Hertsmere election candidates prepare for poll

12:24pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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The names of candidates standing in council elections around the borough next month have been revealed.

Voters will go to the polls in 13 wards across Hertsmere Borough Council on May 1, with six seats in Borehamwood, Aldenham and Shenley up for grabs. There are also three seats available on Aldenham Parish Council.The Conservative Party will be attempting to maintain its grip on the borough council - it currently has 28 councillors to the Liberal Democrats' seven and Labour's four.Among the wards likely to be most keenly contested are Brookmeadow, Cowley Hill and Hillside in Borehamwood, where incumbent councillors Hannah David, Labour group leader Ann Harrison and Ian Feeney face tough competition for their seats.In a surprise move, the Liberal Democrats will field a candidate in Hillside. In February, 22-year-old Law student Gavin Whenman announced his intention to stand for the party in Cowley Hill against Ms Harrison, but was withdrawn by his own group leader, Robert Gamble.Mr Gamble said he would place Mr Whenman where he could have the "best effect", and he will now challenge Mrs David.Mr Whenman will, however, be the party's only candidate outside Bushey. He said: "I am proud to be standing in Hillside. I am standing because Borehamwood has been let down by the Tories in nine years of unbroken rule."Hillside is a ward that has seen eye-watering council tax rises year on year and yet its upper school closed down, only for it to reopen (as Yavneh College) to cater for just 11 per cent of local residents. "Borehamwood is a great place, but we can do better."In Cowley Hill, Ms Harrison will face a challenge from a former member of her own party.Frank Ward, who was deselected in Kenilworth ward last year, will again stand as an independent candidate. He successfully split the vote in his old ward in 2007, forcing out Labour's candidate Peter Hedges in favour of Tory Penny Swallow.Conservative group leader Morris Bright said: "Elections aren't just about promising, they are about delivering. That's what the Conservatives do in Borehamwood. "We promised PCSOs to patrol our streets, now the borough-wide scheme has 28 officers. Borehamwood was the first area to have an alcohol-free zone. "Policies on environmental crime, such as graffiti and dog fouling are being delivered in the coming months."That's what it's about for the Conservatives locally at election time - no party political name-calling, no petty sniping, no false claims - just reminding what we promised and showing that we deliver good affordable services."Ms Harrison said: "The message we are pushing is how effective we have been as a smaller group. "We have had a few environmental and safety policies get through the council, despite there only being four of us."Ian Feeney's ward will be very tight, it has been for a few years now. It will be interesting to see how it pans out this year. The Greens could have an effect. It is also hard to say how it will go in Cowley Hill."She said her councillors had worked hard in the past year on the banning of plastic bags, lowering of speed limits, and the project to bring toilets to shoppers in Borehamwood.Representatives of the Green Party were not immediately available for comment.To check whether you are registered to vote, contact the council on 020 8207 7481 or by emailing electoral.registration@hertsmere.gov.uk.

You can vote in person at a polling station, by proxy, or by post.

Full information about election procedures, including how to vote by any of the three methods, and a full list of candidates in all wards, visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk.List of candidatesAldenham EastRaymond Edge - LabourJohn Graham - ConservativeJeannette McDermott - GreenAldenham WestCaroline Boydell - GreenSandra Huff - LabourSimon Patnick - ConservativeBorehamwood BrookmeadowIan Feeney - LabourDavid Harris - GreenAndrew Zucker - ConservativeBorehamwood Cowley HillJim Dry - Socialist LabourAnn Harrison - LabourFarida Turner - ConservativeFrank Ward - IndependentBorehamwood HillsideHannah David - ConservativePeter Hedges - LabourGavin Whenman - Liberal DemocratsShenleyRichard Butler - LabourPeter Wayne - Conservative