Wychavon ward

Refuse and litter disposal and youth matters are the issues that the Labour party in Wychavon is concentrating on according to party leader Roy Seabourne.

He said: "Refuse disposal and recycling will be important. We aren't doing too badly as a council but it's an uphill task. We have got to do some fairly dramatic things."

On youth matters, he said the party would support very strongly the provision of more youth facilities after some in the district had disappeared.

Mr Seabourne, who is standing for Droitwich's West ward, also believes promoting safer communities and investing in the district's parks and open spaces will be important to Wychavon people.

He said: "I believe we should look seriously at providing partnership money for community support officers as they've been a great success."

He would also support the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders which he believed had worked well.

MARGARET ROWLEY - Liberal DemocratsWaste recycling and affordable housing are the issues picked out by the leader of the Liberal Democrats group in Wychavon.

Councillor Margaret Rowley said: "Wychavon still has a long way to go to match other Councils in its performance on waste recycling. We propose increasing the collection of recyclables to 100 per cent of households and the introduction of community composting schemes."

Mrs Rowley also said affordable housing would be one of the key concerns facing Wychavon residents.

She said: "There are 4,500 local people on the housing waiting list. The Liberal Democrats would stop using the council's capital to build supermarkets (as has happened in Droitwich with Waitrose) and use it for affordable housing for local people. We also aim to make the council more responsive to local need while providing value for money." Mrs Rowley is standing in the Bowbrook ward.

MARTIN JENNINGS - ConservativeTory candidates will be reminding voters of the Conservative-led council's record, according to Conservative leader Martin Jennings.

He said: "We will lead on our record over the past eight years during which we have kept council tax increases down to 2.5 per cent."

Mr Jennings also said people would see initiatives like building a supermarket in Droitwich and leasing it to Waitrose had been a great success and said the party would also be supporting ambitious developments to Evesham's leisure centre.

He believes the environment is important to people and said parks around the district in Pershore and Droitwich would improve. He welcomed opportunities that would be offered to Droitwich people when the Lido opened and the canal restoration project got under way and said, in Evesham, the party would support the new High Street development as it got going. Mr Jennings is the council leader but will not stand again at this election.

PETER QUICK - UKIP spokesmanOlder people in Wychavon will be the focus for the UK Independence Party during this election according to the party's spokesman Peter Quick.

He said the UKIP candidate would be primarily looking for ways to help develop respect for older people as well as concentrating on the issues that worried them, like noise problems and vandalism.

He said the party was also committed to fostering small business and economic growth and protecting the environment.

Mr Quick said UKIP wanted a return to community policing in Wychavon and was keen on referendums on local issues.

He said: "People should be involved with these things and we believe they would rather pay for a referendum so they know exactly what they are getting.

"So often once a councillor has been elected they don't do as you have asked." He also said the party was against unelected assemblies such as the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

DAVE SHAW - Greens spokesmanSustainable issues such as recycling and waste management are the topics the Green party will be concentrating on according to spokesman Dave Shaw.

He said: "Our economic policy is drastically different from the other parties. They talk about sustainability but they don't understand what it is."

According to Mr Shaw, who is standing for Pershore ward, the party will promote recycling and the use of public transport in Wychavon as well as supporting more composting initiatives.

He also says, if elected, Green candidates would work towards ensuring that Wychavon land was managed in a sustainable way.

He added: "We also have concerns about waste management and in particular the proposals for the new recycling plant at Norton.

"The frustrating thing is the technology exists to process waste in a meaningful way to result in minimal aerial pollution and a useful end product. Norton plans will see too many lorry movements."

DANNY CASEY - IndependentAs an independent candidate, Danny Casey said, if elected, he would address issues put forward by those living in the Pershore ward instead of toeing a party line.

He thinks people who need homes are being wrongly turned away.

KENNETH ROWE - No partyKenneth Rowe, who does not represent any party, says affordable housing, the roads and composting are all important issues.

Mr Rowe, who is standing for Pershore ward, believes extra housing will have to be built.

