Development is one of the major issues in St Andrew’s ward.

It is one of the newer areas of Swindon, as evinced by the significant number of new housing estates still being built in the area. This includes Tadpole Garden Village and its large rural area, on the very edge of north west Swindon, which is also earmarked in Swindon Borough Council’s land availability assessment as “possibly developable”.

The impacts of rapid growth, the need for schools and doctors surgeries and increasing traffic will all matter to voters.

One specific issue is the development of the Abbey Stadium and how that affects the area.

Whatever happens at the local elections on May 2 the residents of St Andrews will have a new councillor aiming to fight their corner.

And if will be a surprise to say the least should it not be a Conservative if past results are anything to go by.

Sitting councillor Mary Friend, who was elected with two Tory colleagues when the ward as it is now was created in a boundary rearrangement in 2012, is stepping down.

And the ward has elected Conservatives at every election since then - by handsome margins.

In 2015 Coun Friend won the seat with 58 per cent of the vote in a five-horse race, with Labour’s candidate in second with just 20 per cent and UKIP, then really making a challenge in UK politics, in third.

Subsequent elections have merely reinforced the Conservatives’ grip.

Vera Tomlinson, who was first elected in 2008 in the Abbeymeads ward which became part of St Andrew’s in 2012, won her last battle in 2016 with an even more resounding 59.8 per cent of the vote, with Labour again in second with 22 percent and UKIP third.

Last year’s Labour candidate, Jason Mills, closed the gap to the Conservative Rahul Tahar, a little. Coun Tahar was elected with 54.8 per cent, while Mr Mills took 29 per cent.

With Greens and the Liberal Democrats coming in third and fourth, UKIP in a year where the party struggled badly everywhere, came in fifth.

This year there are just three candidates and Steve Heyes, for the Conservatives, must be considered the front-runner on past form.

Steven Pipe, for the Green Party, will hope that increased concerns and publicity for environmental issues, and what some might see as threats to green land in the ward could bring him some votes, and Thomas Craigie, for Labour, will be hoping that the Conservative government’s difficulties might discourage the party’s voters.

With no UKIP candidate to draw leave-leaning Conservative voters away from Mr Heyes, it’s possible that Mr Craigie’s best hope is that a general sense of disillusionment with politics keeps such voters at home, especially with turnout at local elections away from a general elections tending to be very low.

If the Conservatives don’t hold the seat, a major change is happening in Swindon politics.

The Candidates

Thomas Craigie (Labour)

I am proud to be the Labour candidate for the St Andrew's Ward.

I live in Redhouse with my wife of fiveyears and run two small businesses.

I worked for 17 years in the public sector specialising in fraud investigation and accounting with valuable experience of delivering value for money.

I volunteer as a governor for a school and an SEN college while also acting as treasurer for the Old Town Festival.

As your councillor, I will put you first - working tirelessly to improve local services and as a resident, will address issues including anti-social behaviour, parking, Thamesdown Drive and littering, to improve our community.

I will bring positive change, be open, transparent and visible – ensuring you have a councillor genuinely working for you and the many.

Steve Heyes (Conservative)

I have been an active community campaigner in North Swindon; working with Justin Tomlinson MP and councillors on the Better Broadband for North Swindon Campaign, as well as being a proactive parish councillor who works all year round to keep our area safe, clean and tidy.

I continue to work with the local police team on a number of issues, and alongside Councillors Vera Tomlinson & Rahul Tarar, I will continue to work with local developers to ensure that developments have sufficient parking, green space and facilities.

I am a project manager for a local business and my wife and I have raised our four children here, all of whom have attended local schools. It would be an honour to represent St Andrews as a borough councillor.

Steven Pipe (Green Party)

I am a 39-year-old solicitor and have lived in the St Andrew's ward for 13 years with my wonderful wife and daughter.

Swindon is a great place to live, work and raise a family.

The Conservative council and government’s austerity agenda means that investment has failed to keep pace with the rapid expansion of the town.

Recycling rates have dropped, and fly tipping has increased. The Groundwell Park and Ride remains closed and there appears to be no sensible public transport policy.

A voice that champions the importance of the environment has never been needed more.

I believe that a positive Green voice on the council would be a welcome addition and a timely reminder that we only have one planet and need to take care of it before it is too late.