VOTERS will be going to the polls again next week to decide the new make-up of Royston Town Council.

The town council ballot takes place next Thursday, May 27, and the Conservative Party will be hoping to maintain control of the council it has dominated for more than 30 years.

The Tories currently hold 11 of the 15 seats, one of which is vacant.

Two others are in the possession of the Liberal Democrats, while Royston’s mayor, Cllr Rod Kennedy, is independent, after leaving the Conservatives last year.

There will be four fresh faces on the council, with three councillors calling it a day, joining Elizabeth Gaillard, who stepped down in February.

Cllr Kennedy is retiring, while Cllrs Elizabeth Beardwell and Kath Prime have also decided not to run again.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Beardwell also resigned her Palace Ward seat on North Herts District Council before the elections earlier this month, and subsequently the Lib Dems lost the seat to the Tories. They will be hoping history does not repeat itself.

Five seats are up for grabs in each ward, and standing for the Lib Dems in Palace Ward are incumbent councillor Rob Inwood, Chris East, Elizabeth Freeman, Paul Jeray, and Nanya Lilley.

The Conservatives have current councillors Lynn Berry, Craig Doel, and Philip Mayne, along with Martin Beaver and Jean Green, while the sole candidate for the Labour Party, which currently does not have any councillors in Royston, is Les Baker.

Labour have two candidates in Meridian ward, Vaughan West and Carlo Zambonini, while the Liberal Democrats offer Karen Davies, Jean Emes, Julie Inwood, John Ledden, and Lisa Thompson.

The Conservative quintet are councillors Paul Grimes, Mike Harrison, Marguerite Phillips, Robert Smith, and F John Smith.

Meanwhile, in Royston Heath, the Conservatives have nominated existing councillors Peter Burt, Lindsay Davidson, and Graham Palmer, as well as Victoria Hulstrom and John Davison.

For Labour, Ken Garland and Robin King are standing, and the Liberal Democrats are offering Caroline Coates, Joan Inwood, David May, Janet Sackman, and Robert Spragg.