# 1986 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to Colchester Borough Council were held on 8 May 1986 alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.
At the election, the Conservative Party lost control of the council to no overall control after having held an overall majority since the 1976 election.

## Summary

1986 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 | 6 | 6 | 28.6 | 22 | 28 | 46.7 | 13,873 | 33.3 | –9.6 |
| | Alliance | 8 | 6 | 38.1 | 8 | 16 | 26.7 | 14,988 | 36.0 | +10.9 |
| | Labour | 5 | | 23.8 | 7 | 12 | 20.0 | 11,185 | 26.9 | –1.3 |
| | Tiptree Residents | 1 | | 4.8 | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | 1,110 | 2.7 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 459 | 1.1 | –0.4 |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | M. Bayliss | 1,235 | 43.6 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | B. McQuitty* | 1,115 | 39.4 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative | A. Kimberley | 483 | 17.0 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 4.2 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,833 | 47.0 | +8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,029 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Labour | Alliance gain from Labour | Swing | 1.9 | |

### Birch-Messing

Birch-Messing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Wayman* | 422 | 63.9 | −12.2 |
| | Alliance | A. Chataway | 187 | 28.3 | +11.2 |
| | Labour | J. Brice | 51 | 7.7 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 235 | 35.6 | −23.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 660 | 48.5 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,361 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 11.7 | |

### Boxted & Langham

Boxted & Langham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Garnett* | 600 | 63.0 | −0.1 |
| | Alliance | D. Elmer | 261 | 27.4 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | S. Vanplew | 91 | 9.6 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 339 | 35.6 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 952 | 50.3 | −4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,894 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.9 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ken Cooke* | 1,090 | 39.8 | +4.8 |
| | Alliance | Chris Hall | 865 | 31.6 | +15.4 |
| | Conservative | J. Hazell | 784 | 28.6 | −19.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,739 | 53.2 | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,150 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.3 | |

### Harbour

Harbour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rod Green* | 1,076 | 44.0 | −12.1 |
| | Alliance | E. Fowler | 845 | 34.6 | +14.1 |
| | Conservative | Mike Coyne | 485 | 19.9 | −3.6 |
| | Independent | F. Baldwin | 37 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 231 | 9.4 | −23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,443 | 45.2 | +5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,470 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 13.1 | |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | W. Sandford | 1,218 | 53.7 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | S. Lewis | 921 | 40.6 | −5.1 |
| | Labour | D. Chappell | 129 | 5.7 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 13.1 | +9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,268 | 53.6 | −3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,235 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.7 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Fulford* | 797 | 48.1 | −8.1 |
| | Alliance | W. Reid | 513 | 31.0 | +16.9 |
| | Labour | S. Dick | 347 | 20.9 | −8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 17.1 | −10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,657 | 41.7 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,971 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.5 | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | Y. Edkins | 1,100 | 60.4 | −11.4 |
| | Labour | J. Bayles | 450 | 24.7 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Clarke | 270 | 14.8 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 650 | 35.7 | −19.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,820 | 39.3 | −9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,630 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 10.0 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | David Goss | 1,445 | 55.0 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | S. Sheffield | 827 | 31.5 | −5.2 |
| | Labour | E. Plowright | 353 | 13.4 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 618 | 23.5 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,625 | 51.7 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,082 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.6 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | G. Daldry* | 1,299 | 57.3 | +13.4 |
| | Labour | Chris Pearson | 734 | 32.4 | −11.2 |
| | Conservative | A. Stevenson | 235 | 10.4 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 24.9 | +24.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,268 | 36.8 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,159 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 12.3 | |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Bober* | 1,310 | 59.4 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | R. Larkins | 485 | 22.0 | −2.6 |
| | Alliance | J. Meleschko | 410 | 18.6 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 825 | 37.4 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,205 | 25.4 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,690 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.3 | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | Mike Hogg | 890 | 39.4 | +22.3 |
| | Labour | K. Hindle | 716 | 31.7 | −13.7 |
| | Conservative | L. Spendlove | 653 | 28.9 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 174 | 7.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,259 | 46.3 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,876 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Labour | Alliance gain from Labour | Swing | 18.0 | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | E. Hubbard | 928 | 45.5 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | M. Roots* | 885 | 43.4 | −8.5 |
| | Labour | G. Rose | 226 | 11.1 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,039 | 46.3 | +1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,560 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.4 | |

### St. Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman* | 964 | 47.6 | −15.1 |
| | Alliance | R. Baker | 603 | 29.8 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | R. Turp | 459 | 22.7 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 361 | 17.8 | −25.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,026 | 40.2 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,042 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 13.4 | |

### Stanway

Vote share changes are compared to the top candidate result from the 1984 election.
Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | J. Ellis | 893 | 44.0 | +13.7 |
| | Conservative | I. Parsonson | 831 | 40.9 | −11.0 |
| | Labour | M. Fitzgibbon | 306 | 15.1 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,724 | 40.7 | +4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,989 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 12.4 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tiptree Residents | John Elliott* | 1,110 | 60.5 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Borgartz | 472 | 25.7 | −7.7 |
| | Labour | T. Lawson | 254 | 13.8 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 638 | 34.8 | +16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,836 | 30.5 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,010 | | |
| | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Swing | 8.5 | |

### West Bergholt

West Bergholt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Lampon* | 562 | 52.4 | −10.8 |
| | Alliance | M. Cook | 393 | 36.7 | +10.8 |
| | Labour | J. Church | 117 | 10.9 | ±0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 15.7 | −21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,072 | 45.9 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,334 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 10.8 | |

### West Mersea

Vote share changes are compared to the top candidate result from the 1984 election.
West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | L. Leader* | 1,183 | 62.0 | +6.9 |
| | Alliance | A. Stevens | 566 | 29.7 | +18.5 |
| | Labour | C. Nimmo | 159 | 8.3 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 617 | 32.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,908 | 37.4 | −12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,105 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.8 | |
No Independent candidate as previous (-25.5).

### Winstree

Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Fairhead* | 685 | 58.5 | −14.0 |
| | Alliance | A. Spear | 378 | 32.3 | +11.2 |
| | Labour | L. Shelley | 108 | 9.2 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 26.2 | −25.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,171 | 54.6 | +0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,146 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.6 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe (2 seats due to by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S. Sharp | 1,060 | 42.4 | −8.2 |
| | Labour | Mary Liddy | 1,034 | 41.3 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | K. Green | 943 | 37.7 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | M. Geddes | 808 | 32.3 | −6.4 |
| | Alliance | D. Locke | 499 | 20.0 | +9.3 |
| | Alliance | P. Smith | 460 | 18.4 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,501 | 40.9 | −0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,116 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |