1979 Dacorum District Council election

1979 Dacorum District Council election
3 May 1979
All 58 seats to Dacorum District Council; 30 seats needed for a majority
	Winner of each seat at the 1979 Dacorum Borough Council election.
Control before election; ; Conservative	Control after election ; ; Conservative

The 1979 Dacorum District Council election took place on 3 May 1979 to elect members of Dacorum District Council in Hertfordshire, England.^[1] This was on the same day as the 1979 general election and other local elections.

The whole council was up for election on new ward boundaries, decreasing the overall number of seats from 62 to 58.

Summary

Election result

1979 Dacorum District Council election^[2]
Party		Candidates	Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Conservative	57	32	0	0	6	55.2	48.1	79,031	–4.5
	Labour	56	23	0	0	2	39.7	41.2	67,717	+3.4
	Independent	6	3	0	0		0.0	3.6	5,996	+1.0
	Liberal	20	0	0	0		0.0	5.3	8,693	–0.8
	Ind. Conservative	2	0	0	0		0.0	1.0	1,576	N/A
	Independent Labour	1	0	0	0		0.0	0.4	731	N/A
	National Front	5	0	0	0		0.0	0.3	469	±0.0
	Communist	2	0	0	0		0.0	0.1	125	–0.3

Ward results

Incumbent councillors standing for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*). Changes in seats do not take into account by-elections or defections.

Adeyfield East

Adeyfield East (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	I. Laidlaw-Dickson	1,459	44.8
	Labour	G. Scribens*	1,438	44.1
	Conservative	D. Harrington	1,324	40.6
	Conservative	G. White	1,201	36.9
	Liberal	J. Blackman	385	11.8
	National Front	G. Robertson	91	2.8
	National Front	T. Walters	75	2.3
Turnout			~3,259	88.8
Registered electors			3,670
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Adeyfield West

Adeyfield West (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	L. Taber*	2,141	58.7
	Labour	J. Botfield	2,070	56.7
	Labour	M. Young*	2,031	55.7
	Conservative	J. Hanson	1,367	37.5
	Conservative	J. Giddins	1,322	36.2
	Conservative	D. Eversfield	1,307	35.8
	National Front	W. Griggs	141	3.9
	National Front	S. Price	119	3.3
Turnout			~3,649	80.7
Registered electors			4,522
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Aldbury & Wigginton

Aldbury & Wigginton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	E. Ross*	997	72.8
	Conservative	G. Walters*	373	27.2
Majority			624	45.5
Turnout			1,370	84.6
Registered electors			1,619
	Independent win (new seat)

Ashridge

Ashridge (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	F. De Butts*	1,601	62.3
	Conservative	J. Scott*	1,551	60.3
	Liberal	J. Stobbs	556	21.6
	Labour	J. Lucas	414	16.1
	Labour	I. Berkovitch	381	14.8
	Liberal	G. Davies	366	14.2
Turnout			~2,570	90.6
Registered electors			2,837
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Bennetts End

Bennetts End (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	C. Cushion	2,198	52.1
	Labour	J. Dorchester*	2,034	48.2
	Labour	K. Fletcher	1,961	46.5
	Conservative	T. Eastman	1,207	28.6
	Conservative	S. Fewery	1,171	27.7
	Conservative	F. Foster	1,098	26.0
	Independent Labour	C. De Peyer	731	17.3
	Communist	L. Leigh	85	2.0
Turnout			~4,220	94.8
Registered electors			4,452
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Berkhamsted Central

Berkhamsted Central (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	K. Coleman*	1,828	59.5
	Conservative	A. Thomas*	1,816	59.1
	Liberal	I. McCalla	678	22.1
	Labour	K. Beddall	567	18.5
	Labour	G. Thomas	565	18.4
Turnout			~3,073	95.2
Registered electors			3,228
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Berkhamsted East

Berkhamsted East (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	P. Adams	1,871	44.7
	Conservative	A. Medcalf	1,868	44.6
	Conservative	R. Peake*	1,567	37.4
	Labour	J. Roberts	1,177	28.1
	Labour	B. May	1,157	27.6
	Ind. Conservative	J. Bandy*	1,138	27.2
	Labour	C. Morrish	1,063	25.4
Turnout			~4,188	96.7
Registered electors			4,331
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Berkhamsted West

Berkhamsted West (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	E. Warrington	1,387	43.6
	Conservative	V. Milrath	1,313	41.2
	Labour	S. Bayliss	1,223	38.4
	Labour	B. Hing	739	23.2
	Liberal	E. Patterson	574	18.0
Turnout			~3,183	98.0
Registered electors			3,248
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Bovingdon & Flaunden

Bovingdon & Flaunden (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	P. Mayo*	1,544	53.0	–2.0
	Conservative	A. Janes	1,447	49.7	–4.0
	Independent	W. Symons	578	19.8	–4.3
	Labour	B. Farrer	459	15.8	–5.0
	Labour	J. Gaber	454	15.6	–2.7
	Liberal	M. Maynard	332	11.4	N/A
Turnout			~2,914	97.4	+38.8
Registered electors			2,992
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

Boxmoor

Boxmoor (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	M. King*	2,161	50.4
	Conservative	A. Barling*	2,030	47.4
	Conservative	J. Buteux*	1,986	46.4
	Labour	M. Crosby	1,337	31.2
	Labour	P. Ingold	1,319	30.8
	Labour	J. Smith	1,313	30.6
	Liberal	L. Roe	447	10.4
	Independent	C. Tonkin	337	7.9
Turnout			~4,284	94.2
Registered electors			4,548
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Central

Central (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	C. Fowler*	1,403	49.2
	Conservative	A. Toms*	1,264	44.3
	Labour	D. Harding	1,078	37.8
	Labour	J. Seymour	1,038	36.4
	Liberal	J. Dover	372	13.0
Turnout			~2,854	85.6
Registered electors			3,334
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Chaulden

Chaulden
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	D. Brown	1,051	57.1
	Conservative	J. Price	617	33.5
	Liberal	J. Adams	133	7.2
	Communist	J. Pearce	40	2.2
Majority			434	23.6
Turnout			1,841	84.6
Registered electors			2,175
	Labour win (new seat)

Chipperfield

Chipperfield
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	J. Nichols*	881	77.9
	Labour	J. Kelly	250	22.1
Majority			631	55.8
Turnout			1,131	86.8
Registered electors			1,303
	Conservative hold

Crabtree

Crabtree (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	C. Barling*	1,728	40.8
	Labour	C. Haslock	1,723	40.7
	Conservative	C. Appleby*	1,695	40.0
	Conservative	B. Luck	1,671	39.4
	Labour	A. Maclaughlin	1,581	37.3
	Labour	P. Ryan	1,581	37.3
	Liberal	C. Sivers	786	18.5
Turnout			~4,238	87.9
Registered electors			4,821
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Cupid Green

Cupid Green (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	O. Collingwood	1,179	44.2
	Labour	S. Crosby	1,110	41.6
	Conservative	G. Hanson	1,041	39.0
	Labour	R. Stepto	1,011	37.9
	Liberal	R. Coles	379	14.2
Turnout			~2,669	82.6
Registered electors			3,231
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Flamstead & Markyate

Flamstead & Markyate (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	J. Taunton	1,641	71.4
	Conservative	W. Terry*	1,601	69.7
	Labour	F. Taylor	656	28.6
	Labour	A. Hooper	625	27.2
Turnout			~2,297	80.0
Registered electors			2,871
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Gadebridge

Gadebridge (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. Wood*	1,513	57.6
	Labour	R. Mitchell*	1,422	54.1
	Conservative	G. Payne	773	29.4
	Liberal	P. Harris	300	11.4
	National Front	J. McAuley	43	1.6
Turnout			~2,628	73.6
Registered electors			3,571
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Grove Hill

Grove Hill (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	C. Maxwell	1,442	47.3
	Labour	A. Buckland	1,377	45.2
	Labour	L. Morris	1,374	45.1
	Independent	W. Faupel	1,320	43.3
	Conservative	G. Clennell	1,066	35.0
	Conservative	A. Smith	1,041	34.2
	Conservative	K. Bishop	901	29.6
	Liberal	J. Blackman	620	20.3
Turnout			~3,047	73.2
Registered electors			4,161
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Highfield

Highfield (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	P. Doyle*	1,949	49.4
	Labour	J. Annison*	1,848	46.8
	Labour	P. Palfrey*	1,473	37.3
	Conservative	E. Cooper	1,162	29.5
	Conservative	N. Halsey	904	22.9
	Conservative	P. Smith	892	22.6
	Liberal	G. Lawrence	835	21.2
Turnout			~3,945	93.2
Registered electors			4,233
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Kings Langley

