Hyndburn council elections preview

4:10pm Friday 25th April 2008

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Turnout is a key factor in Hyndburn, where the wards are smaller than in many boroughs, and some seats could turn on just a handful of votes in what will be one of the tightest contests in Lancashire.

Since the last election the standing of the opposition Labour group has been weakened with Malcolm Pritchard quitting the party to become an independent councillor for Milnshaw in Accrington in September.

This time 12 seats are up for grabs, with the Tories hoping to hang on to their one-seat majority. The loss of one seat would see the Tories' overall majority lost.

Seven Conservative seats are up for election, compared to five for Labour.

There are well-known names up for election, including deputy leader Peter Clarke in Overton, Rishton, cabinet member Lynn Wilson in Netherton, Great Harwood, and Labour leader Graham Jones in Peel.

Unusually for Hyndburn, there is a Liberal Democrat standing in Central ward, Ifty Khan, in what is expected to be a tight battle with sitting councillor and cabinet member Allah Dad and Labour's Tariq Ali.

Labour stalwart John McCormack will be bidding for a town hall comeback when he challenges overview and scrutiny committee chairman Brian Walmsley in St Andrew's ward.

Long-serving Labour councillor and former mayor Jean Battle is standing down after 18 years - Joan Smith (Labour) and Simon Taylor (Conservative) will contest her seat.

Hyndburn was controlled by Labour for 15 years until 1999 when the Tories won power. They have stayed in control ever since except for the 2002/03 year.