Adam Trimingham looks at St Peter's and North Laine, Stanford and Westbourne wards ahead of the city council elections.

St Peter's and North Laine: Brighton and Hove is one of the few major councils which has strong representation from four parties.

The Greens are determined to keep it that way, which is why so much effort is being put into the St Peter's and North Laine ward.

Seven years ago in the old St Peter's ward, the Greens gained a single seat and increased their tally to all three in 1999.

The ward has now expanded to include the North Laine area, which makes the task that much harder.

Only one of the current councillors, Green convenor Keith Taylor, is fighting again. He has made a big impact during the last four years.

Councillor Taylor will be joined by former hotels association chairwoman Sue Paskins, who is also prominent in the Save Our Seafront campaign, along with health communications specialist Simon Williams.

However, Labour sees a chance to regain the area, which was once a party stronghold. Councillor Christine Simpson has every reason to want to succeed as she was once beaten by the Greens.

Former councillor Harry Spillman is having another try at being elected. He is best remembered for his stalwart efforts to get a new central library.

The third Labour candidate is environmentalist Rob Stephenson, who was green before the Green Party was invented.

Conservative and Liberal Democrats are fielding full teams in this ward but it is really a two-party race. Gerald O'Brien is standing as an Independent.

The Brighton station development has been a big issue in the ward. Other topics include the state of The Level and regeneration of York Place opposite St Peter's Church.

Environmental and traffic issues will also be important in this lively ward, which contains many members of the chattering classes.

Candidates (three seats): Ruth Berry, Lib Dem; Paul Rodney Bowes, Con; Carole Franklin, Con; James Alistair Gowans, Con; Madelaine Joanna Hunter, Lib Dem; Gerald David O'Brien, Independent; William Frederick Parker, Lib Dem; Susan Margaret Paskins, Green; Christine Simpson, Lab; Harry Spillman, Lab; Robert Antony James Stephenson, Lab; Keith Taylor, Green; Simon Williams, Green.

STANFORD: This should be one of the safest seats in the city for the Tories but there is a cloud in the blue sky.

It comes in the shape of former Conservative councillor Jayne Bennett, who is standing as an Independent.

Stanford is being reduced from three seats to only two under changes to city council wards.

Vanessa Brown, deputy leader of the city council Tory group and a well-known councillor, is standing along with newcomer Michael Switzer.

This is one of the plushest parts of Hove and would normally be a cakewalk for the Conservatives.

But Coun Bennett is behind a residents' association and has achieved recognition all over Brighton and Hove for her battle to keep breast care services in the city.

She can be a formidable operator but the Tories can take heart from the recent poor record of Independents standing in city council elections.

Labour, Greens and the Lib Dems are also each fielding two candidates but this is not fertile territory for any of them.

One of the big issues in this largely well-heeled area is the future of Toad's Hole Valley, a stretch of potential development downland tucked south of the Brighton bypass.

There are also concerns about bus services, which are limited in parts of the ward, and traffic along busy roads such as King George VI Avenue.

Candidates (two seats): Roy Alldred, Lib Dem; Jayne Bennett, Independent; Vanessa Brown, Con; Peter Thomas Denyer, Lib Dem; Patrick Gordon Gill, Lab; Nicole Murphy, Lab; Alan Keith Pegg, Green ; Michael David Alexander Switzer, Con; Molly Taylor, Green.

WESTBOURNE: This is the only urban seafront ward which has not been represented by Labour councillors.

It is not that different from neighbouring wards in its composition so one reason for Tory success must be the rapport between residents and their councillors.

Jim and Audrey Buttimer started that trend and it has been continued by the current councillors in the ward.

Brian Oxley, hard working leader of the city council opposition group, seems to know every inch of the ward, while Denise Cobb has been prominent in campaigns such as the People's Proposal for the King Alfred leisure centre.

Labour still has a hankering for victory in the ward.

This time it is putting forward Don Brown, well known for his YMCA work, and David Jones.

Lib Dems held Westbourne for many years on the old East Sussex County Council.

Their colourful team consists of entertainer Brian Ralfe and community campaigner Valerie Paynter, who are also working the ward hard.

Greens, who are fielding Philip Dymond and Anita Phillips, complete the list of candidates. The Tories must be hoping the other parties cancel each other out.

The big issue in Westbourne is controlled parking and how much of the ward it should cover.

There is also interest in the neighbouring King Alfred redevelopment and seafront improvements.

Candidates (two seats): Don Brown, Lab; Denise Cobb, Con; Philip Paul Dymond, Green; David Jones, Lab; Brian Oxley, Con; Valerie Paynter, Lib Dem; Anita Phillips, Green; Brian Ralfe, Lib Dem.