# 2011 Wealden District Council election

The 2011 Wealden District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

At the 2007 election the Conservatives retained control of Wealden council with 34 seats, compared to 12 for the Liberal Democrats, 7 independents and 2 Green party councillors. However at a by-election in September 2008 the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives in Alfriston, meaning that by 2011 there were 33 Conservatives and 13 Liberal Democrats, while the independents were split into 3 Independent Democrats and 4 Independents.
The Conservatives were the only party with candidates for all 55 seats being contested in 35 wards and they were guaranteed gains in Forest Row after the Green Party did not defend the seats they had won in 2007 and no other party stood in the ward. The Liberal Democrats only put up 24 candidates, down from 35 in 2007, with the party not defending 2 seats in Crowborough, where Liberal Democrats councillors Jane Clark and Martin Prestage stood down at the election. Meanwhile, Labour had 27 candidates, a substantial increase from only 3 in 2007.

## Election result

The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after gaining 14 seats, to have 47 of the 55 councillors. This included winning all of the seats in Uckfield, where the party gained 4 seats from the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative leader of the council, Bob Standley, described the results as a "ringing endorsement" of the policies of the Conservative council. Overall turnout at the election was 49.5%, up from 38.51% in 2007.
The Liberal Democrats lost 10 seats to only have 3 of the 13 councillors the party had held before the election. Meanwhile, neither Labour, nor any other party, managed to win any seats, with a spokesperson for Labour saying that Wealden was now "virtually a one party state".
Independents won five seats, down two, with four of those five being taken by members of the Shing family in Polegate and Willingdon, and the final seat being won by a former mayor of Crowborough, Stephen Isted, in Crowborough Jarvis Brook. This led to the Conservatives being criticised by anti-racism groups over comments on the party website saying that the Liberal Democrats had seen "the humiliation of the 'Shing' dynasty becoming the official opposition".
Wealden local election result 2011 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 47 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 85.5 | 61.3 | 51,007 | +6.7% |
| Independent | 5 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 9.1 | 11.6 | 9,668 | -3.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 5.5 | 13.5 | 11,249 | -9.9% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.3 | 8,606 | +9.7% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1,447 | +1.6% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 1.4 | 1,190 | -4.6% |
| English Democrat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 73 | -0.2% |
| Motorists Equity & Unity Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.0% |
4 Conservative candidates were unopposed at the election.

