BOLTON Council positions will not be the only hotly contested seats being voted for tomorrow.

At the heart of many of the distinct areas in Bolton sit town councils, including in Westhoughton, Horwich and Blackrod.

Debating and deciding on neighbourhood planning, local events, and even taxes, parish councillors make important choices for residents but also provide them with the first forum in local government to raise their own concerns.

In this year’s elections, fledgling local parties have been making headlines with an unprecedented rise in popularity and candidates’ campaigns for seats looking increasingly competitive in the run up to voting day.

In all three town council areas, new parties have formed in response to residents’ feelings of being forgotten by the borough.

The parties campaign under the banner of giving an alternative to mainstream parties and an independent voice for their constituencies, with Horwich and Blackrod First Independents fielding town council candidates in Horwich, and Westhoughton First Independents candidates appearing on ballots in Westhoughton.

The new parties will appear alongside mainstay groups, including Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats.

Along with feelings of exclusion, concerns around overdevelopment have also plagued each area. Residents of Horwich are currently fighting plans to build 300 homes on Horwich Golf Course, while Westhoughton locals are voicing concerns about the lack of infrastructure to support multiple developments, including the controversial Bowlands Hey homes. Blackrod is still reeling from past planning decisions in 2015 and 2016, which saw the replacement of a children’s play area with social housing.

Tomorrow, residents can cast their votes for candidates vying for seats in the wards of the three town councils. All seats are there for the taking, an all-out election which only occurs every four years. Some candidates may also be standing for seats in the borough elections. Town councillors seeking re-election may be doing so in the same ward or for a different ward.

The polling booths open at 7am on tomorrow. After they close at 10pm that night, the ballot boxes will be assembled for vote counting. The results will be announced in the early hours of Friday.

In BLACKROD, there are three positions up for grabs for each of the two wards.

BLACKROD SOUTH has one Labour and two Independent town councillors. Town councillors Alan Bury, Graham Farrington and Suzy Warburton are standing for re-election in the ward. There are four candidates. They are: Alan Bury, Labour, Graham Farrington, Independent, Diane Parkinson, Conservative, Suzy Warburton, Independent.

BLACKROD CENTRAL has one Independent and two Labour town councillors. Town councillors Alan Stephen Bury, Sue Gaskell and Isabel Seddon are standing for re-election in the ward. There are four candidates. They are: Susan Baines, Conservative, Alan Stephen Bury, Labour, Sue Gaskell, Independent, Isabel Seddon, Labour.

BLACKROD NORTH is uncontested. The three seats have been won by Nick Bell, Independent, Michael Hollick, Conservative, John Price, Independent. Town councillors and Michael Hollick and John Price have been re-elected.

In HORWICH, the number of seats available depends on the ward.

HORWICH BRAZLEY has two Labour town councillors. Town councillors Joyce Kellett and Kevin McKeon are seeking re-election in the ward. There are six candidates. They are: Andy Coward, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Sue Denton, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Carol Forshaw, Conservative, Joyce Kellet, Labour, Kevin McKeon, Labour, Kevin Mulligan, Liberal Democrats.

HORWICH BRIDGE has one Independent and two Labour town councillors. Town councillor Peter Wright is standing for re-election in the ward. There are seven candidates. They are: Michael Baines, Conservative, Jake Bostocksmith, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, James Bullock, Labour, John Falch, Liberal Democrats, David Holden-Locke, Labour, Denise Silcock, Labour, Peter Wright, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents.

HORWICH CHURCH has one Liberal Democrat and one Independent town councillor. Town councillors Marie Brady and Gordon Stone are standing for re-election in the ward. There are four candidates. They are: Marie Brady, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Richard Silvester, Labour, Gordon Stone, Liberal Democrats, Kevin Walsh, Liberal Democrats.

HORWICH CLAYPOOL has two Liberal Democrat town councillors. Town councillor Steve Rock is standing for re-election in the ward. There are six candidates. They are: Ian Aldcroft, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Kate Lewis, Labour, Irene McKeon, Labour, Samuel Rimmer, Conservative, Steve Rock, Liberal Democrats, Scott Turner-Preece, Liberal Democrats.

