# 1979 West Dorset District Council election

The 1979 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 3 May 1979 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as the general election and other district council elections in the United Kingdom. This was the third election to the district council, the election saw terms of councillors extended from three to four years.
The 1979 election saw the Independent councillors maintain their majority control on the Council.

## Ward results
### Beaminster

Beaminster (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Bugler * | 1,384 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Hudson * | 1,252 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | S. Davies | 609 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,503 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bothenhampton

Bothenhampton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y. Skyrme * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,427 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Garrett * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,272 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | R. Coatsworth * | 612 | 59.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | D. Cash | 413 | 40.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 199 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.7 | +23.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,337 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Bridport

Bridport (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. Bell | 2,601 | 47.1 | +13.1 |
| | Liberal | A. Tiltman * | 1,854 | – | |
| | Independent | C. Samways * | 1,463 | – | |
| | Labour | L. Dibden * | 1,457 | 26.4 | –1.5 |
| | Independent | E. Andrews | 1,344 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | P. Norfolk * | 1,305 | – | |
| | Independent | W. Hicks * | 1,112 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.3 | +34.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,453 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | B. Course * | 665 | 64.9 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | D. Blake | 359 | 35.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 29.9 | +20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.9 | +35.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,320 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Coate * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,007 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Bailey | 628 | 75.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Bethell | 207 | 24.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 421 | 50.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,146 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Caundle Vale

Caundle Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | N. White * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 998 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Cerne Valley

Cerne Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Dione Digby, Lady Digby * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,056 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Charminster

Charminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Hanford * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,255 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Charmouth

Charmouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. McLellan * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,177 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Pengelly * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,040 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chickerell

Chickerell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. McCarthy * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative | E. Edwards-Stuart | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,809 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Dorchester Central

Dorchester Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Phillips * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 908 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Enid Stella Jones * | 2,204 | 58.2 | +29.0 |
| | Conservative | P. Seaton * | 1,586 | 41.8 | +7.5 |
| | Liberal | H. Nicholson | 1,570 | – | |
| | Conservative | R. Collins * | 1,503 | – | |
| | Conservative | H. Attryde | 1,235 | – | |
| | Conservative | A. Beard | 1,129 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.4 | +30.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,237 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Trevor Jones * | 2,208 | 32.1 | –4.7 |
| | Conservative | C. Lucas * | 1,859 | 27.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | G. Powell * | 1,759 | – | |
| | Liberal | E. Boothman * | 1,726 | – | |
| | Conservative | F. Alderman | 1,535 | – | |
| | Conservative | I. McLellan | 1,353 | – | |
| | Independent | P. Adams | 1,224 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | G. Standfield | 1,051 | 15.3 | –4.7 |
| | Labour | K. Matthews | 816 | – | |
| | Labour | S. Minto | 671 | – | |
| | Labour | E. Salholm | 578 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.4 | +29.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,552 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Bryant * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 994 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Halstock

Halstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. Frost * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,163 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Holnest

Holnest :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Cockburn * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,141 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Adams | 345 | 47.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | D. Fry | 258 | 35.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | M. West | 130 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 11.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 950 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Broom * | 1,409 | – | |
| | Independent | J. Nuttall * | 1,314 | – | |
| | Independent | V. Homyer | 1,001 | – | |
| | Independent | E. Hallett * | 970 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 77.6 | +24.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,870 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Haward * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 996 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Netherbury

Netherbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Poole * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,224 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Symes * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,239 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Piddle Valley

Piddle Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Walker | 666 | 80.2 | +43.4 |
| | Independent | D. Barrs | 164 | 19.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 502 | 60.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 73.4 | +16.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,131 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Banfield | 509 | 77.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Adams | 145 | 22.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 364 | 55.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.5 | +24.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 867 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Queen Thorne

Queen Thorne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Brewer * | 643 | 75.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | G. Burgess | 214 | 25.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 429 | 50.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,093 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Sherborne

Sherborne (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | M. Matson * | 2,674 | 30.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Dyke * | 2,081 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | E. King * | 2,073 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | E. Noake | 2,050 | 23.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | R. Farrant * | 2,021 | 22.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Ludd | 1,569 | – | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,932 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |

### Stinsford

Stinsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Coleman * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 824 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Symondsbury

Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Summers * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,156 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Thorncombe

Thorncombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Atyeo * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,013 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Tolpuddle

Tolpuddle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Kraft * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 713 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Whitchurch Canonicorum

Whitchurch Canonicorum :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. Fowell * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,113 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | S. Slade * | 620 | 73.5 | N/A |
| | Ind. Conservative | G. Duke | 224 | 26.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 436 | 46.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 83.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,029 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W. Anderson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,156 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative | Conservative gain from Ind. Conservative |