WINCHESTER Conservatives are confident they will tighten their grip on the city council after next week’s elections.

Of the 19 wards to be contested the Tories are only defending six to 12 for the Liberal Democrats, and one Independent.

Council leader George Beckett has taken the unusual step to publicly predict his Tories will make gains on May 3.

He said: “It’s very tight, but I’m quite happy to say the Conservatives are going to improve their position. We are saying we have done a good job in difficult circumstances.”

The Tories and Lib Dems both have 27 councillors, the Independents two and Labour one. Cllr Beckett runs the council with independent support.

Barton Farm has been the hottest of hot potatoes but Cllr Beckett believes it will only be a live issue in the wards, such as Littleton and Harestock and St Barnabas, closest to the development.

“Most people are now realistic about it and accept that if not Barton Farm then other sites come into play. I don’t think it is a big issue anymore. At the big vote there were only 35 people there, the same people who are never going to support the Conservatives.”

However Cllr Kelsie Learney, leader of the Lib Dem group, denied it was a dead issue: “It is very much alive. People feel let down by the Conservatives.”

Although the Lib Dems have supported plans to earmark Barton Farm for housing in the past, compared to the Tories they look clean: “When it comes down to it was their choice and they choose to build on Barton Farm.”

She acknowledged having to defend 12 seats was spreading resources thinly, adding; “We will have done well to keep things as they are.”

Cllr Learney said they were confident in Cllr Beckett’s former seat of Compton and Otterbourne where Eleanor Bell is seeking to get back on the council and Boarhunt and Southwick where they field local farmer Neil Cutler.

However the Lib Dems will be looking over their shoulder in St Bartholomew ward of Hyde and Abbotts Barton where the Greens are again concentrating all their efforts.

Fortunately for the Tories UKIP are not fielding candidates for the first time in several years.

A familiar face trying to get onto the city council for the first time is Martin Tod, who was defeated by Steve Brine in the General Election in 2010. Mr Tod is contesting St Paul ward in the Fulflood area.

Labour are feeling upbeat and pushing strongly in the St John and All Saints ward that covers Winnall and Highcliffe. The party has chosen well-known local campaigner Janet Berry.

Cllr Chris Pines said people who switched to the Lib Dems when Labour was in power were now returning.

For Cllr Beckett this will be his last city council election. He is standing down to concentrate on winning the nomination as the Conservative candidate for the police commissioner.