Kings Langley (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	D. Barker	2,024	68.1	–2.4
	Conservative	W. Driver*	1,822	61.3	–6.1
	Labour	R. Cox	949	31.9	+2.4
	Labour	D. Moss	928	31.2	+4.0
Turnout			~2,972	84.9	+33.2
Registered electors			3,501
	Conservative hold
	Conservative hold

Leverstock Green

Leverstock Green (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	P. Cash	2,663	61.6
	Conservative	H. Bassadone*	2,632	60.9
	Conservative	P. Courtnage*	2,606	60.3
	Labour	W. Holdsworth	1,663	38.5
	Labour	A. Fethney	1,618	37.4
	Labour	F. Temple	1,574	34.1
Turnout			~4,324	81.8
Registered electors			5,286
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Nash Mills

Nash Mills
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	S. Davison*	684	52.1
	Conservative	J. Byfield	511	38.9
	Liberal	R. Wilson	117	8.9
Majority			173	13.2
Turnout			1,312	83.7
Registered electors			1,567
	Labour win (new seat)

Northchurch

Northchurch
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	G. Scott	868	68.8
	Liberal	I. Scott	393	31.2
Majority			475	37.7
Turnout			1,261	82.8
Registered electors			1,523
	Conservative win (new seat)

South

South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	P. Benton*	1,382	67.8
	Labour	R. Linsley	541	26.5
	Liberal	C. Roe	116	5.7
Majority			841	41.2
Turnout			2,039	86.5
Registered electors			2,357
	Conservative win (new boundaries)

Tring Central

Tring Central (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	R. Halling*	1,473	64.8
	Conservative	R. Young*	867	38.1
	Labour	P. Aldis	569	25.0
	Conservative	P. Garnham	466	20.5
	Ind. Conservative	G. McAndrew	438	19.3
	Labour	D. Eaude	429	18.9
	Liberal	P. Elley	306	13.5
Turnout			~2,274	76.7
Registered electors			2,963
	Independent win (new seat)
	Conservative win (new seat)

Tring East

Tring East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	J. Collings*	1,084	82.2
	Labour	J. Dymond	235	17.8
Majority			849	64.4
Turnout			1,319	87.8
Registered electors			1,503
	Conservative win (new seat)

Tring West

Tring West (2 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	D. Townsend*	1,419	51.9
	Independent	R. Tucker	1,291	47.2
	Conservative	R. Cole	1,272	46.5
	Labour	J. De Peyer	525	19.2
	Labour	R. Holledge	483	17.7
	Liberal	D. Badrick	483	17.7
Turnout			~2,737	81.9
Registered electors			3,342
	Conservative win (new seat)
	Independent win (new seat)

Warners End

Warners End (3 seats)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	J. Geraghty*	2,063	53.0
	Labour	G. Mitchell*	1,953	50.2
	Labour	R. Glatter	1,901	48.9
	Conservative	J. Nairn	1,312	33.7
	Conservative	R. Foord-Kelcey	1,169	30.0
	Conservative	A. Webster	1,134	29.1
	Liberal	W. Whalley	515	13.2
Turnout			~3,890	89.6
Registered electors			4,342
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

References

^ "Dacorum District Council Election Results 1973-2011" (PDF). Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
^ "Composition calculator". Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 5 January 2026.

[1] "Dacorum District Council Election Results 1973-2011" (PDF). Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 5 January 2026.

[2] "Composition calculator". Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 5 January 2026.

[1]

[2]

Council elections in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
Broxbourne Borough Council	1973 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Dacorum Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
East Hertfordshire District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Hertsmere Borough Council	1973 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2019 2023
North Hertfordshire District Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
St Albans City and District Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Stevenage Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Three Rivers District Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Watford Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council	1973 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026
See also: Wards Boundary changes Middlesex County Council elections

(1978 ←) 1979 United Kingdom local elections (→ 1980)
Metropolitan boroughs	Barnsley Birmingham Bradford Bolton Bury Calderdale Coventry Doncaster Dudley Gateshead Kirklees Knowsley Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle North Tyneside Oldham Rochdale Rotherham Salford Sandwell Sefton Sheffield Solihull South Tyneside St Helens Stockport Sunderland Tameside Trafford Wakefield Walsall Wigan Wirral Wolverhampton
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Referendums	Scottish devolution Welsh devolution
See also: UK General election European Parliament election