2012 Denbighshire County Council election

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.

|seats % = 40.4 |votes % = 29.2 |plus/minus = +13.2 |seats % = 17.0 |votes % = 27.2 |plus/minus = -1.8 |seats % = 25.5 |votes % = 25.4 |plus/minus = -6.4 |seats % = 14.9 |votes % = 11.5 |plus/minus = -3.6 |seats % = 2.1 |votes % = 5.0 |plus/minus = -2.2 |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 1.0 |plus/minus = New |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.4 |plus/minus = New |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.3 |plus/minus = -0.2 |seats % = - |votes % = - |plus/minus = -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)

|reg. electors = 1,616

Corwen (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,862

Denbigh Central (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,584

Denbigh Lower (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,583

Denbigh Upper/Henllan (two seats)

|reg. electors = 2,336

Dyserth (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,890

Efenechtyd (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,306

Llanarmon-Yn-Lal/Llandelga (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,968

Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,226

Llandrillo (one seat)

|reg. electors = 941

Llandyrnog (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,694

Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd Gwyddelwern (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,816

Llangollen (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,362

Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,524

Prestatyn Central (two seats)

|reg. electors = 2,822

Prestatyn East (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,220

Prestatyn Meliden (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,549

Prestatyn North (three seats)

|reg. electors = 4,717

Prestatyn South West (two seats)

|reg. electors = 2,856

Rhuddlan (two seats)

|reg. electors = 2,936

Rhyl East (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,796

Rhyl South (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,022

Rhyl South East (three seats)

|reg. electors = 6,025

Rhyl South West (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,725

Previous Labour councillors stood as Independents.

Rhyl West (two seats)

|reg. electors = 3,510

Ruthin (three seats)

|reg. electors = 4,366

St Asaph East (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,400

St Asaph West (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,326

Trefnant (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,572

Tremeirchion (one seat)

|reg. electors = 1,325

(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

References

References

1. "Local elections 2012". BBC News.
2. (28 April 2012). "Election special Denbighshire". [[Wales Online]].
3. (5 May 2012). "Low election turnout for council vote". Wales Online.
4. "Local Election Results 2012: Denbighshire".
5. (16 February 2013). "Wronged Prestatyn councillor finally handed his seat - nine months after election blunder". Wales Online.
6. "Denbighshire County Council Election Results 1995-2012". The Elections Centre, Plymouth University.