THE UPCOMING Stratford District Council elections will see around three quarters of current councillors stand again.
Following an electoral review by The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the number of seats on the council is set to be slashed from 53 to just 36.
Under the new boundaries, each ward will now be represented by a single member – where previously in some cases there were two or three – with elections being held every four years.
More than 150 people have put their hat in the ring to contest the 36 seats – 41 of whom are existing councillors looking to either win back their seat or stand in another ward on May 7.
Jennie Ellard, Alan Scorer, Gillian Roache, Revd Neville Beamer and John Horner are just some of those who have opted not to stand for re-election.
And current county council leader Izzi Seccombe has also taken the decision not to run again in the Ettington ward.
But her husband, Philip, who currently represents the Brailes ward, has put himself forward as the Conservative candidate for the seat.
One of the most hotly-anticipated battles will be for the new Shipston North seat where current council leader, Conservative Chris Saint will take on Labour’s Jeff Kenner, who is also vying to beat Nadhim Zahawi in the race to become Stratford’s MP.
Lib Dem councillor and current Mayor, Ian Fradgley will take on Conservative councillor, Lynda Organ in the Bridgetown seat while Tory candidate Anne Parry is set to square up against Lib Dem David Johnston for the Wellesbourne East ward.
Former Mayor Keith Lloyd will be lining up against Tory man Tony Jefferson for the new Welcombe seat and Stratford First Independent councillor Juliet Short will take on Conservative cabinet member Maurice Howse in a bid to scoop the Avenue seat.
Councillor Peter Oakley, who defected from the Tories at the beginning of the year, is one of 16 UKIP candidates vying to win a seat on the authority.
He is hoping to reclaim the Tanworth-in-Arden ward where he will face Tory candidate, George Atkinson.
The Green party has 24 candidates lined up for the election while both the Labour and Conservative party will be contesting every ward.
Visit www.stratford.gov.uk/council/elections.cfm for the full list of candidates.
