THERE’S less one week to go before people go to the polls in the local elections – and it has been revealed that a number of current borough councillors have decided to call it a day.

The list of the candidates, who will be standing in the 21 wards up for grabs, has been revealed and it has emerged that three of the current councillors will not be standing for re-election.

Former borough council leader and Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Paula Baker, Labour councillor for Brighton Hill North Carolyn Wooldridge and Conservative councillor for Winklebury Steven Peach have all announced they will not stand again at the local elections on May 7.

Liberal Democrats’ Paula Baker, who has been a borough councillor for 28 years, told The Gazette that she plans to spend more time with her family.

Cllr Carolyn Wooldridge, a Labour councillor for the Brighton Hill North ward, has served on the council for four years.

The 47-year-old mother-of-two has decided not to stand so she can spend more time with her family and she is also about to start a new job at Sovereign Housing Association.

She said: “I have been really privileged to be a councillor for the last four years for Brighton Hill North.

“I didn’t expect to get in but I worked really hard and was humbled by being elected and I feel that I have achieved quite a lot in Brighton Hill.

“I have helped fend off Tesco, helped get a new post office and also helped in the setting up of a youth club.”

Another councillor who is set to call it a day is Cllr Steven Peach, the Conservative member for Winklebury, who also plans to concentrate on his family and career.