The local elections in Melksham are going to be hotly contested on 6th May.
The six Wiltshire Council seats in the Melksham area are all being contested with a battle between Conservative, LibDem, Labour and Green Party candidates and a host of Independents.
In the Melksham Town Council elections, 25 candidates are battling it out for 15 seats. The Conservative and Lib Dem Parties will face a challenge from Independents including nine candidates from the new Together For Melksham group.
Seats for the Melksham Without Parish Council will be uncontested as there are less candidates than seats – pending confirmation from the Wiltshire Council elections team.
Clerk for Melksham Without, Teresa Strange, said “The council will be looking to co-opt for three vacancies (one in the Beanacre, Shaw, Whitley and Blackmore Ward and two in the Bowerhill Ward).”
Melksham Town Council candidates
In the Melksham East Ward, six candidates are standing for four seats – Ryan Clarke (Independent), Gary Cooke (The Conservative Party), Simon Crundell (The Conservative Party), Vanessa Fiorelli (Independent), Carl Houghton (Together For Melksham), Louisa Lewis (Together For Melksham).
In the Melksham Forest Ward, six candidates are standing for five seats – Pat Aves (Liberal Democrats), Claire Forgacs (The Conservative Party), Geoff Mitcham (Independent), Sue Mortimer (Together For Melksham), Jack Oatley (Together For Melksham), Tom Price (Together For Melksham).
In Melksham North Ward, four candidates are standing for two seats – Phil Alford (The Conservative Party), Saffi Rabey (Together For Melksham), Elizabeth Turner (Independent), Richard Wiltshire (The Conservative Party).
In the Melksham South Ward, seven candidates are standing for four seats – Jacqui Crundell (The Conservative Party), Graham Ellis (Independent), Colin Goodhind (Together For Melksham), Jon Hubbard (Together For Melksham), Steven Plummer (Independent), Terri Welch (Independent), Amy Whitlock (Together For Melksham).
Wiltshire Council candidates
In the Bowerhill Division, two candidates are standing for one seat – George Hewson (Liberal Democrats) and Nick Holder (The Conservative Party).
In the Melksham East Division, five candidates are standing for one seat – Ryan Clarke (Independent), Vanessa Fiorelli (Independent), Louisa Lewis (Independent), Mike Sankey (The Conservative Party), and Nigel White (Liberal Democrats).
In the Melksham Forest Division, three candidates are standing for one seat – Pat Aves (Liberal Democrats), Claire Forgacs (The Conservative Party), Jack Oatley (Independent).
In the Melksham South Division, four candidates are standing for one seat – Jacqui Crundell (The Conservative Party), Dominic Francocci (Green Party), Jon Hubbard (Independent), and Terri Welch (Liberal Democrats).
In the Melksham Without North & Shurnhold Division, three candidates are standing for one seat – Phil Alford (The Conservative Party), Kevin Cottrell (Liberal Democrats) and Saffi Rabey (Independent).
In the Melksham Without West & Rural Division, four candidates are standing for one seat – Syrie Gregory-Wood (Liberal Democrats), Sean McWhinnie (Labour Party), Jonathon Seed (The Conservative Party), Sue Tweedie (The Green Party).
• It is not too late for people to register to vote if they haven’t already; people should visit www. gov.uk/register-to-vote for more information
To register to vote by post, people should visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote