Worcestershire County Council elections - who is standing in Droitwich?

THERE will be four seats contested across Droitwich at the Worcestershire County Council elections on Thursday (May 4).

Last time around, in 2013, the Conservatives took all four seats – Bowbrook, Droitwich East, Droitwich West and Ombersley.

This time Tony Miller (Bowbrook) and Peter Tomlinson (Ombersley) will be looking to hold onto their seats, while – following stalwarts Pam Davey and Lynne Duffy not standing – the other two seats will be contested by current town and district councillors Bob Brookes (Droitwich East) and Richard Morris (Droitwich West).

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all join the Conservatives pitching candidates in all four areas, while Peter Jewell (UKIP) will also stand in Bowbrook.

And there will be other familiar names standing – Labour’s only Droitwich Town Councillor Alan Humphries and the Worcestershire Greens’ Neil Franks (both Droitwich West) and long-time Liberal Democrat Margaret Rowley (Droitwich East).

Overall on Worcestershire County Council, after the last poll in 2013, the Conservatives had a majority of 18 with 30 councillors, there were 12 Labour, four UKIP, three Liberal Democrats, two each for the Health Concern party and the Greens and one each for the Liberals and the Wythall Residents Association.

The overall turnout was 30.7 per cent with the Conservatives netting 33.3 per cent of the vote, UKIP 20.4 per cent and Labour 19.44 per cent with the other 26.9 per cent being shared among the other parties and independents.

The polling stations open from 7am to 10pm and the count will be done next Friday (May 5).

Here are the candidates for the Droitwich divisions:

Bowbrook

Tony Miller (Con)

Steve Ainsworth (Lab)

John Littlechild (Lib Dem)

Peter Jewell (UKIP)

Edward Cohen (Green)

Droitwich East

Bob Brookes (Con)

Val Humphries (Lab)

Margaret Rowley (Lib Dem)