East Suffolk Council is preparing for its second election as a unified authority after Suffolk Coastal and Waveney merged four years ago.

This time there are a number of battlegrounds for what could be a fascinating contest on May 4.

The Conservatives are the only group contesting every seat on the 55-member council.

There are 29 wards returning between one and three councillors each - and there are wide variations between the contests.

In rural areas the Greens or Liberal Democrats are likely to be the main opposition to the Conservatives who have run the council for its first four years.

Outgoing council leader Steve Gallant is not seeking re-election this time, but the last leaders of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney are standing again.

Ray Herring will be hoping to retain his Orford seat while Mark Bee is hoping to make a comeback as a Bungay councillor four years after losing his seat in Beccles to the Green Party.

Voting takes place on May 4 across the district - and for the first time people who go to polling stations will have to show photographic identification before being given ballot papers.

The wards and nominations in our region are:

Beccles and Worlingham (3 councillors): Sarah Plummer (G), Sheryl Rumble (G), Caroline Topping (G), Bernard Reader (C), May Reader (C), Trish Mortimer (C), Sam Hunt (L), Tarek Lahin (L), Tony Burgess (L).

Bungay and Wainford (2 councillors): Mark Bee (C), Judy Cloke (C), Toby Hammond (G), Anthony Speca (G), Tim Mobbs (L), Chris Sadler (L), Natalie Carlile (I).

Halesworth and Blything (2 councillors): Alison Cackett (C), Graham Catchpole (C), Beth Keys-Holloway (G), Geoffrey Wakeling (G), John Murray (L).

Kelsale and Yoxford (1 councillor): Alexander Nicoll (C), Jules Ewart (LD), John Clark (L).

Wrentham, Wangford, and Westleton (1 councillor): Norman Brooks (C), Paul Ashton (LD), Jane Murray (L).

Beccles & Bungay Journal: A previous count at South Norfolk Council Picture: NewsquestA previous count at South Norfolk Council Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

There are also elections at South Norfolk Council on the same day.

Here are the wards and candidates:

Brooke: Tom Fowler (L), John Fuller (C), Jon Treby (G).

Ditchingham and Earsham: Brendon Bernard (LD), Christopher Brown (LD), Olly Clitheroe (C), John Connor (G), Sally Hobson (G), Colin Kirk (L), Martin Wilby (C)

Harleston: Sandra Browne (G), James Eddy (L), Trevor Graham (C), Sue Kuzmic (LD),

Andrew Newby (G), Ben Potterton (C).

Loddon and Chedgrave: Carl Brown (L), Trevor Lewis (LD), Kay Mason Billig (C), Mike Melling (C), Jeremy Rowe (L), Eric Wareham (G).

Thurlton: Sally Blaikie (L), Andrew Evans (C), Peter Harrison (LD).

 

Key:
C - Conservative
L - Labour
LD - Liberal Democrat
G - Green
I - Independent