Details of the 53 candidates standing for the 23 seats on Newbury Town Council

Liberal Democrat controlled council up for grabs on May 7

DETAILS of the 53 candidates who will contest the 23 seats on Newbury Town Council at the local elections on May 7 have been confirmed.

The Liberal Democrats, the current ruling group, will field 23 candidates, as will the Conservatives, while the Apolitical Group will launch an attack on Northcroft ward, fielding all four of its candidates there.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party will field three candidates – two in Falkland ward and one for the Northcroft seat.

In Brummell Grove ward, the one seat will be contested by David Fish (Con) and Ceinwen Lally (Lib Dem).

Clay Hill ward (four seats): Jeff Beck, David Goff, Tony Stretton and Margo Payne (all Con) and Tony Harris, Chris Hood, Pam Lusby-Taylor and Simon Pike (all Lib Dem).

Falkland ward (four seats): Howard Bairstow, Adrian Edwards, David Fenn, Kuldip Singh Kang (all Con), John Boyd, Sam Dibas, Peter Fergusson, Tony Vickers (all Lib Dem), Linda Cooper and Leslie Cooper (both Lab).

Victoria ward (four seats): Miles Evans, James Fredrickson, Emma Green, Mike Johnston (all Con), Gregory Austin, Mukesh Bansal, Claire Goulding, Elizabeth O’Keefe (all Lib Dem) and Karen Swaffield (Lab).

Northcroft ward (four seats): Phil Barnett, Jo Day, Jamie Ennis, Martha Vickers (all Lib Dem), Jeanette Clifford, Lynne Doherty, Mark Flitton, Chomphoo Plastow (all Con), Charlie Farrow, Simon Kirby, Mark Knight, David Yates (Apolitical).

Pyle Hill (two seats): Arthur Johnson, Julian Swift-Hook (both Lib Dem) and Chris Austin and Jeremy Bartlett (both Con).

St Johns ward (two seats): John Gardner, Richard Johnson, Rowena Lewis and Andy Moore (all Lib Dem) and Simon Carr, Sarah Greenall, Anthony Pick and Andrew Steel (all Con).

There are currently 22 councillors on Newbury Town Council – 11 Liberal Democrat and 11 Conservative. The 23rd, former deputy leader Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera (Lib Dem), resigned from the council in July 2014.