HORWICH LEVER PARK has one Labour and two Independent town councillors. Town councillors Steven Chadwick and Ken Denton are standing for re-election in the ward. There are 10 candidates. They are: Matthew Allen, Liberal Democrats, Stewart Burke, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Steven Chadwick, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Ken Denton, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Anne Galloway, Conservative, Mike Jarvis, Labour, Peter McGeehan, Labour, Julia Silvester, Labour, Elizabeth Turner, Liberal Democrats, Caroline Turner-Preece, Liberal Democrats.

HORWICH VALE has two Labour town councillors. There are five candidates. They are: Dorothy Bullock, Labour, David Grant, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Richard Humphrey, Liberal Democrats, Jayne Littler, Craig Rotheram, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents.

In WESTHOUGHTON, the number of seats available depends on the ward.

WESTHOUGHTON CENTRAL has four Labour town councillors. Town councillors Colette Harkin and Kevan Jones are standing for re-election in the ward. There are 10 candidates. They are: Richard Bates, Labour, Richard Brennan, Westhoughton First Independents, Colette Harkin, Labour, Kevan Jones, Labour, Carol Kirkman, Liberal Democrats, Neil Maher, Liberal Democrats, Pamela Naylor, Westhoughton First Independents, Angela Seddon, Liberal Democrats, Taryn Watters, Labour, Alvis Young, Liberal Democrats.

WESTHOUGHTON CHEQUERBENT has one Independent and one Labour town councillor. Town councillor Jack Speight is standing for re-election in the ward. There are five candidates. They are: Maureen Askew, Liberal Democrats, Derek Bullock, Conservative, James Copper, Labour, Jack Speight, Westhoughton First Independents, Martin Tansey, Liberal Democrats.

WESTHOUGHTON DAISY HILL has one Liberal Democrat, one Labour and one Conservative town councillor. Town councillors Rebekah Fairhurst and Gill William are standing for re-election in the ward. There are seven candidates. They are: Rebekah Fairhurst, Liberal Democrats, Anita Jackson-Baratinsky, Westhoughton First Independents, Deirdre McGeown, Liberal Democrats, Janette Nicholson, Liberal Democrats, Victoria Rowley, Westhoughton First Independents, Martin Tighe, Conservative, Gill Williams, Labour.

WESTHOUGHTON HOSKERS AND HART COMMON has three Liberal Democrat town councillors. Town councillors Derek Gradwell and David Wilkinson are seeking re-election in the ward. There are nine candidates. They are: Derek Gradwell, Liberal Democrats, Zoe Gratrix, Conservative, Toby Hewitt, Conservative, Kumar Kakinada, Liberal Democrats, Karl Landauro, Labour, Lisa Reilly, Westhoughton First Independents, Nilda Speight, Westhoughton First Independents, Anna-Marie Watters, Labour, David Wilkinson, Liberal Democrats.

WESTHOUGHTON WHITE HORSE has one Liberal Democrat and two Labour town councillors. Town councillor Arthur Price is standing for re-election in the ward. There are ten candidates. They are: Martyn Cox, Conservative, Lee Hill, Liberal Democrats, Brian Holland, Liberal Democrats, Stephen Leape, Liberal Democrats, Marina Maley, Westhoughton First Independents, Andy Morgan, Conserative, Arthur Price, Labour, Charlie Reilly, Westhoughton First Independents, Alan Riley, Liberal Democrats, Amanda Stewart, Labour.

WESTHOUGHTON WINGATES has one Liberal Democrat and one Labour town councillor. Town councillor Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon is standing for re-election in the ward. There are five candidates. They are: Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon, Liberal Democrats, Anthea Ingle, Westhoughton First Independents, Michelle O’Riordan, Liberal Democrats, Patricia Rothwell, Conservative, Eifion Williams, Labour.