Door is open for new faces

MATTHEW REVILLE continues our election countdown with a look at the candidates and key issues in wards to be contested on Thursday May 3. For more visit www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/elections

THERE will be a smattering of new faces representing Huntingdonshire residents following Thursday’s district council elections.

The incumbent councillors in the Ramsey, Warboys and Bury, and Yaxley and Farcet wards whose seats are up for election this year have decided not to stand, leaving the door open for some fresh blood on Huntingdonshire District Council.

More history could be created in Ramsey this year as the UK Independence Party looks to take over the ward completely, with Conservative Philip Swales not seeking re-election.

The other two councillors holding seats in the Ramsey ward, Ian Curtis and Peter Reeve, are both UKIP councillors

The town hit national headlines last year after Ramsey Town Council became the first Ukip-controlled authority in the country.

And looking to build on that victory is Town Mayor Lisa Duffy, who this year will be seeking to take on a seat on the district council.

Standing in her way is Conservative Brian Cunningham, who will be looking to continue Cllr Swales’ Tory reign, and Labour candidate Susan Coomey, who received 309 votes in the ward last year.

In Yaxley and Farcet, Conservative candidate Mark Oliver will look to continue his party’s dominance in the ward as he seeks election in the seat vacated by Tory councillor John Watt.

One of the main issues for the ward over the coming years will be the impact the nearby Peterborough City Council-led Great Haddon 5,500-home urban extension will have on the two villages.

Also standing this year are Labour candidate Margaret Cochrane; UKIP’S Barry Hyland; and Liberal Democrat Chris Waites.

In Sawtry, Independent councillor Dick Tuplin is hoping to regain his seat, after being involved in a close battle last time around when he won by just 199 votes. This time he will be up against Labour’s Mary Howell and UKIP’S Roger Henson.

In Warboys and Bury, incumbent Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Ward is not standing, with Tony Hulme standing for the Liberals this time. John Pethard will be standing for the Conservative Party; Iain Ramsbottom is the Labour candidate; while Michael Tew will be hoping to secure the seat for UKIP.

There are also uncontested parish council elections taking place in Sawtry, Warboys, Great and Little Gidding and Glatton.