AS the village braces itself for massive housing expansion over the next decade, more people than usual have thrown their hats into the electoral ring.

After 12 years and two uncontested elections, when too few people stood to represent the local community, this election sees a sudden rebirth of interest in issues affecting local people, with 17 people standing for the 15 available places in the North Ward.

Six of them are supporters of Grove Challengers Football Club, which is fighting to secure improved new facilities as housing development threatens their ground. They are club chairman Ian Caldicott, Hayley Webb, Ian Woodbridge, Cliff Phillips, Ian Sewell and Graham Brown.

NORTH WARD (15 seats): William Richard Ackers*, Graham Frederick Brown*, Ian Caldicott, Stephen Dexter, Bill Evans*, Dorothy Muriel Hadcroft*. Peter Llewelyn Hadcroft (Ind)*, Anthony Paul Harker (Ind)*, John Keith Jones*, Maggie Mellersh*, Frank David Parnell*, Clifford Phillips, Ian Sewell, June Margaret Stock*, Haley Ann Webb, Timothy Charles Weekes, Ian John Woodbridge.

MABLY (one seat): Jean Elizabeth Nunn-Price (L)*. KEY: L - Labour; Ind - Independent. *denotes sitting councillor