# 1979 Chichester District Council election

Elections to Chichester District Council in West Sussex, United Kingdom were held on 3 May 1979, the same day as the general election.
The whole council was up for election and resulted in a Conservative majority.

## Boundary changes

Boundary changes resulted in the creation of three new wards: Chichester North, Selsey North and Selsey South. The number of councillors representing Chichester West and Southbourne were reduced, from 5 to 3 and 4 to 3 respectively. The Selsey ward was abolished.
Boundary changes in effect from May 1979 :
| Old wards | New wards |
| Chichester East | Chichester North‡ |
| Chichester West | Chichester North‡ |
| Selsey* | Selsey North‡ |
| Selsey* | Selsey South‡ |
| * Abolished | ‡ New creation |

## Election result

Chichester District Council Election Result 1979 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 27 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 54.0 | 40.0 | 25,365 | –9.5 |
| Liberal | 11 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 22.0 | 28.1 | 17,894 | +6.9 |
| Independent | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14.0 | 11.5 | 7,325 | +1.4 |
| Residents | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 6,106 | –4.1 |
| Ind. Conservative | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 2,278 | N/A |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 4.7 | 2,996 | +2.6 |
| Ind. Ratepayers | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.4 | 905 | –2.0 |
| SPA (UK) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.3 | 833 | N/A |
| 27 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Conservative | Liberal | Independent | Res. | I.C. |

## Ward results

Birdham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | J. Darley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,432 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Bosham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H. Rycroft | 1,332 | 36.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | D. Yden | 1,254 | 34.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | J. Lillywhite | 1,037 | 28.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,623 | 75.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,099 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Boxgrove (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | E. Kirkby-Bott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,334 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Bury (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | C. Roberts | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,238 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Chichester East (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. French | 1,194 | 40.9 | +12.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Combes | 1,184 | 35.4 | –12.9 |
| | Liberal | C. Tupper | 1,183 | | |
| | Liberal | E. French | 1,066 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Gowing | 910 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Myers | 894 | | |
| | Labour | D. Morrison | 725 | 23.7 | +10.7 |
| | Labour | T. Rooth | 642 | | |
| | Labour | P. Norris | 629 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,428 | 71.9 | +28.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,379 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Chichester North (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J. Rankin | 1,307 | 51.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | T. France | 1,289 | 49.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | L. Eyles | 1,266 | | |
| | Liberal | A. Bird | 1,263 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Craig | 1,219 | | |
| | Conservative | D. Hoult | 1,183 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,527 | 74.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,778 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Chichester South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | P. Weston | 1,743 | 63.6 | +13.9 |
| | Liberal | K. Smith | 1,549 | | |
| | Liberal | A. Scicluna | 1,546 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Black | 1,003 | 36.4 | –13.9 |
| | Conservative | J. Rankin | 925 | | |
| | Conservative | F. Robertson | 839 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,605 | 71.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,054 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
Chichester West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | L. Holden | 1,627 | 53.2 | +21.8 |
| | Liberal | M. Clough | 1,564 | | |
| | Liberal | S. Lawrence | 1,470 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Doody | 1,455 | 46.8 | –14.5 |
| | Conservative | U. Hogg | 1,413 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Slade | 1,240 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,769 | 72.5 | +28.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,723 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Donnington (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | J. Laird | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,428 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Easebourne (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Wood | 647 | 61.4 | –8.0 |
| | Labour | A. Groves | 406 | 38.6 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,053 | 71.8 | +29.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,477 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
East Wittering (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | C. Craven | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,370 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Fernhurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M. Gilbert | 1,047 | 40.3 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | S. Hamilton | 792 | 30.5 | +4.5 |
| | Independent | C. Barkman | 757 | 29.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,596 | 72.1 | +21.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,319 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Funtington (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Independent | D. Gauntlett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,821 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Graffham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Independent | K. Murray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,466 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Harting (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | H. Booker | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,387 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Hunston (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Nicholson | 764 | 59.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | W. Sherlock | 518 | 40.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,282 | 74.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,738 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Lavant (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | F. Heald | 598 | 54.5 | +16.9 |
| | Conservative | F. Longmore | 499 | 45.5 | –5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,097 | 73.0 | +24.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,484 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Linchmere (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | R. Gibson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,194 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Lodsworth (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | R. Hancock | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,415 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Midhurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Burne | 1,525 | 34.7 | N/A |
| | Ind. Conservative | D. Mott | 1,260 | 28.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P. Stonehouse | 586 | 26.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | M. Smith | 572 | | N/A |
| | Labour | P. Pritchard | 455 | 10.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,398 | 74.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,395 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Ind. Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Oving (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | N. Best | 638 | 62.9 | +4.8 |
| | Independent | J. Stapleford | 377 | 37.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,015 | 71.3 | +36.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,401 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Petworth (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | C. Linton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | J. Duncton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,851 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Plaistow (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | P. Luttman-Johnson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | T. Micklem | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,024 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Rogate (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Alexander | 816 | 75.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. Jackson | 262 | 24.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,078 | 75.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,427 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Selsey North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | B. Ager | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | T. Robinson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,231 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
Selsey South (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | P. Hammond | 1,018 | 27.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | J. Whiteman | 925 | 49.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | R. Seaman | 868 | | N/A |
| | SPA | H. Van Raat | 833 | 22.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,644 | 74.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,957 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
Sidlesham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. Petrie-Hay | 572 | 80.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | R. Norris | 139 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 711 | 74.1 | +21.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 959 | | |
| | Independent gain from Residents | Independent gain from Residents | Swing | | |
Southbourne (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Residents | L. Denby | 2,322 | 62.4 | –8.3 |
| | Residents | I. Sutherland | 1,952 | | |
| | Residents | C. Singer | 1,832 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Warren | 986 | 28.4 | +17.3 |
| | Conservative | P. Blake | 950 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Higgins | 842 | | |
| | Ind. Ratepayers | G. Feltham | 489 | 9.2 | –9.0 |
| | Ind. Ratepayers | D. Feltham | 416 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,789 | 74.3 | +27.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,742 | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
| | Residents hold | Residents hold | Swing | | |
Stedham (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | A. Burdett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,556 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Stoughton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Independent | J. Mann | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,321 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
West Wittering (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | H. Allen | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,271 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Westbourne (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Bray | 594 | 54.6 | –1.4 |
| | Independent | D. Rudkin | 494 | 45.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,088 | 73.7 | +25.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,476 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Wisborough Green (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Conservative | J. Illius | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,858 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |