Five wards in and around Ledbury are being contested in council elections on May 4. Here is our guide to each. Incumbent councillors are in bold.

Three Crosses

  • COOPER, Duncan (Liberal Democrats)
  • LESTER, Jonathan Guy (Local Conservatives)
  • TULLY, Rebecca Siobhan (Green Party)

Meandering from south of Bromyard to the Gloucestershire border, this ward has been represented by Conservative group leader and previous leader of the council Jonathan Lester since it was created in 2015.

Last time out, Coun Lester defeated the Greens’ Rebecca Tully convincingly but not overwhelmingly, by 699 votes to 436.

Hope End

  • HEATHFIELD, Helen Ruth (Green Party)
  • JAMES, Kim Marie (Liberal Democrats)
  • PIERI, Keith John (Local Conservatives)

Extending westward from the Malvern Hills, this ward in its current form has since 2015 been held by Conservative councillor Tony Johnson, who is not re-standing.

His potential replacement Keith Pieri is a serving Colwall parish councillor, while Helen Heathfield is a campaign manager for the Green Party and chair of Stretton Grandison Group Parish Council.

Ledbury North

  • FELLOWS, Cole Raymond Thomas Michael (Local Conservatives)
  • HARVEY, Liz (It's Our County: Independent Organised Capable)
  • MURRAY, Gem (Liberal Democrats)
  • SINCLAIR, Ewen John (no affiliation)

Until its three-way split 2015, Ledbury was a single ward returning three county councillors.

Ledbury North has been held since its creation by Liz Harvey, who as a member of the Independents for Herefordshire grouping is head of finance in the current county administration, and is also a town councillor for the same ward.

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Her victory over her sole Conservative opponent last time was by a less than emphatic 9 per cent margin. However he re-election bid may be helped by a split that has seen ex-Conservative town councillor Ewen Sinclair standing as an independent against former party colleague Cole Fellows, a Dilwyn parish councillor.

Ledbury West

  • BROWNING, Jonathan Christopher (Labour Party)
  • F FINCH, Rachael Anne (Local Conservatives)
  • HOWELLS, Phillip (Liberal Democrats)
  • PEBERDY, Justine Anne Haslewood (Green Party)

Current town mayor Phillip Howells took this seat in 2019 in a three-way contest with Conservative and Independent opponents, on a turnout of less than 25 per cent. His opponents this time appear to be newcomers to local government.

Ledbury South

  • EAKIN, Matthew John George (Liberal Democrats)
  • HOPKINS, Will (Labour Party)
  • I'ANSON, Helen Ruth (Local Conservatives)
  • SIMMONS, Stef (Green Party)

Last time Helen I’Anson took this seat for the Conservatives by a margin of just 40 ahead of fellow town councillor Matthew Eakin, who will fancy his chances in the return match. The two also face two more apparent newcomers to Herefordshire politics in the Labour and Green candidates.

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