2004 Wyre Forest District Council election

Background

In total 113 candidates stood in the election with all 42 seats being contested for the first time since 1979 after boundary changes had taken place. The boundary changes meant that Bewdley ward had gained an extra councillor and become Bewdley and Arley, while Blakedown and Chaddesley had been combined into one ward.

Before the election Health Concern had 16 seats on the council as compared to 11 for the Conservatives. This was a drop for Health Concern from 2003 after 3 councillors had defected to the Conservatives.

Election result

The results had the Conservatives gain 8 seats to become the largest party on the council. This was mainly at the expense of Health Concern whose losses included the leader of the council, Howard Martin. Voter turnout was up at 38.83% after seeing less than 31% in 2003, with the highest turnout being 54.36% in Wolverley.

The Conservatives success was put down to a strong campaign and they were expected to form the next administration. This would be the first time in 15 years that the Conservatives would have control of Wyre Forest council, with the other parties saying they would not attempt to form a rival coalition leaving the way clear for the Conservatives. The Conservatives were expected to attempt to implement their manifesto pledges including bringing a cinema to Kidderminster, changing car parking in Kidderminster and reviewing the fortnightly refuse collection.

Conservative control was confirmed at a council meeting on 30 June with Stephen Clee becoming leader of the council. Meanwhile, Health Concern councillors chose Ken Stokes to become the new leader of their group on the council.

|seats % = 45.2 |votes % = 38.6 |plus/minus = +11.5 |seats % = 19.0 |votes % = 25.8 |plus/minus = -1.2 |seats % = 19.0 |votes % = 11.7 |plus/minus = -1.0 |seats % = 9.5 |votes % = 16.1 |plus/minus = -8.0 |seats % = 4.8 |votes % = 5.8 |plus/minus = -3.0 |seats % = 2.4 |votes % = 2.0 |plus/minus = +1.6

Ward results

By-elections between 2004 and 2006

A by-election was held in Aggborough and Spennells after the death of Conservative councillor Maureen Aston. Candidates at the election included the former leader of the council Howard Martin for Health Concern, a former councillor for the ward, Adrian Sewell for Labour, and the first Green Party candidate for an election to Wyre Forest District Council, Kate Spohrer. The seat was held by Conservative John Aston, husband of the former councillor, with a majority of 63 votes over Liberal Democrat Samantha Walker.

References

References

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5. Chamberlain, Zoe. (6 June 2004). "The Mag: Vote Mr & Mrs Domestic politics; No fewer than 10 married couples are standing as candidates in the Wyre Forest District Council elections in Worcestershire on Thursday. Can the heady mix of politics and marriage lead to domestic bliss? Lifestyle Editor Zoe Chamberlain finds out.". [[Sunday Mercury]].
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