STEPHEN SELBY - IndependentIndependent candidate Stephen Selby is standing for Bengeworth ward and said he thought people were disappointed councillors had not kept promises made at the last election. He would like to see Evesham's leisure centre improved.ANN GOPSILL - IndependentAnn Gopsill, who is standing as an Independent candidate for Droitwich's South East ward, said she was fed up with those in Government making decisions for Wychavon people. She said: " I think making it no smoking everywhere is disgusting."PAUL RENCHER - IndependentEvesham has become a poor relation of the three towns in the Wychavon area according to independent candidate Paul Rencher. The 49-year-old market trader and former translator, is currently a town councillor and is standing in Evesham North ward.JANE DANIELS - No partyBringing a full display of Christmas lights back to Pershore is the main aim of Jane Daniels who is not representing any party and standing for Pershore ward.

She said: "I will fight to find a way to restore the beautiful coloured strings of lights."

KEITH SINCLAIR - No partyThe traffic problem in Badsey and Bretforton is the main issue driving Keith Sinclair's campaign. He said the number of heavy lorries travelling through the area to get to the Honeybourne Airfield was causing a real disruption to residents' lives.WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY?There are 106 polling stations in Wychavon and these include village halls, community rooms, schools, mobile units, a play barn, pubs and a conservatory.

Each station is open from 7am to 10pm and must be staffed by a presiding officer and at least one poll clerk.

Enough ballot papers are printed to enable everyone in the district to vote.

As soon as the polls close, the verification of votes will take place. Polling officials will check the number of ballot papers in a box does not exceed the number of ballot papers issued at the polling station. The votes will then go into mixer boxes.

At the same time, postal votes received during polling day will be opened. Under new regulations, officials have to cross-match the voters' signature and date of birth with those held on the council's database by scanning each vote into a computer.

Once the verification and postal vote counting is completed, the ballot papers and the hall will be secured and the area patrolled by security men.

THE COUNTThe extra checks implemented into the postal vote system are expected to slow down the election process so the count has been delayed until 9.30am on Friday, May 4.

There will be 12 counts taking place simultaneously with district council wards taking precedence over parish council wards which are up for election on the same day.

The wards will be counted in alphabetical order and all results will be announced as soon as they are available.

Once the ballot boxes are packed away, the election will have cost somewhere in the region of £150,000.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?There will be no election suspense for the Wychavon village of Pinvin this year. Liberal Democrat Liz Tucker is the only person to have been nominated for election and has already been declared the ward's new councillor.

However, in the district's 31 other wards, the contest is well and truly on, with 96 candidates vying for the hearts of voters and a chance to occupy one of the council's remaining 44 seats.

They do not have long to wait. On Thursday, May 3, the people will decide. How many of them will choose to vote remains to be seen.

Last time, only 38 per cent of the district's residents turned out. Following that election, the council was formed from 31 Conservatives, 12 Liberal Democrats and two Labour members.

Meanwhile, the following councillors have chosen to step down: Council Leader Martin Jennings, Bengeworth ward.

Malcolm Meikle, Fladbury ward.

Eileen Hope, Droitwich South East ward.

Elizabeth Tucker, Upton Snodsbury ward.

Malcolm Argyll, Pinvin ward.

Andrew Christian-Brookes, Lovett and North Claines ward.

Peter Wright, Eckington ward.

George Bourne, Bretforton and Offenham ward.

David Noyes, Broadway and Wickhamford ward.

Terry Spencer, Droitwich South West ward.

In Wychavon, four people are standing as Independent candidates and five have said they belong to no party or group at all.

They were also invited to put forward their views.

Christopher Parsons, who is representing no party, is standing for Pershore ward and Independent Richard Lasota, who is standing for The Littletons ward, were not available at the time of going to press.

