Five Welshpool councillors are not seeking re-election

Withdrawals on Welshpool Town Council mean there will only be an election on Castle Ward where six candidates will fight for four seats.

There will also be vacancies on both Llanerchyddol and Gungrog Wards after nominations closed.

Those not seeking re-election include county councillor Graham Breeze who says he will concentrate on representing Welshpool at county level if re-elected on May 4.

Others not returning include Councillors John Corfield, Amy Bowen, Brendon McWhinnie and Derek Simms.

On Castle Ward, where there are four seats, sitting councillors Phil Pritchard, Hazel Evans, both Independent, and Nicola Morris (Labour) face competition from Richard Church (Liberal Democrat), Julie Ellis (Independent) and Penny Vingoe (Independent).

New councillors Folkert Veenstra (Liberal Democrat) and Yvonne Owen (Independent) will serve on Llanerchyddol Ward alongside Malcolm Douglass, Heather Sherlock and Shane Squibb (all Independent) – leaving one vacancy.

David Senior (Plaid Cymru), Estelle Bleivas, Heather Chave, Chris Davies and Steve Kaye (all Independent) will return to the Gungrog Ward, leaving one vacancy.

Polling for the Castle Ward contest will take place at The Methodist Church on May 4, the same day as county council elections.

For details about the local elections go to www.electoralcommission.org.uk.