AROUND one million voters in Kent and Medway have the chance to go to the polls this week to elect people to represent them in 12 district and borough councils.

However, if the pattern of previous local elections is repeated, as many as two thirds of those could choose to stay at home.

Average turnout the last time these local elections were held in Kent in 1999 ranged from 30 to 35 per cent.

Politicians from all main parties have battled to generate interest in the elections and there are fears the overall turnout will struggle to get beyond that figure.

In addition to voter apathy, some parties have been struck by candidate apathy. A number of seats up for grabs will not be contested by all three main parties.

The elections are taking place in every district council in Kent and in Medway Council, the unitary authority. There are no county council elections.

The political make-up of the county is currently split. The Conservatives control five councils, including Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Swale and Sevenoaks.

Labour run four, Dartford; Gravesham; Thanet and Dover and three are hung and run by a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition: Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Canterbury City Council.

Traditionally, the party of government loses out in mid-term local elections and although the Conservative party nationally has downplayed the gains it expects to make, local activists are setting their sights on wresting control in vulnerable areas.

These include Dover, where boundary changes mean there are now 45 wards instead of 56.

Labour currently has 28 seats with the Tories on 25 but a small shift could see the Tories take power.

A small swing could also see the Tories take control of Tonbridge and Malling, which is currently hung but run by a joint Labour-Liberal Democrat administration.

Another key battleground will be Canterbury, where 103,000 voters will decide who will run the city council.

The most likely result is that the council will remain hung and the Tories – currently the largest single party – would need to gain seven seats from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats to take outright control.

The contest will also be tight in the unitary authority of Medway. Boundary changes there mean 182,000 voters will elect a new slimmed-down council made up of 55 members representing 22 wards. The council currently has 80 councillors in 35 wards.

Nearly 200 candidates will be battling for seats, including three from the British National Party.

The Tories, the largest single group, are optimistic they could take outright control of the council and could benefit from anti-Cliffe airport sentiment.

Medway is the only council in the county experimenting with extended opening hours, giving voters more time to cast their vote.

It would be a major shock if the Tories lost control of either Tunbridge Wells, Ashford or Swale.

Labour will be satisfied it holds on to those councils it currently runs and major gains are unlikely.

That means it will want to ensure it retains its grip on Gravesham and Dartford, where the party has a comfortable majority and Thanet – where the stay-away factor could harm its chances of securing a third successive four-year term.

The party believes the standing of Tony Blair after the Iraq – the so-called “Baghdad bounce” factor – could help limit its losses. However, it could prove vulnerable to a poor turnout.

The Liberal Democrats have been targeting Shepway Council in East Kent and believe it represents their best chance of taking outright control of a council.

It will also expect to do well in Maidstone, where only a third of the 55 seats are being contested. It is the largest single party with 21 councillors, against 19 Tories and 12 Labour.

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