Before (end of 1986) (33 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 25 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 6 · Conservative 2 · Labour 0
After (end of 1987) (33 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 24 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 8 · Conservative 1 · Labour 0
Ward results
Abbey2 seats · turnout 49.4%
| M. Miller | Independent | 865 |
| J. Tory | Independent | 830 |
| C. Phipps | Lib/Sdp | 221 |
| M. Key | Lib/Sdp | 210 |
| J. Hanley | Labour | 75 |
Blackmore2 seats · turnout 49.3%
| B. Clarke | Independent | 605 |
| I. Owen | Lib/Sdp | 506 |
| V. Ford | Independent | 426 |
| K. Crew | Lib/Sdp | 397 |
| A. Jeans | Independent | 395 |
| P. Chidgey | Labour | 56 |
Bourton & District1 seat · turnout 50.4%
| G. Miller | Independent | 495 |
| P. White | Lib/Sdp | 128 |
Bulbarrow1 seat · turnout 53.4%
| B. Trowbridge | Independent | 261 |
| A. Calcott | Independent | 183 |
| F. Hendry | Labour | 12 |
Hill Forts2 seats · turnout 53.2%
| P. Bailey | Independent | 864 |
| M. Kay | Independent | 819 |
| A. Fry | Lib/Sdp | 357 |
| J. Shave | Lib/Sdp | 327 |
| M. Macdonald | Labour | 67 |
Hills & Vales1 seat · turnout 69.6%
| G. Tapper | Lib/Sdp | 465 |
| I. Campbell | Conservative | 392 |
| C. Phillips | Labour | 13 |
Lydden Vale1 seat · turnout 50.9%
| J. Ellis | Independent | 333 |
| P. Lee | Lib/Sdp | 109 |
| J. Luckett | Labour | 18 |
Motcombe & Ham1 seat · turnout 47.5%
| G. Hine | Independent | 312 |
| M. Case | Lib/Sdp | 233 |
Riversdale1 seat · turnout 53.0%
| D. Tory | Independent | 343 |
| M. Roper | Lib/Sdp | 183 |
| G. White | Labour | 48 |
Shaftesbury Central1 seat · turnout 49.0%
| R. Robinson | Lib/Sdp | 347 |
| A. Proctor | Independent | 160 |
| D. Wardleworth | Labour | 27 |
Shaftesbury Christy1 seat · turnout 56.4%
| E. Manley | Lib/Sdp | 405 |
| J. Ashton-Johnson | Ind Con | 152 |
The Beacon1 seat · turnout 51.9%
| B. Harris | Conservative | 351 |
| S. Asman | Lib/Sdp | 164 |
| L. Adorian | Labour | 13 |
The Lower Tarrants1 seat · turnout 34.1%
| M. Cossins | Independent | 403 |
| K. Baker | Labour | 56 |
Wyke1 seat · turnout 46.2%
| M. Rose | Independent | 333 |
| E. Bullock | Lib/Sdp | 309 |