WILL the Liberal Democrats remain the dominant party on Teignbridge Council or are the Conservatives set to take control as electors go to the polls on Thursday with contests in all 25 wards?

All will be revealed on Friday, May 6, when the votes are counted for the 46 seats, in which 41 councillors out of 125 candidates are seeking re-election.

One of the key figures not standing this time is the council's deputy leader Ray Frost, who is also leader of the Independent Group and has represented Chudleigh for 20 years.

Currently there are 20 Liberal Democrats, 18 Conservatives and eight Independents on the district authority.

Present council leader Alan Connett, who is also leader of the Lib Dem Group, faces a straight fight with Conservative Cllr Francine Tullis in Kenton-with-Starcross.

In Bovey Tracey, there are a dozen candidates fighting for three spaces, with all three of the main parties represented along with UKIP, Green and Independent.

Along the A38 corridor at Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, nine candidates line up for three seats. Again all three main parties and a Green candidate are in opposition.

Of the 91 polling stations across Teignbridge, the Methodist Hall, off Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, is the largest with 2,476 allocated electors, while the Buckland-in-the-Moor Community Hall is the smallest with 101 voters.

The cost of putting on the election will run into thousands of pounds, while the number of staff involved runs to nearly 600.

Polling stations are open between 7am-10pm on Thursday, and at the close the 151 ballot boxes will be taken to the Newton Abbot racecourse for verification. The count for district and the town and parish council wards where there are contests, will begin at 10am on Friday.

On Thursday electors also have a referendum on whether to say yes or no to an Alternative Voting (AV) system or remain with the first past the post system.

The count for AV is also at the racecourse, begins at 4pm and is expected to be completed by 7.30pm.

In the Chagford seat on West Devon Borough Council, Independent Robert Sampson defends his seat against Nicky Heyworth (Conservative) and Martin Young (Labour).

There are four candidates in the South Hams Eastmoor Ward, which covers Buckfastleigh West, Dean Prior and Holne.

Liberal Democrat Colin Jones defends his seat against John Dance (Independent), Peter Smerdon (Conservative) and Lydia Somerville (Green).

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