Torridge Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South West · 36 seats in 16 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Torridge Council is run by an Independent / Liberal Democrats coalition. The council has 36 councillors in 16 wards. Seats by party: Other 13, Lib Dem 12, Conservative 5, Green 4, Labour 2. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Independent / Liberal Democrats Coalition

36 seats - 19 for a majority

Labour 2Conservative 5Lib Dem 12Green 4Other 13

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Lib Dem +4 Conservative −1 Other −3

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (36 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Other42.1%16

Lib Dem19.4%8

Conservative18.1%6

Green12.8%4

Labour7.5%2

Next election

6 May 2027

all 36 seats up, then every four years

Largest group

Independents and others 13

6 short of the 19 needed for a majority

Closest result

Bideford South

Independent won the last seat by 1 vote over Labour, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Winkleigh

Lib Dem gain from Conservative, 4 December 2025 (4 since 2021)

Constituencies

1 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

61%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemGreenIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 16 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Appledore Peter Hames, Kerry O'Rourke	4 May 2023 Independent 45.3% lead 0.8 pts
Bideford East Jude Gubb, Huw Thomas, James Craigie	4 May 2023 Independent 21.2% lead 3.1 pts
Bideford North Teresa Tinsley, Trevor Johns, Doug Bushby	4 May 2023 Green 30.5% lead 12.4 pts
Bideford South David Brenton, Simon Inch	4 May 2023 Labour 28.0% lead 5.3 pts
Bideford West Carl Hawkins, Annie Brenton	4 May 2023 Independent 22.3% lead 0.2 pts
Broadheath Philip Hackett, Stephen Gibson	4 May 2023 Independent 38.8% lead 6.9 pts
Great Torrington Doug Smith, Chris Bright, Lauren Bright	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 39.8% lead 22.5 pts
Hartland Anna Dart, Shirleyann Andrews, Stephen Harding	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 29.4% lead 0.3 pts
Holsworthy Peter Shepherd, Lyndon Piper	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 46.4% lead 7.0 pts
Milton & Tamarside Nigel Kenneally, Ken James	4 May 2023 Independent 37.0% lead 7.6 pts
Monkleigh & Putford Robert Hicks, Philip Pennington	4 May 2023 Independent 26.9% lead 1.4 pts
Northam Chris Leather, Wendy Lo-Vel, Jane Whittaker	4 May 2023 Independent 20.7% lead 4.4 pts
Shebbear & Langtree Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Chris Wheatley	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 62.3% lead 24.6 pts
Two Rivers & Three Moors Thomas Elliott, Rosemary Lock	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.7% lead 10.2 pts
Westward Ho! Claire Hodson, Louis Bach	4 May 2023 Independent 27.9% lead 9.1 pts
Winkleigh Stephen Middleton	4 May 2023 Conservative 48.6% lead 15.0 pts

Appledore

Kerry O'Rourke Lib DemPeter Hames Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent45.3%

Green44.5%

UKIP10.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Leonard Spencer Ford Elected	Independent	599
Peter Graham Hames Elected	Green	588
Nigel Andrew Johnson	UKIP	134

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 17 April 2025

Lib Dem40.8%

Conservative31.5%

Independent15.5%

Green12.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kerry Samantha O'Rourke Elected	Lib Dem	304	40.8%
Carrie Woodhouse	Conservative	235	31.5%
Nigel Andrew Johnson	Independent	116	15.5%
Keith Funnell	Green	91	12.2%

Bideford East

Huw Thomas GreenJames Craigie GreenJude Gubb Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent21.2%

Independent18.1%

Green17.9%

Labour14.6%

Independent14.3%

Conservative13.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jude Gubb Elected	Independent	459
James Andrew Craigie Elected	Independent	392
Huw Thomas Elected	Green	387
Jen Radford	Labour	316
Jamie McKenzie	Independent	309
Linda Joan Hellyer	Conservative	299
James Hellyer	Conservative	257
Oliver Clement Sherborne	Conservative	198

