CANDIDATES have been announced for the Wyre Forest District Council elections taking place on May 3.

A third of the council’s 42 seats are up for grabs and the Conservative, Labour and Independent Community and Health Concern (ICHC) parties are contesting all 14.

The ruling Tory administration is defending eight seats and three of its five cabinet members, Marcus Hart, Julian Phillips and Nathan Desmond, are seeking re-election in their wards.

One of two Independent councillors, group leader Helen Dyke, is defending her seat, as is Liberal leader Fran Oborski.

Former chairman of Wyre Forest district and Worcestershire county councils, Nigel Knowles is seeking to return to the district council. The Labour candidate was Mayor of Kidderminster between 2000 and 2001 and a parliamentary candidate for Wyre Forest in 2010.

The authority currently comprises 24 Conservative councillors, seven Labour, five ICHC, four Liberal and Independent group Liberal councillors and two Liberal and Independent group Independent councillors.

These are the nominations for Wyre Forest District Council elections:

AGGBOROUGH & SPENNELLS

Madeline Craddock (Conservative)

Helen Dyke (Independent)

Ronald Lee (Green Party)

Keith Robertson (Independent Community and Health Concern)

Vicky Smith (Labour)

ARELEY KINGS

Ken Henderson (Conservative)

Jamie Shaw (Labour)

John Thomas (ICHC)

BEWDLEY & ARLEY

Linda Candlin (ICHC)

Robert Ireland (Labour)

Julian Phillips (Conservative)

BROADWATERS

Mumshad Ahmed (Labour)

Mary Rayner (ICHC)

Louise Ryan (Green)

Esther Smart (Liberal)

Juliet Smith (Conservative)

FRANCHE

Tony Baker (UK Independence Party)

Nick Farress (Conservative)

Nigel Knowles (Labour and Co-Operative Party)

Phillip Oliver (Green)

Caroline Shellie (ICHC)

Michael Troth (Liberal Democrat)

GREENHILL

Graham Ballinger (ICHC)

Alexandra Heelis (Green)

Rachel Lewis (Liberal)

Sue Meekings (Conservative)

Steven Walker (Labour)

HABBERLEY & BLAKEBRROOK

Dave Finch (Green)

Anthony Greenfield (ICHC)

Neil Jukes (UKIP)

Barry McFarland (Labour)

Ken Prosser (Conservative)

LICKHILL

Brian Glass (ICHC)

Dave Little (Conservative)

Rob Lloyd (Labour)

MITTON

Cliff Brewer (ICHC)

Stephen Brown (Green)

John Holden (Conservative)

Gary Watson (Labour)

OFFMORE & COMBERTON

Frances Oborski (Liberal)

Greta Smith (Conservative)

John Stevenson (ICHC)

Lee Wright (Labour)

OLDINGTON & FOLEY PARK

Sam Arnold (Labour)

Nathan Desmond (Conservative)

Angela Hartwich (Green)

Heather Lacy (UKIP)

Nicky Martin (ICHC)

ROCK

Douglas Godwin (Conservative)

Gren Jones (Labour)

Jim Lawson (ICHC)

SUTTON PARK

Marcus Hart (Conservative)

Lynn Hyde (Labour)

Chris Thomas (ICHC)

Mike Whitebread (Green)

Michael Wrench (UKIP)

WRIBBENHALL

Liz Davies (ICHC)

Paul Gittins (Labour)

Andy Tromans (Conservative)

For a closer look at the nominations, see next Thursday’s Shuttle.