With the Bolton Council elections taking place on May 5, political reporter Liam Thorp is taking a closer look at some of the key battlegrounds ahead of the crucial vote and speaking to the candidates vying for your all-important votes.

WHEN it comes to the most politically interesting contests at this year’s elections — Hulton should probably win by default.

That is because it is the only one of Bolton’s 20 wards that is currently represented by councillors from three different parties.

UKIP’s Diane Parkinson came to power as one of the first two of the party’s councillors in Greater Manchester in 2014 and was joined as a ward councillor last year by Labour’s Shafaqat Shaikh, who ousted Conservative Phil Ashcroft.

The Tories hold the third seat but have been forced to enter a new candidate after the death of long-serving and popular councillor Alan Walsh earlier this year.

Traditionally a Tory stronghold, it was Cllr Parkinson’s shock victory in 2014 that seems to have created something of a free-for-all in the ward, a theory cemented by Labour’s surprise gain last year.

For the political geeks, this makes for an intriguing battle ahead, with UKIP, Labour and the Tories all having reason to be confident of a crucial victory next week.

For the Tories, 63-year-old Derek Bullock is keen to continue the work of Cllr Walsh in the community.

He said: “Alan was a very respected councillor and someone who worked for the community and didn’t play political games and that is something I would look to continue.

“In Hulton I think many residents have had issues with the new Logistics North development and I will stand up for them on any problems they have coming from that.

“I am a member of the Over Hulton Community Group and part of the team organising the fete later this year.

“I have also launched a petition about community safety — these are the local issues I am focussed on.”

UKIP’S former group chair Joan Johnson, who stood in the ward last year, said she wants to double the party’s representation in Hulton.

She said: “I think it would be great to have two UKIP councillors in Hulton.

“I think we need a better balance of political power in the council chamber, it is very heavily Labour and I think we need more variety in the representation to promote better debate in the council.

“I am very concerned with the level of litter in Bolton and in Hulton and while we have a Hulton community group I think we can grow that and take even more pride in our area.

“I also think we must continue to lobby to improve our roads and to protect our green spaces.”

Aiming to follow in the footsteps of Cllr Shaikh is Labour candidate Darren Whitehead.

The 47-year-old said: “It is the first time that I have stood and one of the reasons I wanted to stand was to specifically stand in Hulton.

“It is a ward that requires a lot of effort and while I think it is winnable for Labour we know we have to work hard to persuade people to support us.

“I believe that the Labour party has delivered in this town and I want to see the people of Hulton benefitting from two Labour councillors.

“It is a diverse ward both socially and economically and I believe that everyone across the ward should benefit from the resources we have and I will work hard to ensure that happens.”

Liberal Democrat candidate David Cooper has some experience on the authority — having served as a councillor for the former Hulton Park ward in the 1980s.

The 57-year-old accountant, said: “Labour has been in power in Bolton for a very long time and overall I don’t think it has been good for the town.

“In Hulton, I think one of the main issues include speeding on some of the key arterial roads and that is something I would look at.

“I have got some experience on the council and I think that shows I am capable of the job.”

Also contesting the seat is Green party candidate James Tomkinson, he said: “Locally I’m particularly concerned about the way Bolton council has disrespected those targeted by the Bedroom tax, not even debating ways of helping them in the council chamber despite receiving a petition and promising to do so.

“The council needs to make basic changes in its own working to point the way forward for other organisations in the town such as looking at becoming more energy efficient and reducing the gap between its highest and lowest paid employees.”