# 2002 Harrogate Borough Council election

The 2002 Harrogate Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Harrogate Borough Council in North Yorkshire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2000 reducing the number of seats by 5. The Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

## Campaign

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had a majority on the council with 39 councillors, compared to 19 Conservatives and 1 Labour councillor. Boundary changes meant that every seat was being contested for the first time since 1974. The changes reduced the number of councillors by five from 59 to 54, while increasing the number of wards from 32 to 35.
As well as candidates from the 3 main political parties, there were also 5 independents. However Wathvale ward saw the Conservative former group leader Chris Brown elected after no other candidates were nominated for the ward.
Car parking charges in Ripon were an issue in the run up to the election, with the Conservatives attacking them, but the Liberal Democrat council announced that they would end the charges in the market place in the month before the election.

## Election result

The results saw the Liberal Democrats lose their majority on the council, after winning exactly half the seats on the council. The results came down to the final ward to declare in Bilton, with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives winning one seat each in the ward. This meant the Liberal Democrats has 27 seats, compared to 26 for the Conservatives and 1 independent, Andrew Williams.
Harrogate local election result 2002 :
| Party | Seats | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 27 | -12 | 50.0 | 46.3 | 32,370 | +2.2% |
| Conservative | 26 | +7 | 48.1 | 45.0 | 31,520 | -1.7% |
| Independent | 1 | +1 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 2,020 | +2.9% |
| Labour | 0 | -1 | 0 | 5.8 | 4,073 | -3.3% |