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bideford North

Doug Bushby IndependentTeresa Tinsley Lib DemTrevor Johns Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green30.5%

Lib Dem18.1%

Independent17.7%

Labour15.1%

Conservative15.1%

UKIP3.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter Stuart Christie Elected	Green	871
Trevor Johns Elected	Lib Dem	517
Doug Bushby Elected	Independent	505
Nick Radford	Labour	432
Dermot McGeough	Conservative	431
Gaston Amedee Dezart	UKIP	97

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 2 May 2024

Lib Dem29.1%

Labour18.8%

Green18.6%

Conservative14.1%

Independent10.0%

Reform7.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Teresa Anne Tinsley Elected	Lib Dem	358	29.1%
Tom Hammett	Labour	231	18.8%
John Puddy	Green	229	18.6%
Morgan Daniel Taylor	Conservative	173	14.1%
Tony Inch	Independent	123	10.0%
Nigel Andrew Johnson	Reform	90	7.3%
Ruth Craigie	Independent	25	2.0%

Bideford South

David Brenton LabourSimon Inch Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour28.0%

Independent22.7%

Green18.8%

Independent18.3%

Britain First12.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
David George Brenton Elected	Labour	247
Simon George Inch Elected	Independent	200
Jake McLean	Labour	199
Simon Mathers	Green	166
Peter James Lawrence	Independent	162
Philip Richard George Green	Britain First	108
Anne Maria Townsend	Britain First	96

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bideford West

Annie Brenton LabourCarl Hawkins Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent22.3%

Labour22.1%

Independent21.2%

Independent19.2%

Conservative15.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Carl Jason Hawkins Elected	Independent	187
Anne Brenton Elected	Labour	186
Shirley Langford	Independent	178
Tony Inch	Independent	161
Jason Murdoch	Conservative	128
Morgan Daniel Taylor	Conservative	108

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Broadheath

Philip Hackett IndependentStephen Gibson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent38.8%

Conservative31.9%

Lib Dem29.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Philip John Warden Hackett Elected	Independent	547
Stephen Ralph Gibson Elected	Conservative	449
Sherrie Green	Lib Dem	412
Graeme John Barriball	Conservative	380

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Great Torrington

Chris Bright Lib DemDoug Smith Lib DemLauren Bright Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem39.8%

Independent17.3%

Conservative16.9%

Green13.8%

Labour12.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Bright Elected	Lib Dem	751
Lauren Mary Bright Elected	Lib Dem	588
Doug Smith Elected	Lib Dem	553
Margaret Brown	Independent	327
Roger Darch	Conservative	318
Keith Funnell	Green	261
Penelope Aine Hewitt	Labour	230
Helen Wilton-Love	Conservative	214

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hartland

Anna Dart IndependentShirleyann Andrews Lib DemStephen Harding Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem29.4%

Independent29.1%

Conservative24.6%

Independent16.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Shirleyann Andrews Elected	Lib Dem	763
Anna Dart Elected	Independent	755
Stephen John Harding Elected	Conservative	640
Richard Boughton	Conservative	567
Robin Julian	Independent	439

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Holsworthy

Lyndon Piper Lib DemPeter Shepherd Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem46.4%

Independent39.4%

Conservative14.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lyndon James Piper Elected	Lib Dem	541
Pete Shepherd Elected	Independent	460
Emma Hosie	Lib Dem	255
Diana Michelle Stevens	Conservative	166
Melanie Jayne Dymond	Conservative	142

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Milton & Tamarside

Ken James IndependentNigel Kenneally Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent37.0%

Independent29.4%

Green21.0%

Labour12.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ken James Elected	Independent	659
Kit Hepple Elected	Independent	524
Tracey Elizabeth Beresford	Green	374
Tony Ronald Barrett	Labour	225

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 23 October 2025

Lib Dem37.5%

Reform31.1%

Conservative16.7%

Independent8.8%

Green5.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nigel John Evan Kenneally Elected	Lib Dem	428	37.5%
John Watson	Reform	355	31.1%
Evan Herbert Williams	Conservative	191	16.7%
Mark Nicholas Marriott	Independent	101	8.8%
Tracey Elizabeth Beresford	Green	67	5.9%

Monkleigh & Putford

Philip Pennington IndependentRobert Hicks Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent26.9%

Independent25.5%

Green16.8%

Conservative16.1%

Labour14.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Phil Pennington Elected	Independent	567
Robert Henry Hicks Elected	Independent	537
Rosemary Gent	Green	355
Susan Collins	Conservative	339
Jim Lowe	Labour	312
Jeff Wilton-Love	Conservative	218

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Northam

Chris Leather IndependentJane Whittaker ConservativeWendy Lo-Vel Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent20.7%

Conservative16.3%

Green15.8%

Independent14.9%

Lib Dem14.5%

Independent9.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Leather Elected	Independent	674
Jane Whittaker Elected	Conservative	530
Wendy Lo-Vel Elected	Green	513
Joanne Louise Manley	Independent	485
Sam Newman-McKie	Lib Dem	471
Carrie Woodhouse	Conservative	334
John Himan	Independent	310
Hugh Richard Brading	Independent	268

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Shebbear & Langtree

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin Lib DemChris Wheatley Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem62.3%

Conservative37.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin Elected	Lib Dem	892
Christopher Charles Wheatley Elected	Lib Dem	700
David Hurley	Conservative	540
David Christopher Jupp	Conservative	348

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Two Rivers & Three Moors

Rosemary Lock ConservativeThomas Elliott Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative46.7%

Lib Dem36.5%

Independent16.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Rosemary Lock Elected	Conservative	609
Thomas John Elliott Elected	Conservative	513
Roger Carl Allen	Lib Dem	476
Claire Louise Davey-Potts	Lib Dem	452
Rachel Anne Clarke	Independent	220

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Westward Ho!

Claire Hodson IndependentLouis Bach Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent27.9%

Independent18.8%

Lib Dem15.6%

Independent13.7%

Independent13.6%

Conservative10.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Claire Charmian Hodson Elected	Independent	494
Louis Bach Elected	Independent	334
Bert Bruins	Lib Dem	277
Derek Sargent	Independent	243
Anmol Singh	Independent	241
Ken Hind	Conservative	183
Pat Ferguson	Conservative	175

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Winkleigh

Stephen Middleton Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative48.6%

Lib Dem33.6%

Labour17.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Simon Newton Elected	Conservative	343	48.6%
Stephen Thomas Middleton	Lib Dem	237	33.6%
Angela Findlay	Labour	126	17.8%

Last by-election, 4 December 2025

Lib Dem42.3%

Reform32.8%

Conservative24.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stephen Thomas Middleton Elected	Lib Dem	325	42.3%
Michael Graham Jarvis	Reform	252	32.8%
Benjamin Moses Roth	Conservative	191	24.9%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

1 councillor now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Bideford East	James Craigie	Independent 2023	Green

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

4 by-elections since July 2021, 4 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
4 December 2025	Winkleigh	Lib Dem gain from Conservative	42.0%
23 October 2025	Milton & Tamarside	Lib Dem gain from Independent	38.0%
17 April 2025	Appledore	Lib Dem gain from Independent	40.8%
9 May 2024	Bideford North	Lib Dem gain from Green	29.1%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Torridge and Tavistock	100%	Conservative	Conservative 32%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Torridge

68,118 residents in 30,463 households

Voted Leave in 2016

61% 9 above GB

Degree or higher

26% 8 below GB

No qualifications

19% 1 above GB

Own their home

70% 9 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

9% 8 below GB

Rent privately

20% same as GB

Aged 15 to 34

21% 10 below GB

Aged 65 and over

33% 11 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

Isle of WightReform UK (Minority)ArunLiberal Democrats / Labour / Green / Independent Coalition WyreConservative (Majority)East SuffolkGreen / Liberal Democrats / Independent Coalition North DevonLiberal Democrats (Majority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.