South Holland District Council May 2023 election candidates revealed
The full list of candidates for next month's South Holland District Council elections has now been released.
The list contains some surprises - with current Conservative councillors Francis Biggadike and Mick Seymour both attempting to keep their seats despite not being selected by the party.
The pair - both former chairmen of the authority - will instead run as independents.
As previously announced by this paper, the candidates this year include William Hayes, the son of MP Sir John.
There are 37 seats up for grabs on the council, with 25 currently held by the Conservatives.
The full list of contenders is as follows:
Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas (3 seats)
*Bryan Alcock (Ind)
*Jim Astill (Con)
*Amy Cook-Nykyforczuk (Green)
*Angie Harrison (Con)
Current councillors are Bryan Alcock (Ind), Jim Astill (Con) and Nigel Pepper (Con)
Donington, Quadring and Gosberton (3 seats)
*Henry Bingham (Con)
*Margaret Geaney (Con)
*Colin Johnson (Con)
*Jane King (SH Ind)
*Matthew Swainson (Reform)
*Simon Walsh (SH Ind)
Current councillors are Henry Bingham (Con), Jane King (SH Ind) and Simon Walsh (SH Ind)
Fleet (1 seat)
*Paul Barnes (SH Ind)
*Edward McNally (Con)
Current councillor is Peter Coupland (Con), who was not chosen to fight for this seat again but is running for the party in Sutton Bridge.
Gedney (1 seat)
*Jo Reynolds (Con)
*Matthew Stancer (SH Ind)
Currrent councillor is Jo Reynolds (Con)
Holbeach Hurn (1 seat)
*Wendy Blackman (Green)
*Nick Worth (Con)
Current councillor is Nick Worth (Con)
Holbeach Town (3 seats)
*Francis Biggadike (Ind)
*Tracey Carter (Con)
*Malcolm Chandler (Con)
*Nanette Chapman (Con)
*Paul Foyster (SH Ind)
*Sophie Hutchinson (SH Ind)
*Graham Rudkin (Ind)
Current councillors are Francis Biggadike (currently sitting as a Conservative), Tracey Carter (Con), Graham Rudkin (Ind)
Long Sutton (3 seats)
*Andrew Tennant (Ind)
*David Thompson (Con)
*Jack Tyrrell (Con)
*David Wilkinson (Ind)
Current councillors are Andrew Tennant (Ind), Jack Tyrrell (Con) and David Wilkinson (Ind)
Moulton, Weston and Cowbit (3 seats)
*Anthony Casson (Con)
*Rodney Grocock (Con)
*Thomas Sneath (SH Ind)
*Andrew Woolf (Con)
Current councillors are Anthony Casson (Con), Rodney Grocock (Con) and Andrew Woolf (Con)
Pinchbeck and Surfleet (3 seats)
*James Avery (Con)
*Simon Jenkins (Green)
*Terry Moore (Ind)
*Sally Slade (Con)
*Elizabeth Sneath (Con)
Current councillors are James Avery (Con), Sally Slade (Con) and Elizabeth Sneath (Con)
Spalding Castle (1 seat)
*Martin Blake (Green)
*Gary Taylor (Con)
Current councillor is Gary Taylor (Con)
Spalding Monks House (2 seats)
*Sam Chauhan (SH Ind)
*Val Gemmell (Con)
*Ingrid Sheard (SH Ind)
*Stephen Timewell (Con)
Current councillors are Anthony Cronin (Ind) and Stephen Timewell (Con)
Spalding St John's (2 seats)
*Manzur Hasan (SH Ind)
*James Le Sage (SH Ind)
*Ann Savage (Con)
*Edward Sneath (Con)
Current councillors are Manzur Hasan (SH Ind) and Jack McLean (Ind)
Spalding St Mary's (2 seats)
*Dave Ashby (SH Ind)
*William Hayes (Con)
*Mark Le Sage (SH Ind)
*Gary Porter (Con)
Current councillors are Harry Drury (Con) and Gary Porter (Con)
Spalding St Paul's (2 seats)
*Bailey Boulding (SH Ind)
*Rob Gibson (SH Ind)
*Glynis Scalese (Con)
*Christopher Sutton (Con)
Current councillors are Rob Gibson (SH Ind) and Glynis Scalese (Con)
Spalding Wygate (2 seats)
*Aidan Forman (Lab)
*Roger Gambba-Jones (Con)
*Aaron Spencer (SH Ind)
*Jan Whitbourn (Con)
Current councillors are Roger Gambba-Jones (Con) and Christine Lawton (Con)
Sutton Bridge (2 seats)
*Michael Booth (SH Ind)
*Chris Brewis (SH Ind)
*Peter Coupland (Con)
*Laurence Marchant (Con)
Current councillors are Michael Booth (SH Ind) and Chris Brewis (SH Ind)
The Saints (1 seat)
*Laura Eldridge (Con)
*Michael Seymour (Ind)
Current councillor is Michael Seymour (currently sitting as a Conservative)
Whaplode and Holbeach St John's (2 seats)
*Allan Beal (Con)
*Harry Griffen (SH Ind)
*Paul Redgate (Con)
Current councillors are Allan Beal (Con) and Paul Redgate (Con)
Christine Marshall, returning officer for South Holland District Council, said: “It is really important you take the time to decide who you want as your local councillor and to vote on May 4.
“Polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm or you can choose to vote by post – any new postal vote applications (https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter) need to be with us by 5pm on Tuesday April 18.
“Make your vote count and have a say on who gets to represent you for the next four years.”
Photo ID needed to vote on May 4
For the first time, voters will need to take photographic ID with them to the polling station.
Some of the accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers' licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. Applications need to be submitted by no later than 5pm on Tuesday April 25.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission's website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.
If you are a first-time voter or have moved house since the last election, you will need to register to vote online by midnight on Monday, April 17 here https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
What do you think about the upcoming election? Post your comments below or email andrew.brookes@iliffepublishing.co.uk