Before (end of 1996) (57 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 32 · Conservative 13 · Liberal Democrats 12 · Other 0
After (end of 1997) (57 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 32 · Conservative 13 · Liberal Democrats 12 · Other 0
Ward results
Preston Central East1 seat · turnout 64.8%
| V Patel | Labour | 3,839 ✓ |
| P. Pugh | Conservative | 1,263 |
| U Zinga | Liberal Democrats | 912 |
| V. Hatten | Nlp | 293 |
Preston Central West1 seat · turnout 67.4%
| Barry Johnson | Labour | 3,440 ✓ |
| K. Sedgewick | Conservative | 1,732 |
| M Moulding | Liberal Democrats | 1,467 |
Preston East1 seat · turnout 62.0%
| I. Short | Labour | 3,742 ✓ |
| M. Taylor | Conservative | 1,011 |
| A. Valentine | Liberal Democrats | 736 |
| A Bradley | Nlp | 74 |
Preston North1 seat · turnout 81.7%
| A. Hackett | Liberal Democrats | 3,543 ✓ |
| Balshaw P. | Conservative | 2,956 |
| A Campbell | Labour | 1,230 |
| K Davis | Nlp | 34 |
Preston Rural East1 seat · turnout 77.1%
| M Welsh | Conservative | 6,224 ✓ |
| M. Turner | Liberal Democrats | 3,493 |
| P Malliband | Labour | 2,990 |
| R Scott | Nlp | 97 |
Preston Rural West1 seat · turnout 71.4%
| W. Chadwick | Liberal Democrats | 4,117 ✓ |
| P. Hastings | Conservative | 2,192 |
| W. Dillon | Labour | 1,771 |
| P Madden | Nlp | 41 |
Preston South East1 seat · turnout 59.1%
| J. West | Labour | 3,567 ✓ |
| D. Hammond | Conservative | 851 |
| W. Gavin | Liberal Democrats | 740 |
| A Schenone | Nlp | 63 |
Preston South West1 seat · turnout 57.7%
| C Abbot | Labour | 4,058 ✓ |
| S. Brown | Conservative | 1,309 |
| R Zimny | Liberal Democrats | 1,303 |
| J Ashforth | Nlp | 204 |
Preston West1 seat · turnout 70.3%
| N. Ward | Labour | 3,733 ✓ |
| S. Halshaw | Conservative | 2,137 |
| J Whittle | Liberal Democrats | 1,768 |
| S Cohen | Nlp | 60 |