Arun Council

For the Liberal Democrats and Labour are both hoping to capitalise on what they see as a series of recent unpopular decisions by the Tories.

Lib Dem leader John Richards said: "The closure of Arundel Pool, the threat to bulldoze Bognor Town Hall, the neglect of the Windmill theatre in Littlehampton, these things have definitely influenced voter feelings."

Labour is pledging to press for a new entertainment and cultural strategy for the district to safeguard community facilities and promote the arts.

The party is also hoping to take advantage of the district's refuse collection problems after Onyx signalled its intention to pull out early from its contract with Arun District Council.

Labour leader Roger Nash said his party wanted to see the service brought back in-house.

Unlike other districts and boroughs around West Sussex, Arun has been Conservative since it became a district in 1974.

The Tories say their record speaks for itself and are confident of retaining their stronghold on power next Thursday.

Tory leader Norman Dingemans said: "We aim to place the record of the last four years before the electorate, which shows Arun is a better place to live than it was four years ago."

Talk in Arun, as across most of West Sussex, is dominated by the swingeing council tax rises inflicted on householders this year.

Arun has managed to keep its share of the council bill rise to 6.5 per cent, one of the lowest in the South-East, but residents have been left counting the cost of West Sussex County Council's 18.5 per cent increase.

The Tories blame the tax rises on the Government moving grant money from the South to the Midlands and North.

Among the other local issues is the shortage of low-cost homes, tackling areas of deprivation and community safety.

The Tories have extended the CCTV systems and introduced the successful community wardens scheme.

They are pledging to continue to work on crime reduction and community safety issues and crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Devolution of council services to parish and town councils is another hot topic in the district and is high on the agenda of all the parties.

The Lib Dems are promising to devolve powers to three subcommittees, giving more autonomy to Bognor, Arundel and Littlehampton.

Labour is promising to give town and parish councils a greater hand in decision-making.

Independent candidates say under the district council's new Cabinet-style rule, it is even more important for opposition members to make their voices heard.

Independent William Redman said: "Local government should be about people rather than politics and councillors who aren't in power have to push much harder.

"As Independents, we really do work for the best interests of local people in our particular areas because we are not members of a political party."

On election night, parties and candidates will be watching closely to see what impact recent boundary changes will make.

Mr Dingemans said: "Most of the ward boundaries have been changed by the Boundary Commission review and this may make some of the results uncertain."

Currently there are 56 district councillors representing 27 different wards within Arun.

The make-up of the council is Conservative 37, Liberal Democrats 9, Labour 8, and Independent 2.

Seats to watch out for next Thursday night include Littlehampton Beach ward, Rustington West, Hotham in Bognor and Arundel, where the Lib Dems are hoping to make gains.

Labour say they are hoping to increase the number of seats they have in Bognor.

Pevensey in Bognor is one to watch, with the Lib Dems hoping to depose Labour leader Roger Nash and Jan Cosgrove who, as well as standing for the district council, was mayor of Bognor last year.

As well as the district council elections, voters will also be electing 140 parish councillors in seven parish and town councils on May 1.

CANDIDATES FOR MAY 2003 There are 138 candidates fighting for 56 seats. (Key: C Conservative; I Independent; L Labour; LD Liberal Democrat; UKIP United Kingdom Independence)

Aldwick East (2 seats): Gillian Brown (C); Robin Brown (C); Brian Dodd (LD); Simon Mouatt (L); Michael Neville (L); William Wolforth (LD).

Aldwick West (2): Frances Coleman (C); Janet Collier (LD); Raymond Leigh (L); Jacqueline Maconachie (C); Leslie Rich (L); Gary Smith (LD);

Angmering (3): Michael Church (C); Julie Hazlehurst (C); Margaret Munro (LD); Oliver Wingrove (C).

Arundel (2): Donald Ayling (I); Steven Dendle (C); Ivan Olney (LD); William Redman (I); Peter Slowe (L).

Barnham (3): Anthony Dixon (C); Jean Goad (C); Ian Menzies (LD); Alfred Roberts (LD); Barbara Roberts (LD); Richard Wilby (C).

Beach (2): David Hodgson (C); Richard James (LD); Andrew McTaggart (L); Andy Parker (L); James Walsh (LD).

Bersted (3): Patrick Hastings (L); Simon Holland (L); Martin Lury (LD); Simon McDougall (LD); Sylvia Olliver (LD); Eric Pond (C); Gail Walker (L).

Brookfield (2): David Dyball (L); Alan Gammon (C); Paul Graydon (LD); Mark Thomson (L); Nicholas Wiltshire (LD).

East Preston with Kingston (3): Richard Bower (C); John Rankin (C); George Schlich (LD); Dennis Wilde (C).

Felpham East (2): Michael Harvey (Felpham First); Susan Kelly (C); Stephen McConnell (L); Simon Weston (C); Sharon Whitlam (L).

Felpham West (2): Michael Chapman (LD); Mary Harvey (Felpham First); Sharon Kingswell (L); Alan Stainton (C); Elaine Stainton (C); Melanie Webb (L); Michelle White (LD).

Ferring (2): Roger Elkins (C); Lindsey Green (LD); David Hill (C); Henry Miller (L).

Findon (1): Stephen Brookman (C); Kay Schlich (LD).

Ham (2): Anchorette Blackstone (LD); Sarah Britton (C); Michael Northeast (L); Anthony Squires (L); John Wedderburn (LD).

Hotham (2): Andrew Evans (C); Edwin Gyde (C); Michael Jones (L); Carole Richmond (L); Jeannette Warr (LD); Paul Wells (LD).

Marine (2): George Blampied (C); Ian Harding (LD); Douglas Maconachie (C); Catherine Mouatt (L); Pauline Nash (L); Kenneth Scutt (LD).

Middleton-on-Sea (2): Roslyn Kissell (LD); Priscilla Matcham (L); Edward Nattrass (L), Barbara Oakley (C); Paul Wotherspoon (C).

Orchard (2): David Biss (LD); Francis Oppler (LD); Jean Pereira (C); Martin Pereira (C); Jasper Richmond (L); Alison Sharples (L).

Pagham and Rose Green (3): Sara Allen (LD); Leonard Brown (C); Jennifer Gillibrand (LD); Robert Gillibrand (LD); Anita Hall (C); Anne-Marie Norman (L); Ashvinkumar Patel (C); Michael Phillips (L); Jeremy Tomlinson (L).

Pevensey (2): Jan Cosgrove (L); Sandra Deniells (C); Vincent McCabe (LD); Roger Nash (L); Kenneth Olliver (LD).

River (2): David Britton (C); Mark Butler (L); John Cockrell (I); Natasha Lear (LD); Wendy Squires (L); Mark Winterford (LD).

Rustington East (2): Philippa Bower (C); Irene Richards (LD); John Rose (C); Allan Turner (LD).

Rustington West (3): Val Capon (LD); John Ceriog-Hughes (LD). Harold Parris (C); Janet Penn (UKIP); John Richards (LD); Raymond Steward (C); Graham Tyler (C); Edward Walsh (L).

Walberton (1): Norman Dingemans (C); George Fletcher (LD).

Wick with Toddington (2): Alan Butcher (L); Lilias Cheyne (I); Derek Hulmes (C); David Jones (LD); George O'Neill (L); Kevin Weller (LD).

Yapton (2): Stephen Haymes (C); John Matthews (C); Ronald Probert (LD); William Robinson (LD).