# 1987 West Dorset District Council election

The 1987 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 7 May 1987 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 as West Dorset returned to whole councils elections, after previously having been elected in thirds.
The 1987 election saw the Independent councillors lose their majority they had held since the formation of the Council in 1974.

## Ward results
### Beaminster

Beaminster (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Hudson * | 959 | – | N/A |
| | Alliance | N. Brough | 668 | 41.1 | +4.7 |
| | Independent | R. Blake | 601 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 58.2 | –11.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,794 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Bothenhampton

Bothenhampton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Cracknell * | 610 | 68.8 | N/A |
| | Alliance | I. Kent | 276 | 31.2 | –12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 334 | 37.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.2 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,577 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Swing | | |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Garrett * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,412 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | R. Coatsworth * | 449 | 75.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | K. Dixon | 145 | 24.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 51.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,591 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bridport North

Bridport North (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Cash | 811 | 39.9 | +0.7 |
| | Alliance | A. Tiltman * | 644 | 31.7 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | L. Dibdin | 611 | – | |
| | Conservative | D. Stebbings | 576 | 28.4 | –7.7 |
| | Conservative | S. Baker * | 551 | – | |
| | Labour | R. Wilkinson * | 527 | – | |
| | Conservative | G. Strawson | 465 | – | |
| | Alliance | R. Draper | 307 | – | |
| | Alliance | P. Lathey | 259 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 61.3 | +18.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,312 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Bridport South

Bridport South (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | A. Bell * | 624 | 39.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Samways * | 530 | 33.2 | –27.2 |
| | Conservative | D. Bushrod | 441 | 27.6 | –12.0 |
| | Alliance | B. Wheeler | 403 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.1 | +25.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,567 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Gregory | 332 | 53.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | A. Abbott | 163 | 26.1 | –20.1 |
| | Independent | A. Thacker | 130 | 20.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 27.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.0 | —2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,249 | | |
| | Independent gain from Alliance | Independent gain from Alliance | Swing | | |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | J. Hardman | 258 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Coate * | 250 | 49.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,091 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Bailey * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,128 | | |
| | 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 | 1,099 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Cerne Valley

Cerne Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Stenhouse * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,094 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Charminster

Charminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | B. Woodhouse * | 383 | 56.7 | –6.3 |
| | Alliance | G. Halliwell | 160 | 23.7 | –7.1 |
| | Independent | E. Hanford | 133 | 19.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 223 | 33.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.6 | +7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,391 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Charmouth

Charmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Cockerill * | 512 | 73.6 | N/A |
| | Alliance | N. Powell | 184 | 26.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 | 47.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,391 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Pengelly * | 638 | 85.4 | N/A |
| | Green | J. Laver | 109 | 14.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 529 | 70.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 58.9 | 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 | P. Brown | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative | E. Davies * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,049 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | Enid Stella Jones * | 889 | 55.4 | +5.2 |
| | Alliance | D. Smith * | 544 | – | |
| | Conservative | C. Grassby | 445 | 27.7 | –7.4 |
| | Green | B. Smith | 160 | 10.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | N. Osborne | 112 | 7.0 | –7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.8 | +29.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,269 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |

### Dorchester North

Dorchester North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Phillips * | 743 | 37.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | L. Lock * | 630 | 31.7 | –15.2 |
| | Alliance | M. McLellan | 412 | 20.8 | –13.0 |
| | Labour | J. Hertslet | 200 | 10.1 | –9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 87.9 | +46.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,258 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Dorchester South

Dorchester South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | H. Dowell | 1,025 | 41.9 | –6.7 |
| | Conservative | P. Seaton * | 977 | 39.9 | –1.8 |
| | Alliance | D. Maggs * | 973 | – | |
| | Alliance | M. Rennie | 905 | – | |
| | Conservative | M. Dowell | 840 | – | |
| | Conservative | R. Burrage | 820 | – | |
| | Green | J. McMillan | 272 | 11.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | F. Pope | 170 | 7.0 | –2.6 |
| | Labour | S. Coombes | 142 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.4 | +15.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,861 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Antell * | 762 | 36.5 | +7.6 |
| | Alliance | David Trevor Jones * | 714 | 34.2 | +6.3 |
| | Alliance | D. Bowring | 647 | – | |
| | Alliance | E. Boothman | 640 | – | |
| | Conservative | G. Powell * | 610 | 29.2 | –1.4 |
| | Conservative | D. Barry | 408 | – | |
| | Labour | J. Watson | 407 | – | |
| | Conservative | L. Wild | 387 | – | |
| | Labour | T. Warren | 311 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.6 | +0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,330 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Penfold | 465 | 75.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Pook | 148 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 | 51.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 55.5 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,104 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Halstock

Halstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Frost * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,190 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Holnest

Holnest :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. House | 407 | 63.4 | N/A |
| | Alliance | G. Morris | 235 | 36.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 172 | 26.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.6 | +17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,198 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Bates | 400 | 67.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Fry * | 190 | 32.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 210 | 35.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 55.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,072 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Applebee * | 846 | – | N/A |
| | Conservative | J. Nuttall * | 818 | 49.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | O. Lovell | 555 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | M. White | 520 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Poupard | 334 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,075 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Haward * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,158 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Netherbury

Netherbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Peake * | 490 | 78.0 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | T. Weld | 138 | 22.0 | –3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 | 56.0 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.0 | +1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,335 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | J. Shuttleworth | 666 | 56.1 | N/A |
| | Alliance | G. Cant | 557 | – | |
| | Independent | R. Symes * | 522 | 43.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,235 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Alliance hold |
| | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent | Alliance gain from Independent |

### Piddle Valley

Piddle Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | A. Read * | 480 | 79.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | B. Bowen | 124 | 20.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 59.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,306 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold | Ind. Conservative hold |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Harries | 305 | 46.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Banfield | 265 | 40.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | J. Pearson | 87 | 13.2 | –14.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 59.1 | +4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,111 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative 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 | 1,185 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Sherborne East

Sherborne East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Dyke * | 674 | 35.4 | –9.2 |
| | Conservative | J. Williams | 540 | 28.2 | N/A |
| | Alliance | S. King | 476 | 24.9 | –10.1 |
| | Alliance | J. Hill | 409 | – | |
| | Labour | A. Birks-Hay | 224 | 11.7 | –8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.7 | +24.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,634 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Sherborne West

Sherborne West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. King * | 951 | – | N/A |
| | Conservative | S. Waddington * | 929 | 29.0 | –14.7 |
| | Alliance | D. Baggs | 793 | 24.8 | –7.5 |
| | Independent | K. Luxmoore | 702 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | A. Mitchell | 527 | 16.5 | –7.4 |
| | Labour | G. Danes | 352 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 89.7 | +43.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,566 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Symondsbury

Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Summers * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,401 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Thorncombe

Thorncombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Terrett | 316 | 48.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Atyeo * | 152 | 23.4 | N/A |
| | Alliance | A. Greenless | 129 | 19.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | T. Richards | 53 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 25.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 61.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,063 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Tolpuddle

Tolpuddle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Kraft * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 802 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Whitchurch Canonicorum

Whitchurch Canonicorum :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Gibson * | 451 | 62.8 | N/A |
| | Alliance | H. Fielder | 267 | 37.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 184 | 25.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 59.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,202 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | S. Slade * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,771 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Meaden * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,252 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |