peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Dec 22, 2023 3:02:09 GMT
Post by peterl on Dec 22, 2023 3:02:09 GMT
Dorchester Poundbury
1 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 2,266 2021 Census Population: 4,072 2011-2021 Population Change: +60.00% Area: 0.56 Square Miles Population Density: 7,247 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 18.2%, 18-64 51.1%, 65 and Above 30.7% Percentage Born Abroad: 10.7% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 2.6% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Muslim 2.0% Gender: 55.2% Female, 44.8% Male
2019 result: Lib Dem 457, Con 415, Ind 273, Green 73, Lab 55
Sitting councillor: Richard Martin Biggs Biggs is also a Dorchester Town Councillor and was mayor 2019-20.
Background: Poundbury is an urban extension to the west of Dorchester itself. It was constructed in a Georgian style of architecture under the patronage of then Prince Charles and has been praised for placing less emphasis on car based transport than most developments. Poundbury has a number of unusual demographic features, including one of Dorset's highest population densities, one of the highest proportion of female residents and amongst the highest populations of people born abroad and for people who follow a non-Christian religion. The ward returned a Lib Dem councillor in 2019 narrowly beating the Tories, with an independent achieving a respectable result. Whether the independent stands again could be a major factor in who wins in 2024. The ward falls within Dorchester Town Council, which has a Lib Dem majority.
Prediction: Leans Lib Dem.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Dec 22, 2023 3:40:38 GMT
Post by peterl on Dec 22, 2023 3:40:38 GMT
Dorchester East
"The town is populous, tho' not large, the streets broad, but the buildings old, and low; however, there is good company and a good deal of it; and a man that coveted a retreat in this world might as agreeably spend his time, and as well in Dorchester, as in any town I know in England". Daniel Defoe
2 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 7,866 2021 Census Population: 8,219 2011-2021 Population Change: +4.40% Area: 0.91 Square Miles Population Density: 9,022 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 18.5%, 18-64 54.9%, 65 and Above 26.6% Percentage Born Abroad: 8.0% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 2.2% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Muslim 1.4% Gender: 52.7% Female, 47.3% Male
2019 result: Lib Dem 1,755/1,739, Con 559/487, Lab 448/369
Sitting councillors: Molly Rennie, Stella Jones Both Rennie and Jones are also members of Dorchester Town Council.
Background: Dorchester is one of Dorset's largest towns and is the base of Dorset Council, which along with the hospital is one of the town's major employers. It is one of few places in Dorset sitting on the railway line headed north towards Bristol in addition to the London-Weymouth line. The town was named by the Romans after the Durotriges tribe. Dorchester has had a rich history ever since, a highlight of which was the Bloody Assizes in 1685. The childhood home of Thomas Hardy as well the house he designed can both be visited just outside of the town. There has been moderate population growth in the last decade and an above average amount of people born abroad live in the town. Substantial developments proposed in the Dorchester area have proved controversial and are bound to come up in the election. Dorchester East has two Lib Dem councillors elected by large majorities, whilst Dorchester West has one Lib Dem and one independent councillor. The town council is partisanly organised has a Lib Dem majority.
Prediction: Safe Lib Dem hold.
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peterl
Green
Monarchic Technocratic Localist
Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Dec 22, 2023 3:50:50 GMT
Post by peterl on Dec 22, 2023 3:50:50 GMT
Dorchester West
2 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 8,928 2021 Census Population: 9,067 2011-2021 Population Change: +1.50% Area: 1.27 Square Miles Population Density: 7,093 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 17.3%, 18-64 54.9%, 65 and Above 27.8% Percentage Born Abroad: 10.0% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 4.0% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Muslim 1.0% Gender: 51.6% Female, 48.4% Male
2019 result: Lib Dem 1,221/973, Ind 1,064, Con 512/336, Green 434, Lab 289/264
Sitting councillors: Andy Canning, Les Fry Both are also Dorchester Town Councillors. Canning was the Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Dorset West in 2017.
For background see Dorchester East.
Prediction: Assuming Les Fry stands again, I would expect him to hold his seat and the Lib Dems to hold the other. Should Fry stand down, the Lib Dems are likely to win both seats.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Jan 3, 2024 3:15:29 GMT
Post by peterl on Jan 3, 2024 3:15:29 GMT
Winterborne and Broadmayne
1 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 4,201 2021 Census Population: 4,286 2011-2021 Population Change: +2.00% Area: 30.64 Square Miles Population Density: 140 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 16.3%, 18-64 53.0%, 65 and Above 30.6% Percentage Born Abroad: 4.3% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 0.7% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.5% Gender: 51.3% Female, 48.7% Male
2019 result: Lib Dem 799, Con 412, UKIP 201
Sitting councillor: Roland Tarr
Background: Winterborne and Broadmayne is a large, sparsely populated ward that essentially comprises the area between Dorchester and Weymouth. It borders the Dorchester wards and Charminster St. Mary's to the north, West Purbeck to the east, Crossways to the south east, Weymouth to the south, and Chesil Bank to the south west. There are no sizeable settlements in the ward. Some of the more interesting places include Winterborne Abbas at the west of the ward, which is notable marker on the journey between Dorchester and Bridport and is home to a church elements of which go back to the 13th century. The Bronze Age Nine Stones Circle can be found just to the west of the village. At the western end of the ward lies the village of West Stafford, accepted as the setting for part of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbevilles. The ward elected a Lib Dem councillor by a substantial majority in 2019, although the Lib Dems benefited from the abscence of Labour, Green or independent candidates. Parishes in the ward are all non-partisan.
Prediction: Lib Dem hold.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 4, 2024 3:00:31 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 4, 2024 3:00:31 GMT
Puddletown and Lower Winterborne
1 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 5,277 2021 Census Population: 5,491 2011-2021 Population Change: +4.00% Area: 39.43 Square Miles Population Density: 139 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 18.1%, 18-64 54.6%, 65 and Above 27.3% Percentage Born Abroad: 4.6% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 1.1% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.4% Gender: 50.8% Female, 49.2% Male
2019 result: Con 789, Lib Dem 388, Ind 257, Lab 192
Sitting councillor: Emma Jayne Parker
Background: Puddletown and Lower Winterborne is another of rural western Dorset's large spread out wards with a sparse population. It borders West Purbeck and Winterborne and Broadmayne to the south, Charminster St. Mary's to the west, Chalk Valleys and Winterborne North to the north, and Stour and Allen Vale to the east. The intriguingly named Puddletown itself lies at the south west corner of the ward. The name derives from Old English meaning a farm on the River Piddle. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and inspired some of the locations in Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd. A little to the east of Puddletown lies Tolpuddle, home of the famous Tolpuddle Martyrs and today to a small museum run and an annual festival. In spite of the ward's significance to the trade union movement, it is a reasonably safe Conservative ward. All parishes in the ward are non-partisan.
Prediction: Leans Conservative.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 6, 2024 2:06:43 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 6, 2024 2:06:43 GMT
Chalk Valleys
1 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 4,583 2021 Census Population: 4,788 2011-2021 Population Change: +4.40% Area: 62.50 Square Miles Population Density: 77 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 16.0%, 18-64 52.8%, 65 and Above 31.3% Percentage Born Abroad: 6.2% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 0.6% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.7% Gender: 51.9% Female, 48.1% Male
2019 result: Con 810, Green 447, Lib Dem 351
Elected councillor: Jill Haynes
Background: Chalk Valleys is amongst the largest and least densely populated wards in the county. It borders Puddletown and Charminster St. Mary's to the south, Eggardon to the west, at various points Yetminster, Sherborne Rural and Blackmore Vale to the north, Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants to the east and Winterborne North to the south east. The ward has no sizable settlements. One of the more notable villages is Piddletrendhide, found towards the south of the ward and often remarked for its unusual name. The village was rather poetically described by journalist Ralph Wightman as where "springs bubble out of the base of a steep wooded hill into a shady pool.... an enchanted place, raising memories of holy wells and pagan groves." The ward elected a Conservative councillor by a moderate majority in 2019, and was amongst the few wards with no Labour candidate. All parishes in Chalk Valleys are non-partisan.
Prediction: Although not low hanging fruit, there must be some possibility for the Greens here, especially if a deal can be made with the Lib Dems. Absent such a deal, a Tory hold is probably the slightly more likely result.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Post by peterl on Feb 6, 2024 2:41:44 GMT
Winterborne North
1 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 4,058 2021 Census Population: 4,263 2011-2021 Population Change: +4.90% Area: 21.13 Square Miles Population Density: 202 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 17.4%, 18-64 55.4, 65 and Above 27.2% Percentage Born Abroad: 4.9% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 0.7% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.7% Gender: 51.0% Female, 49.0% Male
2019 result: Con 557, Lib Dem 363, UKIP 162, Ind 105/88/19, Lab 102
Elected councillor: Andrew Kerby
Background: Winterborne North is a reasonably large ward with a moderate population density bordering Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants to the north, Cranborne Chase to the east, Stour and Allen Vale to the south east, Puddletown to the south, and Blackmore Vale to the north west. Winterborne Strickland is one of the ward's notable settlements. Occupying a more of less central position, the village dates to before the Norman Conquest and is home to a church dating from 1500. The ward voted Conservative by a modest margin in 2019, the field being rounded off by a number of poorly scoring independents.
Prediction: Lib Dems may be able to take the ward on a good night.
I believe that's all of the Dorset Council wards for the western part of the county done, town council profiles for the area will be next before moving onto the north, which is the final area to be done. Additionally, the relevant profiles have now been updated to reflect the recent by elections.
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peterl
Green
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Post by peterl on Feb 7, 2024 2:47:56 GMT
Dorchester Town Council
Dorchester East 5 seats
2019 result: Lib Dem 1,061/900/769/736/684, Ind 479, Lab 356/328/265, Con 355/351
Elected councillors: Tim Harries, Stella Jones, Fiona Elizabeth Kent-Ledger, Tony Lyall, Rory Major
By Election July 2023: Lib Dem 480, Green 240, Ind 181, Con 168, Lab 142 Lib Dem Hold
Elected councillor: Katharine Reid
Dorchester North 4 seats
2019 result: Ind 858, Lib Dem 696/694/608, Con 230/208
Elected councillors: Alistair Chisholm, Andy Canning, David Taylor, Sue Biles
Dorchester Poundbury 4 seats
2019 result: Lib Dem 665/570/559/547, Con 518, Ind 491/419, Lab 121
Elected councillors: David Leaper, Richard Biggs, Frances Hogwood, Susie Hosford
Dorchester South 3 seats
2019 result: Lib Dem 919/791/716, Con 304/258, Lab 172
Elected councillors: Molly Rennie, Robin Potter, Gareth Jones
Dorchester West 4 seats
2019 result: Ind 836, Lib Dem 883/658/612/609, Con 410, Lab 283/267/210
Elected councillors: Les Fry, Janet Hewitt, Barry Armstrong-Marshall, Ralph Ricardo
Total Composition: Lib Dems 18, Independents 2
Dorchester Town Council is strongly Lib Dem dominated but was under contested in 2019, with Labour only approaching a full slate in 2 wards and the Tories only running 1-2 per ward, as well as very few independents. A greater effort by the other parties to find candidates might lead to some quite different results.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Post by peterl on Feb 9, 2024 3:22:54 GMT
Sherborne Town Council
Sherborne East 6 seats
2019 result: Lib Dem 1,089/954, Care for and enjoyment of environment 720, Con 647/641/575/501
Elected councillors: Jon Andrews, Robin Legg, Susan Greene, Juliet Pentolfe, James Carey, Vaughan Matthews
Sherborne West 6 seats
2019 result: Lib Dem 870/791/709/601, Ind 567, Con 539/529/489/456
Elected councillors: Matt Hall, Anne Hall, Margaret Crossman, Bill Taylor, Jane Carling, Jill Warburton
By Election Dec 2022: Lib Dem 453/370, Ind 268 2 x Lib Dem Hold
By Election June 2023: Lib Dem 559, Con 489, Lab 81 Lib Dem Hold
Total Composition: Lib Dem 6, Con 4, Ind 1, Care for and enjoyment of environment 1
Lib Dem dominance of Sherborne was somewhat undermined by their undzernomination especially in the East ward in 2019. With sufficient candidates, they would probably approach a clean sweep.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Post by peterl on Feb 9, 2024 3:40:56 GMT
Lyme Regis Town Council
The 2019 election saw 16 candidates standing for 14 seats with most being independents. However, the 1 Labour candidate was elected. One of the successful independent candidates, Belinda, Bawden, is a member of the Green Party and was subsequently elected to Dorset Council in an April 2022 by election.
Aug 2019 By Election: Green 255, Ind 230, Ind 89, Ind 77 Green gain from Ind Feb 2020 By Election: Ind Hold Unopposed. May 2021 By Election: Ind 328, Green 317, Lib Dem 305, Ind 159 Ind Hold May 2022 By Election: Lyme Area Energy Champion 371, Ind 201 Ind Hold Apr 2023 By Election: Ind 250, Ind 181, Improving disabled Accessibility in Lyme Regis 80 Ind Hold
Total Composition: Independents 12, Green 1, Labour 1
Lyme Regis Town Council is known locally for its strife and discord and has seen substantial turnover with over a third of the councillors having changed hands since 2019. Lyme Regis shows potential for several parties with Labour and Green representation and the Lib Dems having only narrowly missed out in 2021. If the various parties can find the candidates to stand, this could make for an interesting election.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Post by peterl on Feb 10, 2024 1:27:01 GMT
Bridport Town CouncilBridport North9 seatsGreen 714/675, Lib Dem 566/522/519/489/474, Lab 405/391/385/382/374, Con 356/322/287/283, Ind 264 Bridport South9 seatsLib Dem Green 554/548, Lib Dem 490/481/438/390/382/367, Con 370/304/264/257/245, Lab 294/286/265/253/243 Total Composition: Lib Dem 11, Green 4, Lab 2, Con 1 There have remarkably been no by elections and as far as I am aware no need to co-opt replacement councillors during the past 5 years. Boundary ChangesThis year will see extensive boundary changes which will see the neighboring parishes of Bradpole, Allington and Bothenhampton and Walditch merge into Bridport. The new wards are: Allington and West Bridport 5 seats Bothenhampton and Walditch 3 seats Bradpole 5 seats Central Bridport 5 seats West Bay 2 seats A map showing the new boundaries can be found on the last page of this leaflet produced by Bridport Town Council.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 11, 2024 18:06:43 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 11, 2024 18:06:43 GMT
Incidentally another Lib Dem leaflet received here this week, this time with a more local focus, lists incumbent councillors David Bolwell and Sarah Williams plus Bridget Bolwell as the "Town Team", for which I think we can read this year's Dorset Council candidates, so a full slate for the LDs, no deal with the Greens.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Post by peterl on Feb 14, 2024 2:17:22 GMT
We now commence the northern part of Dorset, the final area in our electoral tour of the county...
Blandford "A faire Markett Towne, pleasantlie seated upon the River ... well inhabitted and of good Traffique." Thomas Gerard c.1630
2 seat ward.
2011 Census Population: 10,325 2021 Census Population: 10,359 2011-2021 Population Change: +0.30% Area: 1.35 Square Miles Population Density: 7,671 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 19.8%, 18-64 55.4%, 65 and Above 24.8% Percentage Born Abroad: 7.5% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 1.5% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Muslim 0.7% Gender: 51.5% Female, 48.5% Male
2019 result: Con 1,573/1,495, Lib Dem 774/761, Lab 509/362
Sitting councillors: Byron Quayle, Noc Lacey-Clarke
Background: Blandford Forum is one of the larger towns in the Dorset Council area and grew significantly between 2001 and 2011, but has had a stable population in the past decade. Blandford borders Cranborne Chase at its south western corner, Winterborne North to the south, and Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants to the north, east and west. Blandford grew as a market town in the medieval period. As a result of a fire, it was extensively rebuilt in Georgian times and consequently much of the architecture dates to this era. There is a significant military presence in the area, with the base of the Royal Signal Corps being situated in the town, who also host a military museum which is worth a visit. Politically whilst Blandford voted Conservative in 2019, the town has often elected Lib Dem councillors in the past and will certainly be a target this year. The town council is non-partisan.
Prediction: Possible Lib Dem gain on a good night.
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Dorset
Feb 14, 2024 9:54:37 GMT
Post by batman on Feb 14, 2024 9:54:37 GMT
I can't pretend to know Dorset well but would be surprised if the Tories managed to hold Blandford.
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iain
Lib Dem
Posts: 10,796
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Dorset
Feb 14, 2024 10:06:24 GMT
via mobile
Post by iain on Feb 14, 2024 10:06:24 GMT
I can't pretend to know Dorset well but would be surprised if the Tories managed to hold Blandford. It looks like we fell apart here ahead of the 2017 county elections, thus making the seats pretty safe for the Conservatives. No idea if we have recovered (or indeed been replaced).
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Dorset
Feb 14, 2024 13:34:29 GMT
Post by froome on Feb 14, 2024 13:34:29 GMT
I can't pretend to know Dorset well but would be surprised if the Tories managed to hold Blandford. I agree. I'm astounded to see the Tories have such a large majority here.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 19, 2024 0:20:50 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 19, 2024 0:20:50 GMT
Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants 1 seat ward
2011 Census Population: 4,859 2021 Census Population: 4,979 2011-2021 Population Change: +2.40% Area: 29.34 Square Miles Population Density: 170 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 24.4%, 18-64 47.5%, 65 and Above 28.1% Percentage Born Abroad: 7.4% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 1.1% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.7% Gender: 51.0% Female, 49.0% Male
2019 result: Con 854, Lib Dem 336, Lab 221
Sitting councillor: Sherry Jespersen
Background: Hill Forts and Tarrants is a long, thin ward bordering Cranborne Chase to the south east, Blandford to the south, Winterborne North to the south and south west, Blackmore Vale to the west, and Beacon to the north with a small section bordering Wiltshire. There are no large settlements in the ward. Some notable locations include Tarrant Hinton where the Great Dorset Steam Fair is held and Tarrant Gunville where a number of Iron Age round barrows have been found, both of these settlements being located towards the north east of the ward. The ward has a significantly higher percentage of residents born abroad than most of Dorset. The ward was won by the Conservatives by a reasonable majority at the last election. All parishes in the ward are non-partisan.
Prediction: Leans Conservative.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 19, 2024 1:29:11 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 19, 2024 1:29:11 GMT
Beacon Ward 1 seat ward
2011 Census Population: 5,151 2021 Census Population: 5,168 2011-2021 Population Change: +0.30% Area: 40.88 Square Miles Population Density: 126 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 17.1%, 18-64 53.0%, 65 and Above 30.0% Percentage Born Abroad: 9.2% Largest Non-White Group: Mixed 1.8% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 1.1% Gender: 52.1% Male, 47.9% Female
2019 result: Con 1,020, Lib Dem 423, Lab 142
Sitting councillor: Jane Somper
Background: Beacon is a reasonably large and quite sparsely populated ward bordering Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants to the south, Blackmore Vale to the south west, Sturminster Newton to the west, Stalbridge and Marnhull to the north west, Gillingham and Shaftesbury to the north and Wiltshire to the east. One of the more significant villages in the Beacon Ward is Iwerne Minster, located towards the south, built in the vicinity of an Iron Age settlement and the site of a number of archeological finds ranging from the Neolithic to the Roman periods. The ward is one of a number in the north eastern part of Dorset with a substantially higher population of residents born abroad than the average for the county. Beacon also has a significantly above average percentage of male residents. The ward voted Conservative by a fair majority in 2019. All parishes in the ward are non-partisan.
Prediction: Leans Conservative
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peterl
Green
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Post by peterl on Feb 19, 2024 1:58:53 GMT
Shaftesbury Town 2 seat ward
"The city has had many names. It was, in the beginning, Caer Palladour. By the time of the Domesday Book it was Sceptesberie. It then, with all the affectation of a lady in an eighteenth-century lyric, called itself Sophonia. Lastly it became Shaston, and so the people call it to this day, while all the milestones around concern themselves only with recording the distances to "Shaston"." Sir Frederick Treves
2011 Census Population: 7,314 2021 Census Population: 9,160 2011-2021 Population Change: +23.0% Area: 1.74 Square Miles Population Density: 5,276 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 20.8%, 18-64 55.7%, 65 and Above 23.6% Percentage Born Abroad: 8.5% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 1.4% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Buddhist 0.6% Gender: 51.5% Female, 48.5% Male
2019 result: Lib Dem 1,177/682, Con 480/381, Ind 360/273/147, UKIP 250/233, Lab 213/145
Sitting councillors: Derek Leslie Beer, Tim Cook
Background: Shaftesbury is one of the larger towns in the northern part of Dorset. It borders Beacon to the south and west, Wiltshire to the east, and Gillingham to the north. The town goes back to at least Anglo-Saxon times, and if Sir Frederick Treves's 1906 travel book is correct, perhaps pre-dates Roman Britain. Shaftesbury Abbey, now a ruin, once housed the relics of Edward the Martyr, and was a major pilgrimage destination in the medieval era. The town was also the location of the death of King Canute in 1035. In the modern era, the town's main claim to fame came from a 1970 commercial promoting Hovis Bread, an early project of the now famous director Ridley Scott. The town is represented by two Lib Dem councillors, with Derek Beer achieving a far higher vote in 2019 which might be accounted for by Beer's involvement in various local groups such as sports clubs and accessible transport providers over the years (per Companies House). Tim Cook works in the same sector as his more famous name-sake, as an IT consultant amongst other jobs as a musician, photographer and silversmith. The Town Council is largely non-partisan. There were at one point some UKIP councillors, all of whom lost their seats in 2019.
Prediction: Solid Lib Dem Hold.
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peterl
Green
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Posts: 8,256
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Dorset
Feb 20, 2024 2:53:34 GMT
Post by peterl on Feb 20, 2024 2:53:34 GMT
Gillingham 3 seat ward
2011 Census Population: 15,764 2021 Census Population: 15,528 2011-2021 Population Change: -1.50% Area: 34.77 Square Miles Population Density: 447 Per Square Mile Population by Age: Under 18 18.2%, 18-64 53.5%, 65 and Above 28.2% Percentage Born Abroad: 7.1% Largest Non-White Group: Asian 0.9% Largest Non-Christian Religion: Other 0.5% Gender: 52.1% Female, 47.9% Male
2019 result: Con 1,799/1,682/1,626, Lib Dem 1,245/958/765, Ind 853, UKIP 582/533/497, Lab 433/415/322
Sitting councillors: Belinda Ridout, Valerie Rose Pothecary, David Walsh
Background: Gillingham is one of the largest towns in the Dorset Council area and is located at the northern extreme of the county, bordering Wiltshire to the north, east and west and the Shaftesbury Town and Beacon wards to the south. In common with a number of wards in the north eastern corner of Dorset, the population born abroad is significantly higher than the county average and unusually the population has dropped slightly in recent years. The town is one of a number in Dorset with some signs of Roman occupation, but with the town in a recognisable form established during the Anglo-Saxon era. Gillingham was noted in the medieval period as the location of a royal hunting lodge frequented by Kings Henry I, II and III and King John. The town's less distant history has seen the artist John Constable produce several painting and sketches whilst staying in Gillingham in the 1820s. The town is currently represented by three Conservative councillors, although the Lib Dems have won councillors in Gillingham in the not-to-distant past. The town council is non-partisan.
Prediction: I would consider Gillingham a stretch target for the Lib Dems. They stand a good chance of winning at least 1 seat, with more being possible on a good night.
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