Areas of Reading have become battlegrounds in the lead-up to local elections next week as the political parties are vying for votes.
The Labour Party is expected to maintain its control over Reading Borough Council as it currently has 32 councillors, comfortably over the 25 it needs for a majority.
How big that majority stays remains to be seen, as the main opposition party, the Greens, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are all seeking to increase their standing in the council chamber.
The council currently comprises 32 Labour representatives, seven Green councillors, five Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats and councillor Sarah Hacker, the sole Independent.
The prospect of Reading becoming a one-party state led by Labour failed to materialise last year, as Greens held onto Katesgrove and their safer seats in Park, and Conservative councillor Raj Singh clung on in Kentwood.
There are four wards where the result is expected to be close for the local election on Thursday, May 2:
Caversham Heights
Labour are on the march in northern Caversham, where they were able to dislodge councillor Paul Carnell in Caversham Heights last year.
Labour will be eager to retain the seat in Caversham Heights first won by Sue Kitchingham in the all-out elections in 2022, who came in second place.
Following her retirement, Labour is standing a fresh face in their candidate Jenny McGrother.
Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Paul Carnell will be eager to regain the seat he lost to Sam Juthani last year.
Other hopefuls for the ward are Vania Costa-Krol from the Liberal Democrats and Danny McNamara for the Greens.
Redlands
Redlands, which covers the university area of the town, will again be a battleground between the Greens and Labour.
This time, incumbent Green councillor Dave McElroy will face off against Labour newcomer Sunil Lobo.
Both are campaigning hard, with Lobo calling for restrictions on HMOs and joining Labour councillor Will Cross at meetings.
Meanwhile, Cllr McElroy has been announced as the Green candidate for the Reading Central parliamentary seat, providing a profile boost to his campaign.
Redlands is also being contested by the Lib Dem Francis Jakeman, Richard Williams, the Conservative candidate and Melanie Dent from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).
Katesgrove
Katesgrove will be hotly contested as a Labour newcomer will hope to cling on to the seat where Greens have proven successful.
Cllr Liam Challenger stood down this year after coming second in the all out elections in 2022.
The Greens will be very keen to get their campaigner Kate Nikulina into the seat after disappointments in 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, Labour candidate Navjit Kaur Gill will be hoping to cling onto the seat for the ruling party.
Candidates from the main parties are Margaret McNeill for the Lib Dems and John Angus for the Conservatives. Sam Church from the TUSC, and independents Michael Turberville and Jean-Louis Pascual are also in the running.
Kentwood
Kentwood is another place where the Conservatives may hope to pick up a seat.
It is currently held by Mark Keeping, first elected in 2022. Since then, cllr Keeping has been working hard to get answers over the Oak Tree Road closure and push for accessibility at Tilehurst train station.
The Conservatives aim to unhorse him with their candidate Nick Fudge, who has been campaigning to end the blight of flytipping and reinstate 30-minute free weekly parking at two Tilehurst car parks.
Mr Fudge came in sixth place for Kentwood in the all-out elections in 2022, missing out on a seat.
Others standing are Caroline Hearst for the Greens and Riccardo Mancuso-Marcello for the Lib Dems.
