Noticeable names on list of candidates for Peterborough City Council elections

Cathy Weaver, who twice led the Labour group, will join Conservative Marco Cereste in attempting to return to the council chamber.

Both former councillors’ previous stints at the local authority were characterised by disputes between the Conservatives and Labour, adding further intrigue to their potential comebacks.

Mr Cereste, who lost his seat last year, will stand in Hampton Vale as previously revealed, while Ms Weaver is one of 12 candidates contesting three seats in the new ward of Hargate & Hempsted.

Other noticeable candidates include architect Peter Slinger, who is standing in Fletton & Stanground as an independent.

Mr Slinger, a former regional chairman of the Institute of British Architects and previously on the committee of the Peterborough Civic Society, wants to assist with the development of Peterborough.

Other issues he is campaigning on include more control on Houses of Multiple Occupation, outsourcing services locally and tackling car parking problems, dog fouling and fly-tipping.

He added: “The tendency is for representatives of a ward to do what the party wants them to do. I decided to stand as an individual as I will not be told how to vote.”

Independent councillor Keith Sharp, currently a member for North Ward, is standing as a Liberal Party candidate in Dogsthorpe.

Cllr Sharp originally represented Labour for four years in 1978. He said: “The move to the Liberal Party I do not see as a change because I’ve worked with them these last 16 years and they are not whipped.

“I’m an independent at heart and I believe in the voters having the right representation.”

In addition, Gulf War veteran Nick Senior is standing for the Green Party in Hampton Vale, Mary Herdman, UKIP’s Peterborough parliamentary candidate last year is standing in Eye, Thorney & Newborough Ward, and Matthew Mahabadi, Labour’s 2015 parliamentary candidate in South Holland and The Deepings, is standing in Ravensthorpe.