Wyre Forest local election preview: Tory dominance set to continue
Voters will head to the polls next week for the the Wyre Forest District Council elections.
A total of 55 candidates are standing for election this year.
They will contest 11 seats on May 3, marking the last time the district council will elect one third of councillors.
Next year the local authority will move to ‘all-out’ elections every four years.
There will be no election held in the Lickhill ward in Stourport as Councillor David Little is serving a term from 2015 to 2019.
Changes
Some big guns are on the way out.
Former Tory council leader Stephen Clee will not defend his Bewdley and Rock, and county councillor Anne Hingley has stood down in Franche and Habberley North.
Conservative councillor Rose Bishop, a former council chairwoman, has stood down in Offmore and Comberton.
Five candidates will contest Wribbenhall and Arley, which is vacant after Gordon Yarranton was booted off the council for non-attendance in March.
The former council chairman failed to attend a meeting in more than six months, over health issues.
The Conservatives are the dominant force in Wyre Forest, holding 22 seats.
Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on May 3.
Wyre Forest District Council - Full list of candidates
*Party holding seat
Aggborough and Spennells
Ben Davies (Lab)
Peter Dyke (Indep)*
Keith Robertson (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Ian Siddall (Cons)
Areley Kings and Riverside
Lin Henderson (Cons)*
Christopher Pratt (Lib Dems)
James Shaw (Lab)
Gemma Taylor-Robinson (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Bewdley and Rock
Calne Edginton-White (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Nick Harris (Cons)*
Phil Oliver (Green)
Rod Stanczyszyn (Lab)
Heidi Worth (Lib Dem)
Blakebrook and Habberley South
Clare Cassidy (Lib Dem)
Victoria Caulfield (Green)
Daniel Crampton (Lab)
Tracey Onslow (Cons)*
Broadwaters
John Desmond (Cons)*
Bill Hopkins (UKIP)
Anita Ostrowski (Green)
Abdur Razzak (Lib Dem)
Gareth Webster (Lab)
Peter Young (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Foley Park and Hoobrook
Adrian Beavis (Lib Dem)
Sally Chambers (Cons)*
Dave Finch (Green)
Craig Leonard (UKIP)
Susan Meekings (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Brian Seymour-Smith (Lab)
Franche & Habberley North
Mike Cheeseman (Cons)*
John Davis (Green)
Sadie Furey (Lib Dem)
Susie Griffiths (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Heather Lacy (UKIP)
Christopher Nicholls (Lab)
Mitton
Cliff Brewer (Lab)
Simon Ford (Lib Dem)
Doug Hine (Green)
Chris Rogers (Cons)*
John Thomas (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Offmore & Comberton
Graham Ballinger (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Brett Caulfield (Green)
Kevin Gale (Cons)*
Nick Savage (Lab)
Martin Stooke (UKIP)
Alan Totty (Lib Dem)
Wribbenhall and Arley (vacant seat)
Leia Beavis (Lib Dem)
John Byng (Indep Community and Health Concern)
Philip Edmundson (Lab)
Paul Harrison (Cons)
Megan Williams (Green)
Wyre Forest Rural
Rachel Akathiotis (Lib Dem)
Ian Hardiman (Cons)*
David Jones (Lab)
Kate Spohrer (Green)
