Control of the council is up for grabs when voters go to the ballot boxes in Hyndburn next month. The Local Elections will take place on 2 May and could see one party claim a majority of seats for the first time in three years.
Hyndburn Council operates on a system in which around one third of seats are contested each election - this time 12 are up for contention, with Labour and the Conservatives each currently holding six of those.
The two biggest parties have candidates in each of these, while there are also five Green Party candidates, one each from the Workers Party and Reform UK, and two independents.
Full list of candidates
Altham:
- Vanessa Alexander - Labour
- David Heap - Conservative
Barnfield:
- Clare McKenna - Labour
- Foyzun Nur - Conservative
- Joan West - Green
Baxenden:
- Edward Blake - Labour
- Terence Hurn - Conservative
Central:
- Ijaz Ahmed - Labour
- Allah Dad - Conservative
- Mohammed Fazal - Green
- Mohammed Irfan - Workers Party
Church:
- Sohail Asghar - Green
- Stewart Eaves - Labour
- Sajid Mahmood - Conservative
Netherton:
- Noordad Aziz - Labour
- Mohammed Riaz - Conservative
Overton:
- Paul Knighton - Independent
- Judith McKelvey - Conservative
- Julie Stubbins - Green
- Clare Yates - Labour
Peel:
- Nav Afzal - Independent
- Jean Hurn - Conservative
- Michael Miller - Green
- Clare Pritchard - Labour
Rishton:
- Carole Haythornthwaite - Conservative
- Ethan Rawcliffe - Labour
Spring Hill:
- Munsif Dad - Labour
- Wayne Fitzharris - Green
- Saeed Ullah - Conservative
St Andrew’s:
- Peter Britcliffe - Conservative
- Andy Gilbert - Labour
St Oswald’s:
- Richard Oakley - Reform UK
- Andy Tatchell - Labour
- Tina Walker - Conservative
This election could finally see one party reclaim an overall majority on the council for the first time since six Labour councillors quit the party in 2021.
Last year’s election ended with both Labour and the Conservatives each having 16 seats and falling short of the total needed for an overall majority. In the days following the count, the Conservatives formed an unexpected agreement with the Green and Independent councillors and Cllr Marlene Howarth was named as council leader. Cllr Peter Britcliffe, father of Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Sara Britcliffe, is currently acting leader as Cllr Howarth recovers from a stroke.
Much of the political focus in Hyndburn in the past year has focused on plans to redevelop the borough which have proved to be controversial. Government funding has allowed for the major redevelopment of Accrington town centre but the £11m transformation of the indoor market has led to the departure of some traders, while those remaining will spend a year operating outside the building.
Likewise, the decision to build a new sports centre in Clayton-le-Moors faced significant opposition due to its location but building work is now underway.
Away from these, a Green Party motion on the Israel Gaza crisis last month drew division among Labour ranks. The issue has already proved problematic for the party locally, with former MP Graeme Jones having been selected as the next General Election candidate but then suspended for comments about Israel. Much like the national party, Labour locally says it has “seen radical change”, adding “under new management, we are going from strength to strength”.
More locally, an issue which is likely to feature high on the Conservatives’ agenda is a plan from Asda owners the Issa Brothers to build a cemetery on Green Belt land near Oswaldtwistle. The plans have been scaled back dramatically but would still be big enough for 13,500 plots and face fierce opposition from those living nearby.
Police and Crime Commissioner
The same day will also see an election held for the position of Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner - the person who is ultimately responsible for holding Lancashire Constabulary to account and overseeing its work.
Current PCC Andrew Snowden is again standing as the Conservative candidate and faces opposition from his predecessor Clive Grunshaw. Mr Grunshaw, the Labour candidate, was Lancashire’s first PCC but lost his role to Mr Snowden in 2021. Neil Darby has again been nominated as the Liberal Democrat candidate.
How to vote in the Hyndburn local election:
Before the election, you’ll receive a polling card in the post which will tell you where to go to vote - don’t worry if you’ve lost it as you can find out your polling station by entering your postcode on the Electoral Commission’s website.
If you’re voting in person, you do not need to take your polling card with you but you must take photo ID. This became a requirement for the first time in 2023 and means anyone who does not bring an acceptable form of ID will be turned away.
Polls will open between 7am-10pm on Thursday, 2 May.
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