* | 754 | 41.9 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative | S. Candy | 681 | 37.8 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | P. McGilvray | 366 | 20.3 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 4.1 | −8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,801 | 33.0 | −10.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,453 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gwendoline Illot | 752 | 40.7 | −13.2 |
| | Conservative | Ian McCord | 651 | 35.3 | +15.4 |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 443 | 24.0 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 5.5 | −22.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,846 | 30.5 | −3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,074 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 14.3 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mike Dale | 913 | 60.0 | +18.0 |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Blundell | 410 | 26.9 | +17.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Seaman | 199 | 13.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 503 | 33.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,522 | 24.3 | −12.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,263 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.5 | |
No Tiptree Residents candidate as previous (48.2%).

### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman | 655 | 49.9 | +18.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Tyrrell | 481 | 36.7 | −11.9 |
| | Labour | David Jones | 176 | 13.4 | −6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 174 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,312 | 33.5 | −12.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,932 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 15.1 | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Kimberley* | 910 | 60.6 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Alan Mogridge | 361 | 24.0 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Harrison | 231 | 15.4 | −7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 549 | 36.6 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,502 | 25.9 | −9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,806 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.9 | |

### Winstree

Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Fairhead* | 674 | 80.0 | +16.7 |
| | Labour | Luke Dopson | 96 | 11.4 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Gentry | 73 | 8.7 | −18.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 578 | 68.6 | +31.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 843 | 44.2 | −15.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,909 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.8 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Richardson* | 1,056 | 57.0 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | David Adams | 627 | 33.9 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | L. Warren | 169 | 9.1 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 429 | 23.2 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,852 | 25.7 | −8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,223 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.0 | |

## By-elections
### Tiptree

Tiptree: 25 June 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 624 | 46.0 | −14.0 |
| | Tiptree Residents | | 399 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | | 333 | 24.6 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 16.6 | −16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,356 | 21.7 | −2.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
No Liberal Democrat candidate as previous (13.1%).