Kingsmead

The two councillors who share the Kingsmead ward will be defending their seats again on May 5 – although one will be fighting under a different flag.

Former mayor Carol Paradise, who defected from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives last year, has been on B&NES for 12 years and feels that her area of the city has improved immensely over the last couple of years.

She is fighting alongside 22-year-old University of Bath postgraduate student Anthony Masters, who has lived in Bath for four years and says he wants to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and study in the city.

Defending one of the seats for the Lib Dems will be chartered engineer Andrew Furse, a father of two who has represented the area since 1994 and whose priorities are green spaces and tackling crime, with the party's other candidate Douglas Nicol, a father of six and former hotelier, who has been a campaigner for Greenpeace and the League Against Cruel Sports.

Labour has put up Pam Richards, who served on the old Bath City Council for 16 years, and who has recently retired as a social work manager, while the Greens are represented by Eric Lucas, 47, a father of two who works as a children's occupational therapist at the RUH.

The ward has the single UKIP candidate standing in the Bath area, Michael Stanley, a 54-year-old investment manager who says he is standing because people in general and taxpayers in particular have continually been let down by the three main Westminster parties.

Lambridge

In Lambridge, which covers Larkhall, musician and former broadcaster Bryan Chalker is defending the seat he first won eight years ago and says he is "absolutely devoted" to the people of his ward. His fellow candidate is boatbuilder and father of two Dave Laming, who is standing after the death of Richard Maybury, who had represented the area.

They face Liberal Democrat opposition in the shape of a couple, Raine and Quil

Cantrell. Mrs Cantrell works as an employability skills adviser and says she he is particularly interested in issues affecting elderly people, while her husband, a manager and trainer for a recruitment firm, is interested in transport.

Labour's corner is being fought by retired computer officer Bernard Morgan, 72, a father of one who says he is standing to provide an alternative to the two main parties, while retired teacher and mother of two Thelma Grimes is standing for the Greens.

Lansdown

Lansdown is currently represented by former medical consultant Dr Tony Clarke, who says he wants to build on the success of the Conservative administration over the past four years to significantly improve the quality of life in B&NES. His colleague David Hawkins is retiring, with his place as candidate taken by antiques dealer Patrick Anketell-Jones, who is a founder member of the Camden Residents' Association.

The Lib Dem hopefuls are political intern Jeremy Hime, who says he is impressed by the community-based approach of the party, and freelance translator Cherry Shelton-Mills, whose priority is promoting the local economy, particularly local shops.

Labour's Philip McCabe is a 42-year-old solicitor who says he is keen to address the shortage of affordable and appropriate housing in Bath. For the Green Party, 42-year-old rail firm manager David Naismith says he is passionate about public transport and wants to expand local rail networks.

Standing as an independent to highlight the threat to MoD bases is civil servant Allison Derrick, who has worked for the department for 22 years, and says the loss of 2,600 jobs to Bristol would have an adverse effect on Bath's economy.

Lyncombe

In Lyncombe, former MP David Bellotti, a father of two who is keen to preserve the conservation area, is hoping to hang on to his seat for the Lib Dems, with the retirement of colleague Marian McNeir leaving a gap which mother-of-two Katie Hall, who has worked as a speech writer for onetime party leader Lord Ashdown, aims to fill.

The Conservatives are represented by 36-year-old father of two Ben Robinson, a software project manager keen to encourage new businesses to set up in Bath, and mother-of-two Liz Dodgson, who says she cares passionately that the city should thrive.

Retired University of Bath engineering professor Julian Vincent, 68, who is chair of trustees at the BRLSI, is standing for Labour, while father of two Don Grimes, who runs a consultancy business, is the Green candidate.

Newbridge

The Liberal Democrats currently hold both seats in Newbridge, where incumbents Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst and Caroline Roberts have fought against plans for the Bus Rapid Transit scheme. Mother-of-six Ms Brinkhurst has been a councillor since 1995, as has mother-of-one Mrs Roberts, who says she wants to improve road safety and parking particularly around the RUH.

Tory opposition comes in the form of Michael Clarkson, 58, a retired father of two who now volunteers with local charities, and 27-year-old Daniel Hogston, a member of Bath City Church who wants to listen to and assist local residents.

Labour is fielding 36-year-old artist and mother-of-two Jo McCarron, who is the founder of the anti-BRT residents' group Response2route. She says she would campaign for a decent living environment for everyone.

Gavin Withers, 51, a father of two, is standing for the Green Party and says his is the only party which understands the link between caring for the planet and caring for each other.

Odd Down

Father-of-nine Steve Hedges, who works for a care home and as a painter and decorator, and party colleague Nigel Roberts are defending their Odd Down seats for the Liberal Democrats. Father-of-one Mr Roberts has been a councillor since 1992, works as a haematology laboratory manager at the RUH, and is keen to improve Odd Down for all residents by providing more facilities in the area.

Meredith Lloyd, 23, who is keen to improve the state of local pavements, and 22-year-old defence analyst Nicholas de Larrinaga are standing for the Conservatives.

Mother-of-one Liz Vincent, a retired scientific information officer, is standing for Labour, saying one of her priorities is the retention of Culverhay School, while the Green Party's Dominic Tristram, a 36-year-old IT worker, says he is standing because he wants to provide a real alternative.

Oldfield

In Oldfield, current mayor of Bath Shaun McGall is standing down, with Liberal Democrat David Dixon, who for the past nine years has been a councillor in the Walcot ward, hoping to be elected in his place.

The sales director and father of two wants the council to work more closely with public transport providers to create a real alternative to cars. His sitting party colleague Will Sandry, who is a corporate social responsibility specialist, says he wants to achieve a balance between family homes and shared accommodation in Oldfield Park.

The Conservative candidates are both students – University of Bath aeronautical engineering masters student Jack Whalley, and Bath Spa University history third year undergraduate John Grinham, who says he wants to do all he can to improve what he calls "this beautiful city".

The two-seat ward is one where Labour have two hopefuls. Retired NHS systems auditor Roger Chapman wants to improve the stock and availability of affordable housing so that people and families with modest incomes can continue to live in the city, while former councillor Hilary Fraser, a retired teacher trainer, says she will ensure there is local and accountable input into health, social care and education services.

The Greens are fielding 49-year-old IT worker David Beasley, who says he wants to ensure that environmental sustainability must be at the heart of all B&NES policies, decisions and actions.

Peasedown St John

Peasedown St John's Liberal Democrat sitting pair Sarah Bevan and Nathan Hartley are hoping to see off the challenge of three independents to keep their seats at the Guildhall.

Ms Bevan, a mother of one, is chairman of the authority and says she wants to continue her work towards a safer, cleaner, greener Peasedown St John.

Mr Hartley, who owns his own PR firm, has represented the village since 2007 and is a co-founder of its Party in the Park event, saying he is keen to work with local people to make a difference in the community.

The Conservatives are being represented by mother-of -two Margaret Brewer, who has stood several times as a candidate in local elections for the party, and Deirdre Horstmann, who is a onetime parish councillor.

Labour's candidates are Guy Matthews and Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas, who works as a translator and is keen to protect and improve the NHS and promote renewable energy initiatives.

Independent Kathy Thomas, a mother of two, runs a computer training business and after more than 30 years as a parish councillor now wants to try her luck on B&NES.

A second independent is 38-year-old Jonathan Rich, who believes that more of people's council tax should be spent within the village, and is working to help make improvements to the facilities at the Recreation Field.

The third is current parish council chairman, teacher Robert Butt, a father of two who works as a politics and philosophy tutor.