WHO IS STANDING FOR ELECTION IN WYCHAVON DISTRICT COUNCIL?Badsey Seats: 1 Sonya Ealey: Lib Dem (current) Reginald Jakeman: Cons Keith Sinclair Bengeworth Seats: 2 Emma Stokes: Cons, (current) Jilian Haycock: Lib Dem Martin King: Cons Stephen Selby: Ind Bowbrook Seats: 1 Margaret Rowley: Lib Dem (current) Christopher Hartwright: Cons Bredon Seats: 1 Adrian Hardman: Cons (current) Matthew Darby: Lib Dem Bretforton and Offenham Seats: 1 Jim Bulman: Cons Keith Wright: Lib Dem Broadway and Wickhamford Seats: 2 Liz Eyre: Cons David Folkes: Cons Carolyn Harford: Lib Dem Dodderhill Seats: 1 Peter Evans: Lib Dem Judy Pearce: Cons (current) Drakes Broughton Seats: 1 Meldie Carlton Smith: Labour Paul Middleborough: Cons (current) Droitwich Central Seats: 1 Eve Freer: Labour Graham Gopsill: Lib Dem (current) David Morris: Cons Droitwich East Seats: 2 Mike Barratt: Cons (current) Pam Davey: Cons (current) Sheila Neary: Labour Peter Pinfield: Labour Ian Wild: Lib Dem Droitwich South East Seats: 2 Ann Gopsill: Independent Don Lawley: Cons (current) Richard Morris: Cons Stephanie Vale: Lib Dem Droitwich South West Seats: 2 Robert Burkett: Green Wendy Carter: Lib Dem Janet Clarke: Lib Dem Yuleen Jewell: Cons Maureen Lawley: Cons (current) Droitwich West Seats: 2 Lynne Duffy: Cons Laurie Evans: Cons Roy Seabourne: Labour (current) John Wrenn: Labour (current) Eckington Seats: 1 Ron Davis: Cons Brenda Sheridan: Lib Dem Elmley Castle and Somerville Seats: 1 Anna Mackison: Cons (current) Garth Raymer: Lib Dem Evesham North Seats: 2 Jeffrey Butler: Lib Dem Roma Kirke: Cons (current) Paul Rencher Jo Sandalls: Cons (current) Evesham South Seats: 2 Bob Banks: Cons (current) Ronald Cartwright: Cons (current) John Wright: UKIP Barbara Woodthorpe Browne: Lib Dem Fladbury Seats: 1 Diana Brown: Lib Dem Tom McDonald: Cons Great Hampton Seats: 1 Carol Kershaw: Lib Dem John Smith: Cons (current) Hartlebury Seats: 1 Muriel Matthews: Cons (current) Martin Moran: Lib Dem Harvington and Norton Seats: 1 Clive Holt: Cons (current) Helen Martin: Lib Dems Honeybourne and Pebworth Seats: 1 Thomas Bean: Lib Dem (current) Patrick Haycock: Cons Inkberrow Seats: 2 Susan Hayman: Labour David Lee: Cons (current) Audrey Steel: Cons (current) Helen Wilkes: Lib Dem Little Hampton Seats: 2 Andrew Dyke: Cons (current) Wendy Dyke: Cons John Payne: Lib Dem (current) Lovett and North Claines Seats: 2 Christopher Barton: Labour Paul Coley: Cons (current) Alan Fisher: Cons Janet Saunders: Lib Dem Norton and Whittington Seats: 1 Rob Adams: Cons (current) Hal Arksey: Lib Dem Ombersley Seats: 1 Jean Dowty: Cons (current) Joe Moran: Lib Dem Pershore Seats: 3 Gaynor Amphlett: Lib Dem (current) Danny Casey: Independent Jane Daniels John Grantham: Lib Dem (current) Suzanne Marler: Cons Christopher Parsons Kenneth Rowe David Shaw: Green Raymond Steadman: Cons Charles Tucker: Lib Dem (current) Val Wood: Cons Pinvin Seats: 1 No contest Liz Tucker, Lib Dem, is the only candidate to stand and has been elected unopposed South Bredon Hill Seats: 1 Adrian Darby: Lib Dem (current) Beverley Hardman: Cons The Littletons Seats: 1 Alan Anderson: Lib Dem Richard Lasota: Independent Mary Smith: Cons (current) Upton Snodsbury Seats: 1 Mark Broughton-Taylor: Lib Dem Linda Robinson: Cons