# 1976 West Dorset District Council election

The 1976 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 6 May 1976 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. This was the second election to the district council.
The 1976 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 * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Hudson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,265 | | |
| | 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 | 501 | 67.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | B. Hammond | 245 | 32.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 256 | 34.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 55.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,347 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Garrett | 499 | 69.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Winder * | 224 | 31.0 | –19.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 275 | 38.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 59.5 | +17.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,239 | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Bradpole

Bradpole :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Coatsworth | 332 | 48.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Kingsnorth | 214 | 31.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | B. Cole | 136 | 19.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 118 | 17.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,291 | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal |

### Bridport

Bridport (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Norfolk * | 1,140 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | C. Samways | 1,057 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | A. Tiltman * | 1,018 | 34.0 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | L. Dibden * | 834 | 27.9 | +1.6 |
| | Independent | W. Hicks | 829 | – | N/A |
| | Labour | H. Skevington * | 816 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.2 | –19.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,142 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Broadmayne

Broadmayne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | B. Course | 261 | 54.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | W. White * | 217 | 45.4 | –10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 9.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.4 | +12.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,123 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Broadwindsor

Broadwindsor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Coate * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 970 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Burton Bradstock

Burton Bradstock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Cheney * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,063 | | |
| | 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 | 984 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Cerne Valley

Cerne Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Dione Digby, Lady Digby | 426 | 69.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | T. Mills | 188 | 30.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 238 | 38.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 968 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Charminster

Charminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Hanford * | 392 | 72.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | R. Goucher | 147 | 27.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 45.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,256 | | |
| | 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 | 1,171 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Chesil Bank

Chesil Bank :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Pengelly * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,056 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Chickerell

Chickerell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Bennett * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | W. McCarthy * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,618 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Dorchester Central

Dorchester Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Phillips * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,058 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Dorchester East

Dorchester East (4 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Parsons * | 1,251 | – | |
| | Independent | R. Collins * | 1,191 | – | |
| | Conservative | P. Seaton | 1,178 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Enid Stella Jones * | 1,004 | 29.2 | –3.6 |
| | Liberal | D. Smith | 923 | – | |
| | Liberal | R. Brissenden * | 894 | – | |
| | Independent | C. Worth | 846 | – | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 50.6 | –17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,239 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Dorchester West

Dorchester West (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Powell * | 1,304 | – | |
| | Independent | H. Durrant * | 1,146 | – | |
| | Liberal | David Trevor Jones * | 1,110 | 36.8 | +2.9 |
| | Independent | C. Lucas | 1,105 | – | N/A |
| | Liberal | E. Boothman | 1,018 | – | |
| | Liberal | B. Clay | 992 | – | |
| | Liberal | J. Sellingham | 865 | – | |
| | Labour | G. Standfield | 604 | 20.0 | –3.6 |
| | Labour | P. Gregory | 572 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.2 | –24.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,098 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Frome Valley

Frome Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Bryant * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 971 | | |
| | 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 | 1,115 | | |
| | 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 | 1,085 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Loders

Loders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Golding * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 894 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Nuttall | 1,006 | – | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Broom * | 891 | – | |
| | Independent | E. Hallett * | 791 | – | |
| | Independent | V. Homyer * | 506 | – | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.7 | +30.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,808 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Maiden Newton

Maiden Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Haward * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,008 | | |
| | 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 | 1,248 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Owermoigne

Owermoigne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R. Symes | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,070 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Piddle Valley

Piddle Valley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Green * | 385 | 63.2 | –26.4 |
| | Independent | M. Walker | 224 | 36.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 26.4 | –13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 57.2 | +17.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,064 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Puddletown

Puddletown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Bown * | 355 | 81.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | M. Fermor | 80 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 275 | 63.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 870 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Queen Thorne

Queen Thorne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Brewer * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,033 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Sherborne

Sherborne (5 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. King * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | E. Dyke * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal | J. Charles | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal | M. Matson * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | R. Farrant * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,692 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Stinsford

Stinsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | L. Coleman | 291 | 77.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | I. Birchenhough | 85 | 22.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 206 | 54.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.6 | –18.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 809 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Symondsbury

Symondsbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Summers | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,182 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Thorncombe

Thorncombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Atyeo * | unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,020 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Tolpuddle

Tolpuddle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Kraft * | 314 | 78.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | P. Noble | 84 | 21.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 230 | 57.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 705 | | |
| | 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 | 1,069 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent 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 | 946 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Yetminster

Yetminster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | W. Anderson | 348 | 61.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | F. Lawrence * | 220 | 38.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | 22.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,113 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent |