Next month’s elections for town and district councillors in Brightlingsea look set to be hotly contested with many more candidates than there are seats available.

For the first time in many years, there’ll be an election for places on Brightlingsea Town Council. In June 2021 the council had to co-opt four members to bring it up to its full complement of 12 councillors.

Fourteen candidates have put themselves forward for the May 4 contest – 10 sitting members and four new entrants. Current councillors Mike Beckett and Graham Chasney are not seeking re-election. Town councillor Ben Smith is also standing as a Conservative candidate for district council in Clacton’s Coppins ward.

The contest to represent Brightlingsea on Tendring District Council will see 13 candidates battling it out for the three seats available. Sitting councillors Mick Barry, Jayne Chapman and Graham Steady are standing again.

Control of Tendring District Council is currently in the hands of Conservatives who, with 21 seats are the largest party, with Independents holding 18 seats, Labour six, Liberal Democrat two and UKIP one.

However, the five opposition groups on the council have pledged to work together in a bid to topple the Tory regime and Independent candidates are confident of a strong performance in the election.

There are 6879 residents on the electoral register in Brightlingsea and for the first time, they’ll need photo id to cast a vote.

Candidates for Brightlingsea Town Council (S=sitting councillor):

• David Alan Atkinson
• Mick Barry – Independent (S)
• John Anthony Carr – Conservative Party Candidate (S)
• Jayne Beverley Chapman – Independent (S)
• Mat Court – Independent (S)
• Sim Hawkins (S)
• Jean Margaret Howard – Independent
• Mick Judson – Independent (S)
• Beverley Ann Lillian Maltby (S)
• Ric Morgan – Conservative Party Candidate (S)
• Chris Paveley – Independent
• Ben Smith (S)
• Graham David Steady – Independent (S)
• Sue Walsh

Candidates for Tendring District Council:

• Mick Barry – Independent (S)
• Jenna Susan Barton – Labour Party
• John Anthony Carr – Conservative Party Candidate
• Jayne Beverley Chapman – Independent (S)
• Mat Court – Independent
• Nigel Graham Dyson – Conservative Party Candidate
• Ben Harvey – Green Party
• James Robert David Jefferies – Liberal Democrats
• Bobby McWilliams – Conservative Party Candidate
• Stuart David Morgan – Liberal Democrats
• Harry Prosser – Labour Party
• Margaret Saunders – Labour Party
• Graham David Steady – Independent (S)