Election: Candidates in the running (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Election: Candidates in the running

THE fate of town hall control rests in the hands of South Lakeland residents as they head for the polling booth on May 1, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

In South Lakeland, controlling parties the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have the most to lose and gain with six and 19 seats contested respectively while Labour and the Independents have no seats on the line.

With one third of the district's 52 seats up for grabs, the current political make-up is Liberal Democrats 21 seats, Conservatives 19, Labour nine and Independents three.

SLDC, which has been a hung council since its formation in 1974, looks set to stay that way. To secure a majority either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives would have to clinch 26 seats.

As rosette-wearing canvassers go door-to-door in an attempt to woo the electorate, group leaders set out the campaign issues.

The Liberal Democrats cite affordable housing, increasing recycling and promoting economic regeneration as key issues while top of the Conservatives' list is rural regeneration, housing and public toilet closures.

Lone Labour candidate in this year's election Jocelyn Innes prepares to do battle with Conservative Richard Rollins and Liberal Democrat Brenda Tidmarsh-Stephen for the Arnside and Beetham seat.

The party's priorities for the ward were for an affordable and integrated transport system for the area and to fight against planned changes to weekly waste collection.

Council stalwarts and current incumbents who are preparing to spar in this year's election include, in the Conservative camp, Joss Curwen, Leslie Hadwin, Bill Tyson and Jennifer Borer while long-timers Noel Spendlove and Gill Cranwell will be looking to hang on to their seats.

New Liberal Democrat blood comes in the form of Peter Thornton who prepares to give Independent William Robinson a run for his Whinfell seat.

April 17, 2003 14:30