Suffolk: Final countdown to local elections 2013
The polls are now open - Credit: Archant
VOTERS across the county will be going to the polls tomorrow to elect a new county council.
There are 75 seats up for grabs – when they were last elected in 2009 the Conservatives won 55, giving them an overwhelming majority.
In Ipswich there are 13 seats. Four years ago the Conservatives won six, Labour four and the Liberal Democrats three in the town.
This time Labour is expected to make major gains in the town at the expense of both of the other parties.
In Felixstowe there are three seats up for grabs, all Conservative-held. The Tories and LibDems share the other seats around Ipswich.
Across the rest of the county much of the interest will be on the impact of the UK Independence Party – which is expected to take votes off the Conservatives in particular.
The Green Party is also hoping to increase its representation on the authority – it currently has two councillors representing voters in Bury St Edmunds and Mid Suffolk.
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The county council is responsible for many of the local authority services undertaken in the area – including schools’ policy, social services, transport (including roads), financing the library service, and running the fire service.
Polling stations are open from 7am tomorrow until 10pm. However votes will not be counted until Friday. The first results are expected to be declared during the late morning, and the final make-up of the new council should be clear by the early afternoon.
Results and analysis will be published on our website as the shape of the new authority emerges during the afternoon.
There will also be a chance for readers to discuss what is happening with the Star’s team of reporters at the counts.
Visit our election page for full election coverage, click the link top right.
