'Super September' for Hants voters

10.01.06pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Aug 2005

Thousands of Hampshire voters go to the polls in September in a major test of local opinion. No fewer than four Council by-elections will be held in the county during the month. The Liberal Democrats and the Tories will each be defending two seats but three of the contests take place in Councils run by the Liberal Democrats.

First to the polls are residents of Drayton and Farlington ward of Portsmouth City Council. The ward was won narrowly by the Conservatives last year but if the Lib Dems gain the seat they will have an outright majority on the Council.

15th September is polling day for Bitterne Park ward of Southampton. Like Portsmouth, Southampton is a unitary authority currently run by a Liberal Democrat minority administration. Bitterne Park has a history of close contests between the Lib Dems and the Tories and this election is likely to be no different.

Also on 15th, residents of Liss elect a new representative to East Hants District Council. EHDC is currently run by the Conservatives but the Lib Dems are mounting a strong challenge in Liss with a popular local candidate.

At the end of the month, voters in the Oliver's Battery ward of Winchester City Council go to the polls in what is likely to be another close contest between the Lib Dems and the Tories.

Anyone wishing to help the Lib Dem campaigns in these areas should contact:

Portsmouth: Patrick Whittle 023 92376808 Mob 07753 635329 (29 Solent Road, Drayton).

Southampton: Sharon Mintoff 02380558690 or 07961 800060 semintoff.t21@btinternet.com

East Hants: Roger or Liz Mullenger 01730 893604 roger.mullenger@btinternet.com

Winchester: David Spender 01962 877767 das78@aol.com