THE Green Party is launching a big challenge to the two main parties in Rossendale's local elections, with 11 candidates standing in Thursday's poll compared to three in 2021.

They are hoping to join their colleague Cllr Julie Adshead, who defected from Labour in July last year, on the borough council.

Their intervention, along with that of three ex-Tories standing as Independents - Jimmy Eaton in Greensclough ward, Val Roberts in Greenfield and Dave Stansfield in Helmshore - makes predicting the results on Thursday next week difficult.

It complicates matters for Labour - which just about hung onto control 12 months ago - as they seek to make gains to consolidate their hold on power.

MORE: Every candidate running in this year's elections in Lancashire

The current balance of parties is Labour 17 councillors; Conservative 13; Independent three; Community First two; and Green one.

Labour have held control for last 12 months with the backing of the two Community First councillors and if needed Mayor Cllr Jackie Oakes.

This year sees 38 candidates standing in 12 wards.

Council leader Cllr Alyson Barnes is hoping for at least two gains from the Conservatives but is worried about the scale of the Green Party challenge.

Labour are not standing candidates in Healey and Whitworth to ease Community First candidate Cllr Alan Neal's path to retaining the ward, and Greenclough where Cllr Eaton looks set to keep his seat.

Cllr Barnes, who is up for re-election in her Goodshaw ward, said:"We are mounting strong campaigns against the sitting Conservatives in Whitewell and Irwell wards.

"The cost of living is a big issue. There is not much we can do but the council has been supporting food banks and food poverty groups.

"In the past few years we have done a great deal on climate change including converting bin wagons to eco-fuel and are half-way through planting 16,000 trees - one for every child in the borough.

"Much of what we have done dovetails absolutely with the Green Party agenda, but the truth is a vote for the Greens is a vote to let the Tories in."

Conservative group leader Cllr David Foxcroft said: "We are working incredibly hard to share are vision across the valley and to articulate how we would do things differently from Labour.

"We are campaigning against the council tax rise, protecting our green spaces and getting thing moving by investing in the transport infrastructure in the valley.

"I think the people of the valley are ready for a change and the only way they will get that change is by voting Conservative on May 5."

Cllr Adshead said: "'The Green Party formed a separate branch in Rossendale just last autumn and we now have a committed team working in the borough.

"We're really pleased therefore to be fielding candidates in all but one of the wards this local election. The local Green Party wants voters to have the chance to vote for a greener future.

"We believe in a future that puts our communities at its heart and has fairness as its key value."

How the Green and Independent candidates perform on Thursday is likely to decide who takes power in the borough and whether it remains the current political shambles.

ROSSENDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL CANDIDATES:

 

Eden – Anne Cheetham (Conservative), David Hancock (Labour), Gill Hewitt (Green)

Goodshaw – Alyson Barnes (Lab), Ingrid Falat (Green), Jonathan Foxcroft (Con)

Greenfield – Geoff Blow (Green), Neil Looker (Labour & Co-operative), Granville Morris (Con), Val Roberts (Independent)

Greensclough – Jimmy Eaton (Ind), Stuart Haughan (Con), Alexander Vijatov (Green)

Hareholme – Paul Chynoweth (Green), Matthew Littler (Con), Annie McMahon (Lab)

Healey and Whitworth – Alan Neal (Community First), Michael Whitworth (Con)

Helmshore – Thomas Belli (Lab), Katrina Brockbank (Green), Caroline Snowden (Con), Dave Stansfield (Ind)

Irwell – Daniel Brogan (Green), Michelle Smith (Lab), Scott Smith (Con)

Longholme – Chich Hewitt (Green), Liz McInnes (Lab & Co-op), Bob Smethurst (Con)

Stacksteads – Jackie Oakes (Lab), Clare Pickup (Green), David Watson (Con)

Whitewell – Mary Coogan (Lab), Karl Kempson (Con), John Payne (Green), Gareth Trickett (Ind)

Worsley – Ann Kenyon (Lab), Deborah Lord (Con), Richard Lord-Navin (Green).