TENSION is mounting ahead of the hotly contested South Lakeland District Council elections on May 7.

A total of 17 out of the 45 wards are up for grabs, with 66 candidates vying for victory.

The Green Party are putting forward a strong showing - with 17 candidates competing they stand a chance of winning in every ward despite not having a single district councillor at present. The Conservatives, led by James Airey, are also battling for every ward in the hope of overturning the current Liberal Democrat majority. A new Tory candidate, Steve Chambers, is standing in the Grange North ward.

This comes after former councillor Andrew Gardiner, who faced criticism for his assertions that a lap dancing bar could improve Kendal’s night time economy, announced that he was moving to Morecambe and would no longer be standing. Conservative James Airey is standing in the relatively safe Low Furness seat, but he is not resting on his laurels.

When asked is he was confident of victory, Mr Airey said: “No I’m not confident at all. I hope to be returned on the track record that I have within the ward. I have worked hard for the people and I hope to be able to do that again if I’m successful. Politicians who take people for granted ultimately fail.”

Widely regarded as a rising star among Conservative circles, Ben Berry is looking to retain his Windermere, Applethwaite and Troutbeck seat.

He said: “You can never be too confident but people know me and know the work I have done. I have worked very hard for my residents.”

The Liberal Democrats are only challenging 16 wards after long-term party member Joss Curwen chose to stand as an Independent candidate in his Broughton patch.

Burneside’s former Lib Dem councillor Chris Holland is standing down to be replaced on the polling card by Keith Hurst Jones. He said: “I was only ever a one hit wonder. I have spent a lot of time working in local government and I have done my bit.”

Meanwhile, leader of the council Peter Thornton is hoping to hang on to his Whinfell seat amid stiff opposition from the Conservative Pat Bell and the Green Party’s Adam Rubinstein. And Labour are putting 11 candidates up for election.