THERE will be lots more faces on Ryedale District Council this year as the local authority takes on an additional seven councillors.

A central government shake-up means 30 seats will be contested in the May 1 elections. Currently there are 23 councillors covering Ryedale.

Ward boundaries have also been redefined, meaning there will be more seats available in some of the district’s towns.

Norton ward has been split into Norton East and Norton West, with two councillors to represent each, instead of the current two covering the whole town.

Pickering has also been split into east and west wards with two seats each. There are three councillors representing the town at the moment.

Seats available in Malton will increase from two to three.

Coun Debbie Aubrook, who represents the current Kirby Misperton ward, and Coun Keith Orrell, representing Malton, will not be standing at this year’s elections.

Candidates are:

Amotherby – Pamela Anderson (Con); Florence Ford (Lib Dem).

Ampleforth – James Bailey (Con); Anne Carter (Lib Dem).

Cropton – John Clark (Lib); Gregory White (Con).

Dales – Charles Scott (Con); Amy Trevelyan (Lib).

Derwent – David Clarkson (Con); Brian Cottam (Con); Ronald King (Lib Dem). Helmsley – Richard Toby (Con); Christopher Parkin (Con); Edward Wardle (Ind). Hovingham – David Fearnhead (Lab); Charles Wainwright (Ind). Kirkbymoorside – Valerie Arnold (Con); Susan Balf (Lab); David Cussons (Con); Garfield Hobbs (Lab). Malton – Paul Andrews (Lib Dem); Lindsay Burr (Lib Dem); Martin Dales (Con); Anne Edwards (Con); Ann Hopkinson; Patricia Moore (Con); Stephen Preston (Lib Dem) Norton East – Ann Beaumont (Lab); Howard Keal (Lib Dem); Stephen Langton (Lab); Stephen Shaw (Con); Elizabeth Shields (Lib Dem). Norton West – Stuart Collins (Lib Dem); Allin Jenkins (Ind); Dinah Keal (Lib Dem); James Mitchell Urquhart (Lab). Pickering East – Arthur Aslett (Lib Dem); Judith Dixon (Lab); Angela Huggan (Con); Jill Murkett (Lab); Joan Taylor (Ind). Pickering West – Linda Cowling (Con); Krystina Meinardi (Lib Dem); Natalie Warriner (Ind). Rillington – Brian Maud (Ind); James Robinson (Con).

Ryedale South West – Barbara Kerrison (Lib Dem); Keith Knaggs (Con).

Sherburn – John Raper (Con); Percy Spaven (Lib Dem). Sheriff Hutton – James Cleary (Con); Alan Farnaby (Ind) Sinnington – Adrian Paul Bishop (Lib Dem); Phillip Huntington (Con). Thornton Dale – Wilfred Garbutt (Ind); Ronald Haigh (Con); Allan Monkhouse (Lib Dem); Helen Schroeder (Lib Dem).

Wolds – Allan Howard (Con)