## Ward results

Bilton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Heather Adderley | 798 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Morris Lightfoot | 787 | |
| | Conservative | Robin Adderley | 776 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Richold | 665 | |
| | Labour | Norman Dobell | 115 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,141 | 38.5 |
Bishop Monkton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ian Galloway | 572 | 54.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Barlow | 474 | 45.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,046 | 49.3 |
Boroughbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Brian Lumsden | 379 | 56.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Phillips | 237 | 35.2 |
| | Labour | Ruth Dicken | 58 | 8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142 | 21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 674 | 29.6 |
Claro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Matthew Bean | 774 | 69.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Rothwell | 343 | 30.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 431 | 38.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,117 | 46.0 |
Granby (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Fox | 818 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret-Ann De Courcey-Bayley | 783 | |
| | Conservative | David Pearson | 222 | |
| | Conservative | Pamela Singleton | 203 | |
| | Labour | David King | 114 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,140 | 26.5 |
Harlow Moor (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Simister | 1,080 | |
| | Conservative | Simon Theakston | 1,051 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jane Blayney | 754 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Turner | 655 | |
| | Independent | Andrew Bradwell | 201 | |
| | Labour | Kenneth Jones | 75 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,816 | 46.0 |
High Harrogate (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Macare | 658 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Webber | 546 | |
| | Conservative | William Hartmann | 404 | |
| | Conservative | Catherine Peyton | 400 | |
| | Independent | Peter Armitage | 177 | |
| | Labour | Eric Cunningham | 119 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,304 | 28.1 |
Hookstone (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Marsh | 1,114 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Reginald Marsh | 1,030 | |
| | Conservative | Michael Laycock | 645 | |
| | Conservative | David Rimington | 628 | |
| | Labour | Mark France | 96 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,513 | 41.6 |
Killinghall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Michael Bury | 723 | 73.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Stockdale | 258 | 26.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 465 | 47.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 981 | 44.3 |
Kirkby Malzeard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Margaret Atkinson | 703 | 69.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ernest O'Keefe | 312 | 30.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 391 | 38.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,015 | 47.2 |
Knaresborough East (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Hoult | 647 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Tankard | 630 | |
| | Conservative | Robert Aspin | 402 | |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Jackson | 394 | |
| | Labour | Althea Farmer | 289 | |
| | Labour | Malcolm Hayton | 264 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,626 | 34.2 |
Knaresborough King James (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Smith | 760 | |
| | Conservative | Diana Smith | 756 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Hall | 714 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terence Maude | 690 | |
| | Labour | David Crosthwaite | 170 | |
| | Labour | Simon Hutchings | 127 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,217 | 42.5 |
Knaresborough Scriven Park (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Jones | 550 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Hawkins | 541 | |
| | Labour | Andrew Wright | 516 | |
| | Conservative | Michael Hill | 416 | |
| | Labour | Alan Beatham | 401 | |
| | Conservative | Myra Smith | 383 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,807 | 37.6 |
Low Harrogate (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Eric Cooper | 885 | |
| | Conservative | Jean Butterfield | 882 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruth Alliston | 553 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Marshall | 512 | |
| | Labour | Christine Colman | 102 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,934 | 36.6 |
Lower Nidderdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Watson | 646 | 50.4 |
| | Conservative | Elwyn Hinchcliffe | 637 | 49.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,283 | 55.0 |
Marston Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Julian Sturdy | 508 | 53.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gillean Firth | 366 | 38.6 |
| | Labour | Patrick O'Connor | 75 | 7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142 | 15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 949 | 43.5 |
Mashamshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Nigel Simms | 525 | 71.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Foster | 206 | 28.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 43.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 731 | 39.8 |
New Park (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joan Crowther | 755 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Richards | 749 | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Dennis | 277 | |
| | Conservative | Sally Dennis | 266 | |
| | Labour | Bryan Robinson | 103 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,150 | 27.7 |
Newby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Clifford Wilson | 490 | 62.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Penelope Harriso | 292 | 37.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 198 | 25.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 782 | 33.2 |
Nidd Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leslie Ellington | 603 | 64.9 |
| | Conservative | David Carter | 326 | 35.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 277 | 29.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 929 | 46.7 |
Ouseburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Lewis | 724 | 64.9 |
| | Conservative | William Alton | 391 | 35.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 333 | 29.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,115 | 50.1 |
Pannal (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Frederick Willis | 1,434 | |
| | Conservative | Michael Gardner | 1,376 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joan Newby | 764 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Morris | 706 | |
| | Independent | Bryan Dunsby | 246 | |
| | Labour | Cynthia Coltman | 81 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,607 | 54.2 |
Pateley Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stanley Beer | 654 | 88.0 |
| | Labour | Stephen Boyden | 89 | 12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 76.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 743 | 37.7 |
Ribston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Caroline Bayliss | 613 | 71.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pamela Godsell | 246 | 28.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 42.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 859 | 37.1 |
Ripon Minster (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Martin | 568 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sidney Hawke | 501 | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Collyer | 489 | |
| | Conservative | Stanley Mackintosh | 475 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,033 | 27.4 |
Ripon Moorside (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Andrew Williams | 1,101 | |
| | Conservative | Anthony Simpson | 379 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Jones | 375 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Harrison | 356 | |
| | Conservative | Francis Woodward | 341 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,552 | 38.9 |
Ripon Spa (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Skidmore | 813 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Freeman | 755 | |
| | Conservative | Rosemarie Curlewis | 610 | |
| | Conservative | Peter Pearson | 587 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,765 | 38.9 |
Rossett (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Nash | 1,259 | |
| | Conservative | James Clark | 1,209 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Chapman | 746 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Boddy | 724 | |
| | Labour | George Mountford | 114 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,052 | 45.0 |
Saltergate (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Newby | 710 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Webber | 704 | |
| | Conservative | Brenda Galvin | 326 | |
| | Conservative | Karen Payne | 303 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,043 | 24.8 |
Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Shirley Fawcett | 758 | 75.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jean Burdett | 248 | 24.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 510 | 50.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,006 | 42.3 |
Starbeck (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Broadbank | 899 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Granville Ward | 785 | |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher | 279 | |
| | Conservative | Phillip Dixon | 255 | |
| | Labour | Patricia Foxall | 134 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,352 | 29.7 |
Stray (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Clifford Trotter | 1,016 | |
| | Conservative | Patricia Jones | 937 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Kelley | 880 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Kilpatrick | 733 | |
| | Independent | Barbara Coultas | 295 | |
| | Labour | Roger Newby | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,953 | 47.6 |
Washburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Richard Grange | 804 | 81.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Wensley | 184 | 18.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 620 | 62.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 988 | 42.5 |
Wathvale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Brown | unopposed | | |
Woodfield (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Goss | 714 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Wren | 693 | |
| | Labour | Geoffrey Foxall | 487 | |
| | Labour | Peter Caunt | 452 | |
| | Conservative | Adam Pritchard | 208 | |
| | Conservative | Denis Muldoon | 206 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,760 | 35.0 |