# 1990 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to the Borough of Colchester, a local government district and borough in Essex, England, took place in 1990. Due to boundary changes the entire council was up for election as opposed to the normal one-third.

## Results summary

Colchester Borough Council election, 1990 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 28 | — | — | 4 | 46.7 | 35.4 | 46,791 | +2.9 |
| Conservative | 17 | — | — | 6 | 28.3 | 30.8 | 40,625 | –8.9 |
| Labour | 12 | — | — | 3 | 20.0 | 29.1 | 38,486 | +4.0 |
| Tiptree Residents | 3 | — | — | 0 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 3,170 | –0.3 |
| Green | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1,438 | New |
| Independent | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 763 | New |
| SDP | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 640 | New |
| Anti-Poll Tax | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 160 | New |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | H. Davis* | 1,545 | 52.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Stevens* | 1,465 | 49.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Sutton | 1,340 | 45.1 |
| | Labour | R. McQuilty | 1,210 | 40.7 |
| | Labour | Dave Harris | 1,069 | 35.9 |
| | Labour | Don Quinn | 1,016 | 34.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Parsons | 451 | 15.2 |
| | Conservative | S. Wilson | 429 | 14.4 |
| | Conservative | N. Peckston | 398 | 13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,974 | 51.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,797 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Birch Messing Copford

Birch Messing Copford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | P. Crowe | 619 | 51.0 |
| | Labour | C. Shreeve | 297 | 26.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Nelson | 257 | 22.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 24.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,173 | 48.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,333 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Boxted & Langham

Boxted & Langham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Garrett* | 619 | 59.9 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Chivers | 273 | 26.4 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | F. Richards | 142 | 13.7 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 346 | 33.5 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,034 | 55.1 | +4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,876 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.1 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Hall* | 1,239 | 46.4 |
| | Labour | Ken Cooke* | 1,154 | 43.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Carter | 1,020 | 38.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Merriweather | 969 | 36.3 |
| | Labour | J. Cant | 790 | 29.6 |
| | Conservative | E. Humphreys | 698 | 26.1 |
| | Labour | R. Turp | 663 | 24.8 |
| | Conservative | G. Haig-Thomas | 581 | 21.8 |
| | Conservative | M. Snaith | 568 | 21.3 |
| | Green | T. Manley | 333 | 12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,671 | 51.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,186 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Dedham

Dedham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Williams* | 565 | 57.5 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | N. Everett | 364 | 37.0 | −6.4 |
| | Labour | G. Newman | 54 | 5.5 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 201 | 20.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 983 | 61.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,559 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.0 | |

### East Donyland

East Donyland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | B. Wilding | 364 | 40.3 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | J. Sanderson* | 317 | 35.1 | −21.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 222 | 24.6 | +12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 903 | 53.3 | −2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,695 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 15.5 | |

### Fordham

Fordham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Cannon* | 440 | 55.5 | −10.6 |
| | Labour | R. Lee | 220 | 27.7 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Thomas | 133 | 16.8 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 220 | 27.8 | −19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 793 | 55.6 | +7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,425 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.8 | |

### Great & Little Horkesley

Great & Little Horkesley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Paice | 500 | 55.1 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | Lucy Wood | 257 | 28.3 | +14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | H. Chamberlain | 151 | 16.6 | −10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 243 | 26.8 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 908 | 51.6 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,760 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.7 | |

### Great Tey

Great Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Brice | 531 | 54.3 | +36.8 |
| | Conservative | I. Stratford | 352 | 36.0 | −24.4 |
| | Labour | P. Doncaster | 95 | 9.7 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 18.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 978 | 56.4 | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,734 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 30.6 | |

### Harbour

Harbour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Bird* | 1,292 | 55.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | E. Fowler* | 1,198 | 51.9 |
| | Labour | Rod Green* | 1,183 | 51.2 |
| | Labour | S. Manning-Press | 936 | 40.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Blandon | 881 | 38.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Gilfillan | 787 | 34.1 |
| | Conservative | Mike Coyne | 490 | 21.2 |
| | Anti Poll Tax | D. Smith | 160 | 6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,310 | 42.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,435 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Trusler* | 1,452 | 58.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | W. Sandford* | 1,290 | 52.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Williamson | 1,208 | 48.8 |
| | Conservative | Sonia Lewis* | 1,054 | 42.6 |
| | Conservative | P. Crafford | 1,015 | 41.0 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Manning-Press | 933 | 37.7 |
| | Labour | J. Crawford | 245 | 9.9 |
| | Labour | D. Francis | 225 | 9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,474 | 56.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,386 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |

### Marks Tey

Marks Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Gower* | 443 | 42.0 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Ambridge | 313 | 29.7 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | G. Taylor | 299 | 28.3 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 12.3 | −8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,055 | 51.4 | +7.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,501 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.0 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | J. Fulford* | 1,361 | 51.6 |
| | Conservative | P. Borges* | 1,353 | 51.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Fulford* | 1,336 | 50.6 |
| | Labour | M. Snowling | 1,026 | 38.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Trusler | 986 | 37.3 |
| | Labour | Sandra Benedetti | 951 | 36.0 |
| | Labour | A. Harley | 911 | 34.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,640 | 41.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,440 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Russell* | 1,605 | 64.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Stevens | 1,479 | 59.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Haylock | 1,396 | 56.1 |
| | Labour | A. Clavane | 842 | 33.8 |
| | Labour | Dave Speed | 833 | 33.5 |
| | Labour | S. McBride-Dick | 817 | 32.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Clarke | 296 | 11.9 |
| | SDP | J. Parrick | 209 | 8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,490 | 47.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,220 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Goss | 1,823 | 59.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hunt | 1,791 | 58.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Yates | 1,707 | 55.7 |
| | Conservative | H. Stutter | 1,096 | 35.8 |
| | Conservative | W. Kimberley | 1,096 | 35.8 |
| | Conservative | S. Rowley | 1,050 | 34.3 |
| | Labour | T. Pearson | 632 | 20.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | 52.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,871 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Pyefleet

Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Taber | 562 | 53.4 | −20.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Treacher | 490 | 46.6 | +29.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 6.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,052 | 57.5 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,830 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 25.0 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Daldry* | 1,085 | 63.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Cawley* | 1,043 | 60.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Starling* | 964 | 56.3 |
| | Labour | D. Bober | 607 | 35.4 |
| | Labour | Frank Wilkin | 593 | 34.6 |
| | Labour | R. Edwards | 480 | 28.0 |
| | Conservative | A. Edwards | 360 | 21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,713 | 30.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,636 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Graham Bober* | 1,417 | 77.3 |
| | Labour | J. Baylis* | 1,285 | 70.1 |
| | Labour | P. Truscott* | 1,213 | 66.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Brady | 433 | 23.6 |
| | Conservative | A. Pearson | 391 | 21.3 |
| | Conservative | N. Taylor | 376 | 20.5 |
| | Green | Mohammed Shabbeer | 374 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,833 | 30.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,068 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Mary Frank* | 1,234 | 47.8 |
| | Labour | K. Hindle | 1,182 | 45.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Hogg* | 1,164 | 45.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | E. Crudden* | 1,091 | 42.3 |
| | Labour | Tim Young | 1,069 | 41.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Fellows | 1,022 | 39.6 |
| | Conservative | E. Hamilton | 500 | 19.4 |
| | Conservative | N. Elcombe | 481 | 18.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,579 | 44.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,808 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Baker* | 1,718 | 57.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Gamble | 1,562 | 52.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Hiller | 1,502 | 50.1 |
| | Conservative | J. Baldock | 1,152 | 38.4 |
| | Conservative | D. McBean | 1,039 | 34.7 |
| | Conservative | D. Mills | 1,020 | 34.0 |
| | Labour | M. Scott | 548 | 18.3 |
| | Labour | L. Shelley | 451 | 15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,998 | 50.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,889 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |

### St. Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | R. Spendlove* | 1,052 | 49.4 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman* | 983 | 46.2 |
| | Conservative | H. Pawsey | 953 | 44.8 |
| | Labour | Pauline Cook | 871 | 40.9 |
| | Labour | Maureen Lee | 763 | 35.9 |
| | Labour | K. Taylor | 757 | 35.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Hunt | 575 | 27.0 |
| | SDP | M. Patrick | 431 | 20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,128 | 42.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,008 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Ellis* | 1,547 | 56.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Sykes* | 1,481 | 54.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | K. Davis | 1,355 | 49.5 |
| | Conservative | J. Orpen-Smellie* | 858 | 31.4 |
| | Conservative | A. McNeill | 814 | 29.8 |
| | Conservative | E. Gawthrop | 806 | 29.5 |
| | Labour | S. Broadhurst | 463 | 16.9 |
| | Labour | E. Plowright | 444 | 16.2 |
| | Labour | Julie Young | 438 | 16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,736 | 49.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,516 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tiptree Residents | E. Bird* | 1,197 | 52.5 |
| | Tiptree Residents | John Webb* | 1,023 | 44.9 |
| | Tiptree Residents | John Elliott* | 950 | 41.7 |
| | Conservative | B. Martin | 895 | 39.3 |
| | Independent | J. Olley | 763 | 33.5 |
| | Labour | Mike Dale | 724 | 31.8 |
| | Labour | A. Axtell | 653 | 28.6 |
| | Labour | E. Garwood | 634 | 27.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,280 | 37.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,130 | |
| | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold |
| | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold |
| | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold |

### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Baldwin | 1,160 | 84.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Lampon* | 840 | 61.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Nicholls | 760 | 55.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,378 | 37.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,656 | |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Winstree

Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Fairhead* | 652 | 65.3 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Sykes | 346 | 34.7 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 30.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 998 | 55.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,789 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.1 | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Margaret Kimberley* | 1,593 | 81.7 |
| | Conservative | J. Stewart | 1,516 | 77.7 |
| | Conservative | John Bouckley | 1,499 | 76.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | N. License | 627 | 32.2 |
| | Labour | E. Newman | 620 | 31.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,950 | 35.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,431 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. Richardson | 1,627 | 59.4 |
| | Labour | S. Sharp* | 1,545 | 56.4 |
| | Labour | Robert Newman | 1,415 | 51.6 |
| | Conservative | David Adams* | 980 | 35.8 |
| | Conservative | C. Thompson | 977 | 35.6 |
| | Conservative | M. Last* | 940 | 34.3 |
| | Green | P. Harris | 731 | 26.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,741 | 45.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,038 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |