# 1983 West Dorset District Council election

The 1983 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 5 May 1983 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom. The entire council was up for election, following boundary changes that reduced the number of wards by two, but altogether the number of seats remained the same. Subsequent elections for the council would be elected by thirds following the passing a resolution under section 7 (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.
The 1983 election saw the Independent councillors lose seats but maintain their majority control on the Council.

## Ward results
### Beaminster

Beaminster (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Hudson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Bugler * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,794 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bothenhampton

Bothenhampton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | D. Cracknell | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,502 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Garrett * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,342 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | R. Coatsworth * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,464 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bridport North

Bridport North (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | A. Tiltman * | 780 | 37.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Stebbings | 682 | 32.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | D. Cash | 629 | 30.1 | N/A |
| | Alliance | P. Foote | 441 | – | |
| | Alliance | H. Draper | 353 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 67.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,096 | | |
| | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | 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) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Bridport South

Bridport South (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Samways * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Alliance | A. Bell * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,465 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | B. Course * | 354 | 53.8 | –11.1 |
| | Conservative | I. Cobbold | 304 | 46.2 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 7.6 | –22.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.7 | —26.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,249 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Coate * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,049 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Bailey * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,137 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Caundle Vale

Caundle Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | N. White * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,048 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Cerne Valley

Cerne Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Dione Digby, Lady Digby * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,075 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Charminster

Charminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Hanford * | 270 | 42.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | B. Woodhouse | 252 | 39.4 | N/A |
| | Alliance | G. Halliwell | 117 | 18.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,255 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Charmouth

Charmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Cockerill | 441 | 65.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Robinson | 229 | 34.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 212 | 31.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,284 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Pengelly * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,269 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chickerell

Chickerell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Edwards-Stuart * | 643 | 63.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | W. McCarthy * | 364 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Brown | 185 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Davies | 172 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,912 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | Enid Stella Jones * | 588 | 38.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | C. Lucas * | 499 | 32.9 | N/A |
| | Alliance | D. Smith | 428 | – | |
| | Conservative | J. Graham | 310 | – | |
| | Labour | E. Adams | 123 | 8.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | P. Warner | 121 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,269 | | |
| | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Dorchester North

Dorchester North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Phillips * | 678 | – | N/A |
| | Conservative | C. Thatcher | 499 | 31.6 | N/A |
| | Alliance | J. Walker | 262 | 16.6 | N/A |
| | Alliance | T. Harries | 262 | – | |
| | Labour | J. Hertslet | 141 | 8.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,258 | | |
| | Independent 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) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Dorchester South

Dorchester South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | P. Seaton * | 1,077 | 56.0 | N/A |
| | Alliance | D. Maggs | 847 | 44.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J. Hebb | 820 | – | |
| | Conservative | D. Lang | 782 | – | |
| | Alliance | H. Nicholson * | 781 | – | |
| | Alliance | S. Pritchard | 774 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,657 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Powell * | 743 | 46.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G. Duke | 561 | – | |
| | Conservative | F. Alderman * | 548 | – | |
| | Liberal | E. Boothman * | 544 | 34.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | D. Bowring | 509 | – | |
| | Liberal | David Trevor Jones * | 500 | – | |
| | Labour | D. Watson | 302 | 19.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | T. Warren | 284 | – | |
| | Labour | J. Yeomans | 241 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,106 | | |
| | 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) |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Bryant * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,031 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Halstock

Halstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Frost * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,176 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Holnest

Holnest :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Cockburn * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,169 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Fry | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,011 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Broom * | 823 | – | |
| | Independent | D. Applebee | 819 | – | |
| | Independent | J. Nuttall * | 729 | – | |
| | Conservative | V. Homyer * | 531 | 39.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.7 | –30.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,902 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Haward * | 497 | 67.0 | N/A |
| | Alliance | N. Patmore | 245 | 33.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 34.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,011 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Netherbury

Netherbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Peake | 409 | 62.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Poole * | 247 | 37.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162 | 24.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,335 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | P. Gill | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Symes * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,235 | | |
| | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) | Alliance win (new seat) |
| | 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 | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | A. Read | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,218 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Bowden | 440 | 72.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | S. Riddell | 168 | 27.6 | –5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 272 | 44.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.7 | —20.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,111 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Queen Thorne

Queen Thorne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Brewer * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,139 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Sherborne East

Sherborne East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Dyke * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | K. Luxmoore | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,634 | | |
| | 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) |

### Sherborne West

Sherborne West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. King * | 927 | – | N/A |
| | Conservative | S. Waddington | 792 | 32.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P. Jenkins | 766 | – | |
| | Alliance | S. Somerville | 728 | 29.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 60.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,031 | | |
| | Independent 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) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Symondsbury

Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Summers * | 360 | 66.5 | N/A |
| | Alliance | B. Wheeler | 181 | 33.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 33.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,278 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Thorncombe

Thorncombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Atyeo * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,038 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Tolpuddle

Tolpuddle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Kraft * | 333 | 80.4 | N/A |
| | Alliance | J. Hallett | 81 | 19.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 60.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 757 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Whitchurch Canonicorum

Whitchurch Canonicorum :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Gibson | 445 | 82.3 | N/A |
| | Alliance | P. Lathey | 96 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 349 | 64.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,157 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | S. Slade * | 512 | 70.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | T. Shorter | 210 | 29.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 41.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.8 | –42.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,771 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Anderson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,204 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |