Chichester Council

Aside from four years between 1995 and 1999, the Tories have dominated the district council and currently hold 28 seats, compared to the Liberal Democrats' 19 seats and three held by independent councillors.

Almost all of the council's 29 wards will be contested in May's election, with the exception of Harting where independent Councillor Andrew Shaxson stands unopposed.

Tory and council leader Jane Chevis said voters were concerned about affordable housing and rural transport problems.

She said: "Affordable housing, particularly key worker homes, are important and this is the Conservatives' top priority - we are going through the election with that and will continue when we are re-elected.

"There are many concerns about rural transport, with people in quite remote areas feeling isolated.

"We are working in partnership to get better services to those areas."

The plan for a Sussex Downs national park has sparked significant interest from residents because more than 60 per cent of the district falls within the proposed park boundary.

Despite a sharp increase in council rates across West Sussex, Coun Chevis said most people were aware the district's taxes have only risen by five per cent.

She said: "Even though it is the same political colour making the county increases, they know we cannot influence their decision. There has been no backlash."

Lib Dem Andrew Smith has been a Chichester district councillor since 1991. He chaired most of the important committees during his party's reign in the late Nineties.

He is now Lib Dem leader and said his party was aiming to take control of the council next month.

Coun Smith said issues which could sway voters included how much council tax has risen under Tory rule and "the roll-out of the wheeled bin collection service, development of greenfield sites and inadequate infrastructure in areas where there has been substantial development".

He said: "In the last four years, the Conservatives have put up the council tax by 27 per cent on the district council, despite an 18.6 per cent increase in Government grant in this time.

"This compares with an 22 per cent increase under the Liberal Democrats, between 1995 and 1999, when the council suffered a 9.2 per cent cut in Government funding.

"There is an urgent need to increase recycling rates but reuse and reduction of waste are just as important.

"It looks likely that an extra 1,250 houses for the Chichester city area will be required between now and 2016 on sites not currently allocated for housing.

"Meaningful public consultation will be essential to have any hope of restoring public confidence in the planning system."

There are about 84,000 electors in Chichester District and, although voter numbers vary, most wards have a turnout of more than 35 per cent, higher than many equivalent council elections.

In 1999, Harting had the highest turnout of 61 per cent.

Tricia Tull is an independent councillor who has represented Sidelsham almost eight years and is a member of the ward's parish council and district planning committees.

She said: "My role is a matter of balancing the policies of the leading group and I have sat on the executive board as an independent.

"It's about being a sensible voice saying 'that's extreme' or 'that's not good enough'.

"I have some influence being a senior councillor and the input I've had has been quite influential. I am very much in support of the council's main policies of affordable housing and environmental protection."

The Labour Party does not currently hold any seats in Chichester district. Celia Barlow chairs Chichester Labour Party and will be standing for election in East Wittering and Bracklesham ward.

She said: "Labour has got more candidates standing in Chichester than at any time in the past 20 years and they are good candidates who are active in their local communities.

"Our share of the votes has been going up steadily. We are standing because we want a change. We're tired of Tory councils which raise rates at 18.5 per cent while frittering public money away on political campaigns like the national park inquiry.

"We want our money to go to essential services like teachers, social workers, community centres and roads."

CANDIDATES FOR MAY 2003.

Key: C Conservative; G Green; I Independent; L Labour; LD Liberal Democrat; UKIP United Kingdom Independence Party.

Bosham (two seats): Clifford Archer (I); Myles Cullen (C); Douglas Denny (UKIP); Gerald Lynch (LD); David Myers (C).

Boxgrove (one): Antony Bird (UKIP); Jane Chevis (C); Michael Hall (LD).

Bury (one): Susan Hallock (C); Paul Wellstead (LD).

Chichester East (three): Quentin Cox (LD); Josephine Eckhard (G); Eva French (LD); Anthony French (LD); Rebecca Harris (C); Peter Nutt (L); Gina Simpson (C); Nigel Sitwell (UKIP); John Smith (L); Doris Walton (L).

Chichester North (three): John Barr (L); Valerie Briginshaw (G); Gloria Hooley (LD); Stuart King (C); Michael Mason (UKIP); David Morrison (L); Edith Pingree (LD); Richard Plowman (LD); Nicholas Roberts (C); Timothy Roberts (C); Frances Turner (L).

Chichester South (three): Robin Bell (C); John Bennett (L); Susan Bramwell Smith (L); Alan Chaplin (LD); Anne Craven (UKIP); Prudence Dwyer (G); Benjamin Earnshaw-Mansel (L); Hilary Flynn (C); Anne Scicluna (LD); David Siggs (LD); Dorothy Spirit (C).

Chichester West (two): Clare Apel (LD); Margaret Denis (L); Andrew Emerson (L); James McCulloch (UKIP); Julie Rooker (C); Michael Shone (LD).

Donnington (one): Micheline Lawson (L); John Ridd (C); Alan Wells (LD).

Easebourne (one): Michael Fay (LD); Norma Graves (C).

East Wittering (two): Celia Barlow (L); Karen Clay (C); Mary Green (LD); Thea Hucklesby (C); Patrick O'Sullivan (L); Gordon Simpson (UKIP); Jacqueline Taylor (G).

Fernhurst (two): Heather Caird (C); Nola Hendon (C); John Mitchell (LD); William Quinn (LD); Mamdouh Salameh (I).

Fishbourne (one): Adrian Moss (LD); Clifford Spawton (C).

Funtington (one): Frank Garrett (C); John Rankin (LD).

Harting (one): Andrew Shaxon (I) No contest.

Lavant (one): Mary Goldsmith (C); Andrew Smith (LD).

Midhurst (one): Alan Cartwright (C); Robert Devereux (LD); Judith Fowler (LD); Brian Weekes (C).

North Mundham (one): Anthony Dignum (C); Stephen Quigley (LD).

Petworth (two): Sarah Barstow (LD); Janet Duncton (C); Margaret Field (C); Catherine Perschke (LD).

Plaistow (two): Paul Colville (LD); Raymond Cooper (LD); Brian Hooton (C); Anthony Walker (C).

Rogate (one): Kevin Campbell (LD); Patricia Janes (C); Ashley Mote (UKIP).

Selsey North (three): Stewart Adamson (C); Melva Bateman (C); Ian Bell (L); Margaret Dyer (L); Alan Dyer (C); Wendy Pengelly (L); Andrew Wilkinson (UKIP).

Selsey South (two): John Curtis (C); Sidney Hoy (L); Janet Miller (L); Bernard Smith (UKIP); Albert Vines (C).

Sidlesham (one): Derek Hunnikin (UKIP); Robert Jaffa (L); Diana Pound (LD); Patricia Tull (I).

Southbourne (three): Penelope Blackmore (LD); Nigel Brown (C); Alicia Denny (UKIP); Barbara Gowlett (LD); Graham Hicks (C); Duncan Hollowood (L); James Jennings (LD); Marguerite Lawrence (L); June Leonard (L); Mary Marrs (C).

Stedham (one): John Cherry (C); Daniel Warner (LD).

Tangmere (one): Joyce Meyer (LD); Paul Newton-Lewis (C); Andrew Young (L).

West Wittering (two): Gordon Churchill (L); Anthony Davies (C); Simon Green (LD); Peter Jones (C); Kenneth Newman (L); Roger Tilbury (LD); Joan Welch (G); Roger Wilson (UKIP).

Westbourne (one): John Baker (L); Maureen Elliot (C); Reginald Musgrave (UKIP).

Wisborough Green (one): John Barstow (LD); Robert Field (C).