PARTIES are stepping up their campaigns for the local election on May 3 after Swindon Council officially invited nominations for candidates.

The electoral services team published the notice of election, which means candidates have until noon on April 4 to put their names forward.

A polling card for all potential voters in Swindon – more than 160,000 in total – should be hand-delivered to homes by Monday.

Normally only one third of seats are available in Swindon at any one election, but this time every seat will be up for grabs because of redrawn ward boundaries.

This year, parties have had to sign up many more candidates because there will be a 57-member council, with 18 three-member wards, one two-member ward (Chiseldon & Lawn), and a single one-member ward (Ridgeway).

The Conservative group is confident it will hold the council and is fielding candidates for all seats.

Most of the incumbent Conservative councillors are restanding, with Coun Peter Greenhalgh (Con, Freshbrook and Grange Park) and Peter Stoddart (Con, Abbey Meads) the main exceptions.

Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), chairman of the Swindon Conservative Association, said: “The business of actually finding people for seats we haven’t represented for a great many years was a little bit more challenging, because we had to get people willing to be published as a candidate and willing to, if the vote was a dramatic success, represent these wards.”

The Labour Party is standing a full set of 57 candidates and aims to take control.

Coun Jim Grant (Lab, Western), the group leader, said: “Current evidence when we knock on the doors is that residents are moving from voting Conservative and the Liberal Democrat to Labour.

“However we’re not being complacent and Labour will now mount one of the biggest local election campaigns ever seen in Swindon. We will be showing residents how much we want to take control of their council.”

The Lib Dems will stand at least one candidate in each ward. Andy Harrison (Lib Dem, Penhill) is not restanding.

Group leader Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said: “We are confident, we are hoping to hold four and hopefully gain seats as well.”

For more information about the election, including how to register for postal or proxy votes, call electoral services on 01793 464601 or visit www.swindon.gov.uk and click on Elections.