The 2026 Three Rivers District Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day. It elected 13 of 39 members of Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire, England.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, run by a Liberal Democrat minority administration. The Conservatives won the majority of the seats contested at this election, but the Liberal Democrats remained the largest party on the council and continued to form a minority administration after the election.
Conservatives gained Abbots Langley and Bedmond (which they had won in two by-elections) from the Liberal Democrats, defeated the (Liberal Democrat) Deputy Leader of the council in Penn and Mill End, and defeated the (Labour) Chairman of the council in South Oxhey. They also regained Carpenders Park from an independent who had been elected as a Conservative but was backed by the Liberal Democrats.
Summary
Background
In 2024, the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council.
However, the council was in no overall control after the Conservatives subsequently won two by-elections in the previously safe Liberal Democrat ward of Abbots Langley and Bedmond. As a result, the Liberal Democrats relied on support from Labour, Greens and former Conservative councillor Rue Grewal.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 21 19 12 11 3 3 3 3 0 3
Changes 2024–2026: May 2024: David Raw (Conservative, Rickmansworth Town) resigns – by-election held July 2024 Ian Morris (Conservative, Carpenders Park) leaves party to sit as an independent July 2024: Mike Sims (Conservative) wins by-election in Rickmansworth Town Matthew Bedford (Liberal Democrats, Abbots Langley and Bedmond) resigns – by-election held August 2024 Sara Bedford (Liberal Democrats, Abbots Langley and Bedmond) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2024: Vicky Edwards (Conservative) gains by-election in Abbots Langley and Bedmond from Liberal Democrats January 2025: Sara Bedford (Independent, Abbots Langley and Bedmond) resigns – by-election held March 2025 February 2025: Rue Grewal (Conservative, Carpenders Park) leaves party to sit as an independent March 2025: Ian Campbell (Conservative) gains by-election in Abbots Langley and Bedmond from Liberal Democrats Jonathon Solomons (Liberal Democrats, Durrants) resigns – by-election held May 2025 May 2025: Paul Rainbow (Liberal Democrats) wins by-election in Durrants October 2025: Mike Sims (Conservative, Rickmansworth Town) leaves party to sit as independents
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent CouncillorParty Re-standing Abbots Langley & Bedmond Ian Campbell Conservative Yes Carpenders Park Rue Grewal Independent Yes Chorleywood North &Sarratt Philip Hearn Conservative Yes Chorleywood South &Maple Cross Louise Price Liberal Democrats Yes Dickinsons Chris Mitchell Green Yes Durrants Steve Drury Liberal Democrats Yes Gade Valley Khalid Hussain Liberal Democrats No Leavesden Kevin Raeburn Liberal Democrats Yes Moor Park & Eastbury Abbas Merali Conservative No Oxhey Hall & Hayling Anne Winter Liberal Democrats No Penn & Mill End Sarah Nelmes Liberal Democrats Yes Rickmansworth Town Andrea Fraser Conservative Yes South Oxhey Stephen King Labour Yes
Ward results
Abbots Langley & Bedmond
Carpenders Park
The Liberal Democrats declined to stand a candidate, instead endorsing Rue Grewal, the incumbent Independent councillor.
Chorleywood North & Sarratt
Chorleywood South & Maple Cross
Dickinsons
Durrants
Gade Valley
Leavesden
Moor Park & Eastbury
Oxhey Hall & Hayling
Penn & Mill End
Rickmansworth Town
South Oxhey
References