Independent hope in Stanford

6:37am Thursday 26th April 2007

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The result of Stanford ward caused a bit of an upset last year, with independent Jayne Bennett claiming one of the two seats.

The well-known campaigner and chairwoman of the Hove Park Residents' Association managed to succeed where dozens of other independents failed.

The former Conservative councillor is well placed to keep her seat, maintaining her high profile and hard work in the well-heeled ward.

She has been campaigning on parking, graffiti, schools and parks.

Vanessa Brown, deputy leader of the Conservative Party, is also up for reelection and is well-known in what should be Tory heartland. Michael Switzer will stand again as the other Conservative candidate, hoping to make up the 70-vote deficit on Coun Bennett.

The Tories are campaigning on a review of the secondary school catchment areas, improvements to parks and more civic pride.

Couns Bennett and Brown have raised concerns about the number of developments in back gardens.

Labour, Greens and the Lib Dems are also fielding two candidates but do not poll well in this area of Hove.

Roy Alldred and former county councillor Jo Lake will be standing for the Lib Dems.

The Greens are represented by Liz Petty and Mike Butler and Labour by Lisa Buckingham and Jacqueline Teeboon.