# 2012 Denbighshire County Council election

The 2012 Denbighshire County Council election took place in Denbighshire, Wales, on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Denbighshire Council. This was the same day as other 2012 United Kingdom local elections. The previous elections took place in 2008 and the next all-council elections took place in 2017.

## Background

Labour Party and Independent candidates were hoping to take seats from the governing Conservatives. Topical issues included the county's Local Development Plan and redevelopment of Rhyl's seafront, as well as the usual funding pressures and unemployment. Four of the 30 electoral wards were uncontested, while in the Ruthin ward there were 12 candidates competing for the 3 seats.

## Results
### Overview

The 39.1% turnout was even lower than the turnout in 2008 (42%), despite the weather being sunny. It was particularly low in areas of social deprivation, such as Rhyl West.
Denbighshire County Council election 2012 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 19 | | | +12 | 40.4 | 29.2 | 8,293 | +13.2 |
| Conservative | 8 | | | -10 | 17.0 | 27.2 | 7,745 | -1.8 |
| Independent | 12 | | | -1 | 25.5 | 25.4 | 7,217 | -6.4 |
| Plaid Cymru | 7 | | | -1 | 14.9 | 11.5 | 3,270 | -3.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | | | 0 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 1,418 | -2.2 |
| Green | 0 | | | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 274 | New |
| Socialist Labour | 0 | | | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 122 | New |
| UKIP | 0 | | | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 85 | -0.2 |
| BNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -0.4 |

### Election error

In the Prestatyn North ward, the incorrect councillor was declared the winner, due to his similar surname. Conservative councillor Allan Pennington became councillor for the ward, after 265 votes for the Labour candidate, Paul Penlington, were allocated to him. Penlington was not able to take his rightful seat until 14 February 2013, after a court case involving three High Court judges.

## Ward results
### Bodelwyddan (one seat)

Bodelwyddan 2012$^{(a)}$ :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Elizabeth Jones * | 294 | 48.9 |
| | Labour | Stephen Ellison | 223 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative | Nan Jones | 84 | 14.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 71 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,616 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Corwen (one seat)

Corwen 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Plaid Cymru | Huw Jones * | unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,862 |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Denbigh Central (one seat)

Denbigh Central 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Plaid Cymru | Gwyneth Kensler * | 288 | 48.7 |
| | Independent | Peter Jones | 191 | 32.3 |
| | Independent | Robert Parkes | 87 | 14.7 |
| | Conservative | Anton Sampson | 25 | 4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,584 | |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing | |

### Denbigh Lower (two seats)

Denbigh Lower 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Bartley * | 977 | 60.7 |
| | Independent | Richard Davies | 579 | |
| | Independent | Mark Young | 504 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Jean Gwynn | 386 | 23.8 |
| | Independent | Keith Stevens | 204 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Williams | 138 | 8.5 |
| | Conservative | Diane Highton | 118 | 7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 398 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,583 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
| | Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing | |

### Denbigh Upper/Henllan (two seats)

Denbigh Upper/Henllan 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Colin Hughes * | 504 | 55.8 |
| | Labour | Geraint Lloyd-Williams | 392 | |
| | Conservative | Diane Highton * | 246 | 27.2 |
| | UKIP | Jean Gwynn | 85 | 9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Williams | 69 | 7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 146 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,336 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Dyserth (one seat)

Dyserth 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Peter Owen * | 369 | 50.7 |
| | Labour | Peter Newell | 275 | 37.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Heather Prydderch | 84 | 11.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 94 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,890 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Efenechtyd (one seat)

Efenechtyd 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Plaid Cymru | Eryl Williams * | unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,306 |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Llanarmon-Yn-Lal/Llandelga (one seat)

Llanarmon-Yn-Lal/Llandelga 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Martyn Holland | 523 | 50.2 |
| | Independent | Peter Rees | 281 | 27.0 |
| | Socialist Labour | Robert English | 122 | 11.7 |
| | Independent | Robert Barton | 115 | 11.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 53.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,968 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | |

### Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (one seat)

Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Huw Williams | 348 | 60.3 |
| | Independent | Julie Masters | 129 | 22.4 |
| | Labour | Mary Chaffé | 100 | 17.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,226 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Llandrillo (one seat)

Llandrillo 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Plaid Cymru | Cefyn Williams * | unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 941 |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Llandyrnog (one seat)

Llandyrnog 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Thomas Parry | 377 | 50.1 |
| | Independent | Christopher Denman | 192 | 25.5 |
| | Labour | John McGuire | 85 | 11.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | John McCabe | 73 | 9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin Hill | 25 | 3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,694 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd Gwyddelwern (one seat)

Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd Gwyddelwern 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Hugh Evans * | unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,816 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangollen (two seats)

Llangollen 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Plaid Cymru | Trefor Hughes * | 678 | 36.4 |
| | Independent | Stuart Davies | 459 | 24.7 |
| | Labour | John Palmer | 427 | 22.9 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Jonathan Haddy | 217 | |
| | Independent | Michael Edwards | 212 | |
| | Conservative | Paul Firth | 206 | 11.1 |
| | Green | Robert Spalding | 91 | 4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,362 | |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch (one seat)

Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Joseph Welch | 254 | 38.2 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Hefin Edwards | 219 | 32.9 |
| | Conservative | Gregory Wynne | 146 | 22.0 |
| | Green | Dominic Oakes | 46 | 6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,524 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Prestatyn Central (two seats)

Prestatyn Central 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Peter Duffy * | 611 | 47.9 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Irvine | 578 | 45.3 |
| | Labour | Sherayne Edwards | 551 | |
| | Conservative | June Cahill * | 487 | |
| | Green | Kay Roney | 87 | 6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,822 | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Prestatyn East (two seats)

Prestatyn East 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James Davies * | 524 | 41.6 |
| | Conservative | Julian Thompson-Hill * | 463 | |
| | Labour | Caroline Holliday | 364 | 28.9 |
| | Labour | Kenneth Wells | 341 | |
| | Independent | Julie Peters | 322 | 25.6 |
| | Independent | Leanne Knapp | 300 | |
| | Green | John Roney | 50 | 4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,220 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Prestatyn Meliden (one seat)

Prestatyn Meliden 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Peter Evans | 264 | 44.2 |
| | Conservative | Gerald Frobisher | 174 | 29.1 |
| | Labour | Robert Paterson | 159 | 26.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,549 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Prestatyn North (three seats)

Prestatyn North 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Carys Guy-Davies | 633 | 41.3 |
| | Labour | Paul Penlington $^b$ | 606 | |
| | Labour | Jason McLellan | 598 | |
| | Independent | Michael German | 557 | 36.4 |
| | Independent | Isobel German | 538 | |
| | Independent | George Flynn | 472 | |
| | Independent | Gwynn Clague | 438 | |
| | Conservative | Allan Pennington $^b$ * | 341 | 22.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Eckersley * | 325 | |
| | Conservative | Michelle Pope | 314 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,717 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Prestatyn South West (two seats)

Prestatyn South West 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert Murray | 586 | 57.0 |
| | Labour | Gareth Sandilands | 562 | |
| | Conservative | Glyn Jones * | 442 | 43.0 |
| | Conservative | Sharon Frobisher * | 424 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,856 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Rhuddlan (two seats)

Rhuddlan 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Janet Davies * | 665 | 43.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Arwel Roberts | 419 | 27.3 |
| | Independent | John Jones | 382 | 24.9 |
| | Conservative | Nathan Lamb | 222 | |
| | Independent | William Jones | 221 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kenneth Prydderch | 71 | 4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,936 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Swing | |

### Rhyl East (two seats)

Rhyl East 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Barry Mellor | 667 | 47.7 |
| | Labour | David Simmons | 562 | |
| | Conservative | John Bellis * | 464 | 33.2 |
| | Conservative | Diana Hannam * | 362 | |
| | Independent | Hugh Jones | 267 | 19.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,796 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Rhyl South (two seats)

Rhyl South 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones * | 733 | 56.3 |
| | Labour | Cheryl Williams | 508 | |
| | Conservative | David Lee * | 361 | 27.7 |
| | Conservative | Melanie Jones | 337 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Alun Edwards | 208 | 16.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,022 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Rhyl South East (three seats)

Rhyl South East 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Brian Blakeley * | 1,180 | 56.1 |
| | Labour | Winifred Mullen-James | 984 | |
| | Labour | William Tasker | 972 | |
| | Conservative | Ian Gunning * | 641 | 30.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Jackson | 506 | |
| | Conservative | Anthony Thomas | 452 | |
| | Independent | Daniel Murray | 284 | 13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 331 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,025 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Rhyl South West (two seats)

Rhyl South West 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Patricia Jones | 797 | 68.2 |
| | Labour | Margaret McCarrol | 647 | |
| | Independent | David Thomas * | 184 | 15.8 |
| | Independent | Glyn Williams * | 141 | |
| | Conservative | Harold Bennett | 116 | 9.9 |
| | Conservative | William Dawson | 96 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Dear | 71 | 6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 463 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,725 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Previous Labour councillors stood as Independents.

### Rhyl West (two seats)

Rhyl West 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Joan Butterfield * | 378 | 50.3 |
| | Labour | Ian Armstrong * | 361 | |
| | Independent | David Thomas | 142 | 18.9 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Norman Shone | 125 | 16.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Espley | 106 | 14.1 |
| | Conservative | Paul Sumner | 99 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 20.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,510 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Ruthin (three seats)

Ruthin 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Huw Hilditch-Roberts | 805 | 27.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robina Feeley * | 804 | 27.4 |
| | Independent | David Smith * | 634 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Hywel Richards | 510 | 17.4 |
| | Labour | Alun Pugh | 473 | 16.1 |
| | Independent | Patricia Astbury | 426 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Peter Ryder | 346 | |
| | Conservative | Carole Roberts | 342 | 11.7 |
| | Independent | Richard Thomas | 271 | |
| | Independent | Roger Parry | 268 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | Shane Brennan | 256 | |
| | Conservative | Joan Benton | 178 | |
| | Conservative | John Broughton | 119 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,366 | |
| | Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### St Asaph East (one seat)

St Asaph East 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Dewi Owens * | 252 | 45.2 |
| | Independent | John Smith | 160 | 28.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Linaker | 146 | 26.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,400 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### St Asaph West (one seat)

St Asaph West 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Cowie * | 181 | 46.8 |
| | Labour | Richard Gumm | 98 | 25.3 |
| | Conservative | John Horden | 98 | 25.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sean Hagan | 10 | 2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,326 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Trefnant (one seat)

Trefnant 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Plaid Cymru | Meirick Davies * | 364 | 53.8 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Rees | 312 | 46.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,572 | |
| | Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing | |

### Tremeirchion (one seat)

Tremeirchion 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Barbara Smith * | 313 | 54.2 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Hughes | 264 | 45.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,325 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
(a) Election Centre/Andrew Teale source also compares the percentage vote of the lead candidate for each party in the ward
(b) Prestatyn North result corrected by election petition
* = sitting ward councillor prior to election