## Ward results

Alfriston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Steve Harris | 606 | 51.2 | −20.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Watkins | 577 | 48.8 | +20.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 2.5 | −41.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,183 | 60.1 | +11.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Buxted and Maresfield (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman Buck | 1,485 | | |
| | Conservative | Ken Ogden | 1,295 | | |
| | UKIP | Dan Docker | 437 | | |
| | Labour | David Neeves | 394 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,611 | 51.5 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Chiddingly and East Hoathley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Barby Dashwood-Hall | 865 | 67.7 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Holbrook | 229 | 17.9 | −15.9 |
| | Labour | Jonathan Banatvala | 184 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 638 | 49.8 | +17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,278 | 51.9 | +9.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Cross-in-Hand/Five Ashes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jonica Fox | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Crowborough East (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carol Reynolds | 1,026 | | |
| | Conservative | David Larkin | 950 | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Harris | 549 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,525 | 40.3 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Crowborough Jarvis Brook :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Stephen Isted | 330 | 41.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Matthew Eade | 261 | 33.1 | −10.5 |
| | Green | Colin Stocks | 100 | 12.7 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | Roger McCarthy | 98 | 12.4 | +12.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 8.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 789 | 40.2 | +14.9 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Crowborough North (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Waller | 1,464 | | |
| | Conservative | Mark Weaver | 1,218 | | |
| | Labour | Sonja Le Vay | 526 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,208 | 45.6 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Crowborough St Johns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jim Hollins | 871 | 82.3 | +22.9 |
| | Labour | Nicholas Levine | 187 | 17.7 | +11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 684 | 64.7 | +29.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,058 | 53.9 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Crowborough West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Diane Phillips | 1,387 | | |
| | Conservative | Antony Quin | 1,225 | | |
| | Labour | Brendan Clegg | 517 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,129 | 48.9 | +14.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Danehill/Fletching/Nutley (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Roy Galley | 1,593 | |
| | Conservative | Peter Roundell | 1,284 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martha Whittle | 979 | |
| | Labour | Kirsten Morris | 304 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,160 | 53.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
East Dean :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Peck | 868 | 74.8 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Edrich | 293 | 25.2 | +6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 49.5 | −13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,161 | 61.7 | +10.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Forest Row (2) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Conservative | Peter Holloway | unopposed |
| Conservative | Rowena Moore | unopposed |
| Conservative gain from Green | Conservative gain from Green | Swing |
| Conservative gain from Green | Conservative gain from Green | Swing |
Framfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ann Newton | 873 | 75.9 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Graham | 146 | 12.7 | −8.8 |
| | Labour | Elisabeth Rumbold | 131 | 11.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 727 | 63.2 | +12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,150 | 52.5 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Frant/Withyham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Johanna Howell | 1,391 | | |
| | Conservative | John Padfield | 1,210 | | |
| | Green | Keith Obbard | 708 | | |
| | Labour | Nicholas Le Prevost | 415 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,724 | 56.4 | +16.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Hailsham Central and North (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Collinson | 957 | | |
| | Conservative | Barry Marlowe | 861 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Holbrook | 625 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marc Benier | 528 | | |
| | Labour | Martin Corfe | 345 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,316 | 42.3 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Hailsham East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stuart Towner | 282 | 45.4 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Cock | 145 | 23.3 | −31.4 |
| | Labour | Anthony Bailey | 121 | 19.5 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Kevin Moore | 73 | 11.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 137 | 22.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 621 | 31.5 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Hailsham South and West (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jo Bentley | 1,252 | | |
| | Conservative | Nigel Coltman | 1,115 | | |
| | Conservative | Chriss Triandafyllou | 842 | | |
| | Independent | Geoff Rowe | 753 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Murrey | 628 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eddy Powell | 617 | | |
| | Labour | Michelle Moore | 486 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,693 | 38.0 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Hartfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Hardy | 822 | 76.7 | +16.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Valerie Banks | 250 | 23.3 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 572 | 53.4 | +19.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,072 | 50.0 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Heathfield East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Nigel McKeeman | 705 | 70.2 |
| | Independent | Bob Bowdler | 299 | 29.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | 40.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,004 | 51.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Heathfield North and Central (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dick Angel | 1,763 | | |
| | Conservative | Peter Newnham | 1,660 | | |
| | Conservative | Jan Dunk | 1,646 | | |
| | Labour | Gill Roles | 741 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,810 | 43.6 | +10.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Hellingly (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David White | 961 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Blake | 954 | | |
| | Conservative | Kevin Balsdon | 739 | | |
| | Conservative | Peter Bucklitsch | 647 | | |
| | Labour | Louise Orbell | 268 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,569 | 43.8 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Herstmonceux :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andy Long | 612 | 61.0 | −8.0 |
| | Independent | Laurence Keeley | 391 | 39.0 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 22.0 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,003 | 46.3 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Horam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Susan Stedman | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Mayfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Redman | 867 | 76.5 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | Patricia Robson | 267 | 23.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 600 | 52.9 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,134 | 54.3 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pam Doodes | 764 | 81.6 | −1.5 |
| | Labour | Ben Sturgess | 172 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 592 | 63.2 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 936 | 48.6 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Pevensey and Westham (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dianne Dear | 1,788 | | |
| | Conservative | Bill Tooley | 1,660 | | |
| | Conservative | Lin McKeever | 1,618 | | |
| | UKIP | Mike Pursglove | 954 | | |
| | Labour | Bob Milton | 697 | | |
| | Labour | Robert Slater | 665 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,382 | 42.3 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Polegate North (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Oi Shing | 1,017 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roy Martin | 680 | | |
| | Conservative | Edward Board | 544 | | |
| | Independent | John Harmer | 526 | | |
| | Conservative | Simon Popek | 402 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hazel Thorn | 336 | | |
| | Labour | Alex Mthobi | 148 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,653 | 49.8 | +7.0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Polegate South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Daniel Shing | 493 | 49.4 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Berry | 181 | 18.2 | −18.7 |
| | Conservative | Wendy Alexander | 152 | 15.2 | −11.2 |
| | Independent | Timothy Voyce | 110 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Bernie Goodwin | 56 | 5.6 | N/A |
| | Motorists Equity & Unity Party | Pete Sayers | 5 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 31.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 997 | 49.7 | +8.0 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Rotherfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Huw Merriman | 829 | 79.6 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | Abbie Churton | 213 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 616 | 59.1 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,042 | 53.6 | +10.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Uckfield Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claire Dowling | 749 | 61.3 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Sparks | 319 | 26.1 | −15.9 |
| | Labour | Jason Scott-Taggart | 154 | 12.6 | +12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 430 | 35.2 | +19.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,222 | 51.3 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Uckfield New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Helen Firth | 452 | 48.4 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sarah Hall | 273 | 29.2 | −34.2 |
| | Labour | David Sudbery | 209 | 22.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 19.2 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 934 | 44.8 | +13.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Uckfield North (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Louise Eastwood | 877 | | |
| | Conservative | Michael Lunn | 683 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Collins | 498 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Whittaker | 493 | | |
| | Labour | Bruce Meredeen | 268 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,819 | 38.8 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Uckfield Ridgewood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Carvey | 705 | 61.7 | +13.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dorothy Sparks | 269 | 23.6 | −28.0 |
| | Labour | Vanessa Setford-Smith | 168 | 14.7 | +14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 436 | 38.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,142 | 48.1 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Wadhurst (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bob Standley | 1,277 | | |
| | Conservative | Graham Wells | 1,229 | | |
| | Green | Beth Martin | 382 | | |
| | Independent | Serena Gadd | 307 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Cooper | 206 | | |
| | Labour | Felicity Harvest | 204 | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Morris | 175 | | |
| | Independent | Melissa Gates | 146 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,926 | 52.4 | +14.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Willingdon (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Stephen Shing | 2,338 | | |
| | Independent | Raymond Shing | 2,151 | | |
| | Conservative | Ronald Cussons | 1,006 | | |
| | Conservative | Douglas Murray | 840 | | |
| | Independent | Ray Ingram | 807 | | |
| | Conservative | Susan Hunt | 790 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bonnie Beck | 387 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hancock | 375 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lauren Holt | 300 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,994 | 56.6 | −0.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2011 and 2015
### Polegate North

