THE elections in Win-chester promise to be keenly fought with local issues prominent.

The Tories will seek to exploit the alleged closure of city centre car parks and the Guildhall's supposed losses. In Alresford the Makins Court saga will dominate.

They hope their pledge to cut council tax by five per cent for the next four years will boost their fortunes.

The arrival in 1999 of their new parliamentary candidate Andrew Hayes has spurred the once-dominant party into greater activity.

But the Conservatives' stronger campaigning has led to allegations of lies over the car parks issue from the Liberal Democrats.

This campaign could become one of the bitterest in Winchester where increasingly there is no love lost between the parties.

Already the Liberal Democrats have challenged the Tories to say how they will fund the five per cent cut in council tax, with city councillor Brian Collin saying: "Services would have to be cut if council tax revenues fell."

The make-up of the council is unlikely to change. Although the Liberal Democrats are defending nine seats they have a strong overall majority of 13.

Among the highlights will be New Alresford where Makins Court campaigner Robin Atkins takes on Simon Cook. Mr Cook is the former Winchester city council director of amenities who oversaw the rebuilding of the River Park Leisure Centre.

Attempting to make a political comeback is John Higgins who was ousted in 1999 after controversially supporting park and ride at Bar End. His wife Signe-Maria is also standing for election in St John and All Saints ward covering Highcliffe and Winnall.

A former senior Tory councillor, Dickie Bates, is coming out of retirement to contest Waltham Chase, more than ten miles from his home in Winchester.

Sitting councillors standing down are Lib Dems Phrynette Dickens, Alan Laidlaw and Miranda Bulloch.

The vacant seat in St Bartholomew ward is also being contested. It became available when Tory Flick Drummond, who emigrated to the USA, failed to attend a meeting for the necessary six months.

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