Eton and Castle

The Windsor Guildhall is designated as a polling station for the ward.

Eton and Castle is an electoral ward of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. As its name suggests, it comprises the town of Eton (which includes Eton College) and Windsor Castle. It is currently represented by George Fussey of the Liberal Democrats.^[1] Nationally, the ward forms part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor^[2] and is currently represented by Adam Afriyie of the Conservative Party.

As of 1 December 2011, there are 1,639 voters appearing on the electoral roll for the ward.

Geographical boundaries

Eton and Castle: in the front, Windsor Castle; behind it, Windsor & Eton Riverside station; further back, Windsor Bridge leading into the town of Eton

The A332 Windsor by-pass forms the western boundary of the ward with Eton Wick. The northwestern boundary of the ward cuts through the settlement of Willowbrook. The Jubilee River north of the Eton College playing fields forms the north eastern boundary of the ward with Chalvey. The eastern boundary of the ward meets Datchet. The southern and south eastern boundaries of the ward run along the River Thames and the external limits of Windsor Castle.

History

Prior to the 2003 Royal Borough elections, the town of Eton was part of the Eton North and South electoral ward.^[3] The part of the Eton and Castle ward which is south of the River Thames belonged to the Castle electoral ward before 2003.

For the 2003 Royal Borough elections, the new Eton and Castle electoral ward was created to replace the former Eton North and South and Castle electoral wards.^[4] The remaining area of the Castle ward not included in the newly created Eton and Castle ward was transferred to the new Castle Without ward for the 2003 elections.

Electorate

The number of registered voters (British, Irish, European Union and Commonwealth citizens aged 16 or over) appearing on the electoral roll published for the ward are as follows:

• May 2003: 1,759 electors^[5]
• 26 April 2007: 1,393 electors^[6]
• 2 July 2007: 1,416 electors^[7]
• 1 December 2009: 1,508 electors
• 1 December 2010: 1,525 electors
• 1 July 2011: 1,574 electors^[8]
• 1 December 2011: 1,639 electors ^[9]

The general population of the ward is estimated to be as follows:^[10]

• 2009: 3,141 residents

Polling stations

There are two polling stations within the ward – one inside the Eton Town Council office on Eton High Street and the other in the Windsor Guildhall.

Royal Borough representation

The one seat for the councillor representing the ward in the Royal Borough is determined by the first past the post system (the candidate who receives the plurality of the votes cast). Royal Borough elections are held every four years.

Past election results

Royal Borough by-election 11 August 2011 [11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	George Fussey	208	47.4*	+20.1*
	Conservative	Adam Demeter	182	41.5*	-22.6*
	Labour	George Davidson	32	7.3*	+0.4*
	UKIP	John-Paul Rye	17	3.9*	N/A
Majority			26	6.0*
Total formal votes			439	TBA	TBA
Informal votes			TBA	TBA	TBA
Turnout			TBA	27.9*#	-24.7*#
	Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative		Swing	21.6

* Not taking into account informal votes (the number of which has yet to be announced by the Returning Officer)
# Presuming that the electorate was 1,574 on polling day

Royal Borough election 5 May 2011 [12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Liam Maxwell	485	64.1	+11.5
	Liberal Democrat	George Fussey	207	27.3	-9.5
	Labour	George Davidson	52	6.9	-3.1
Majority			278	36.7	+20.9
Total formal votes			744	98.3	-1.1
Informal votes			13	1.7	+1.1
Turnout			757	52.6	+14.0

Royal Borough election 2007 [13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Liam Maxwell	283	52.6	+20.0
	Liberal Democrat	Richard Pratt	198	36.8	-19.2
	Labour	George Davidson	54	10.0	+2.6
Majority			85	15.8
Total formal votes			535	99.4	-0.2
Informal votes			3	0.6	+0.2
Turnout			538[14]	38.6	+8.9
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat		Swing

Royal Borough election 2003 [15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrat	Richard Pratt	309	56.0
	Conservative	Gwyn Collier	180	32.6
	Labour	Jennifer Ward	41	7.4
Majority			129	23.4
Total formal votes			530	99.6
Informal votes			2	0.4
Turnout			532[16]	29.7

National representation

Before 1983, the town of Eton was within the boundaries of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Eton and Slough. This was consistently held by the Labour Party from its creation in 1945 to its redistribution in 1983, except between 1964 and 1966 when it was briefly held by the Conservative Party.

Between 1983 and 1997, the whole of the ward was part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor and Maidenhead which was continually held by the Conservative Party during this period.

Since 1997, the ward has formed part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor.^[17] The seat has been held by Adam Afriyie of the Conservative Party since 2005.

However, the area south of the River Thames which forms the southern part of the ward has always been part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor (except between 1983 and 1997, when it was part of Windsor and Maidenhead).

See also

• Windsor and Maidenhead local elections
• Elections in the United Kingdom

References

1. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead: Eton and Castle Ward
2. The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007
3. UK Statutory Instrument 1980 No. 733
4. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (Electoral Changes) Order 2002
6. The figure of 1,393 voters cited on this webpage reflects the number of names appearing in revised Register of Electors following the publication of the notice of alteration to the register on 26 April 2007.
7. Current Polling District Names, Polling Stations, Electorate and Absent Voting Statistics
8. The figure of 1,574 voters cited in this press release (Four line up for Eton and Castle ward by-election) reflects the number of names appearing in the revised Register of Electors published on 1 July 2011.
12. Eton and Castle Ward – Election Results 2011
13. Declaration of Result of Poll for the Eton and Castle ward of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
14. Borough Election Results – May 2007 – Turnout Figures
15. Declaration of Result of Poll for the Clewer South ward of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
16. Borough Election Results – May 2003 – Turnout Figures
17. Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 1626