A by-election was held in Polegate North on 2 August 2012 following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Roy Martin. The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Don Broadbent with a majority of 227 votes over an independent candidate.
Polegate North by-election 2 August 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Don Broadbent | 494 | 37.7 | +14.3 |
| | Independent | Joseph O'Riordan | 267 | 20.4 | −14.5 |
| | Conservative | Edward Broad | 263 | 20.0 | +1.4 |
| | UKIP | Bernard Goodwin | 212 | 16.2 | +16.2 |
| | Labour | Alexius Mthobi | 76 | 5.8 | +5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 17.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,312 | 30.7 | −19.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Heathfield North and Central

A by-election was held in Heathfield North and Central on 29 November 2012 after the death of Conservative councillor Peter Newnham. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Raymond Cade with a majority of 384 votes over the UK Independence Party.
Heathfield North and Central by-election 29 November 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Raymond Cade | 685 | 49.1 | −21.3 |
| | UKIP | Bob Bowdler | 301 | 21.6 | +21.6 |
| | Labour | Craig Austen-White | 225 | 16.1 | −13.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jim Benson | 184 | 13.2 | +13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 384 | 27.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,395 | 22.8 | −20.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Crowborough West

A by-election was held in Crowborough West on 22 January 2015 after the death of Conservative councillor Antony Quin. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Simon Staveley with a majority of 138 votes over the UK Independence Party.
Crowborough West by-election 22 January 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jeannette Towey | 465 | 58.7 | −14.1 |
| | UKIP | Simon Staveley | 327 | 41.3 | +41.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 17.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 792 | 20.5 | −28.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |