Before (end of 1986) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 29 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 3 · Conservative 3 · Labour 1
After (end of 1987) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 23 · Conservative 8 · Labour 3 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 2
Ward results
Appledore East1 seat · turnout 57.9%
| N. Sharrock | Independent | 248 |
| P. Waters | Independent | 223 |
| D. Rowe | Labour | 85 |
Appledore West1 seat
| P. Ford | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Bideford East3 seats · turnout 25.8%
| P. Paddon | Independent | 699 |
| F. Bailey | Independent | 443 |
| B. Shugar | Conservative | 419 |
| B. Goffrey | Independent | 328 |
| E. Brenton | Labour | 212 |
| C. Pettifer | Labour | 186 |
Bideford North3 seats · turnout 35.6%
| I. Giddy | Conservative | 725 |
| T. Langdon | Conservative | 593 |
| C. Metherell | Independent | 555 |
| P. Christie | Green | 545 |
| K. Le Croisette | Lib/Sdp | 429 |
| H. Barton | Green | 242 |
| A. Seaford | Green | 235 |
| T. Kivlin | Labour | 215 |
| G. Dark | Labour | 185 |
Bideford South3 seats
| M. Lane | Lib/Sdp | 0 ✓ |
| J. Fletcher-Cullum | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
| D. Brenton | Labour | 0 ✓ |
Broadheath1 seat · turnout 54.2%
| K. Shopland | Independent | 386 |
| J. Williams | Conservative | 111 |
| J. Hayday | Labour | 25 |
Clovelly Bay1 seat
| T. Dark | Labour | 0 ✓ |
Coham Bridge1 seat
| M. Dart | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Forest1 seat · turnout 51.9%
| F. Howard | Conservative | 285 |
| A. Gilbert | Independent | 234 |
| A. Wade | Labour | 44 |
Great Wood1 seat · turnout 34.4%
| C. Simmons | Independent | 270 |
| W. Burton | Labour | 53 |
Hartland Point1 seat
| W Pillman | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Heanton1 seat
| J. Walters | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Holsworthy2 seats · turnout 44.6%
| W. Trace | Independent | 777 |
| H. Broad | Conservative | 541 |
| D. Beeley | Independent | 415 |
| K. Muncey | Labour | 100 |
Morice1 seat
| T. Sillifant | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Northam Central1 seat
| R. Bradford | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Northam North1 seat · turnout 38.3%
| P. Rice | Labour | 247 |
| P. Hodder | Independent | 175 |
Northam West1 seat
| K. Evers | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Orchard Hill1 seat
| P. Biggs | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
Stafford1 seat
| S. Hiscock | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Tamarside1 seat · turnout 53.1%
| R. Braine | Independent | 324 |
| Broadhurst R. | Conservative | 156 |
| P. Addy | Labour | 29 |
Torrington3 seats
| C. Quick | Independent | 0 ✓ |
| P. Price | Lib/Sdp | 0 ✓ |
| M. Street | Independent | 0 ✓ |
Westward Ho!1 seat · turnout 40.4%
| A. Smith | Conservative | 351 ✓ |
| L. Dark | Labour | 130 |
