With just a week left until the polls open, the political parties fielding candidates at the local elections have made their final play for your votes.

In total 33 candidates are standing across the 12 council wards up for grabs.

Hyndburn council is currently made up of 24 Labour councillors, eight Conservatives and two UKIP councillors.

Of the seats being fought over on May 5, nine are currently held by Labour and three are held by the Tories.

The Tories would have to win all the seats they are contesting to take control of the town hall for the first time in five years.

Six Labour councillors are stepping down or not seeking re-election.

Labour group leader Miles Parkinson said: “Labour have fought for Hyndburn and continue to manage finances without additional borrowing.”

Tony Dobson, leader of the Hyndburn Conservatives, said if they took control of the town hall, they would come forward with a vision for the town centre.

He said: “Within weeks of gaining control of the council we will come forward with a solid business plan.

“Residents and business people are crying out for a vision for our town centre so that people can invest and residents can be reassured that someone cares.”

Paul Thompson, leader of UKIP in Accrington, said their councillors have promoted and prioritised issues designed to benefit the community.

He said: “Your UKIP candidates, who are all Hyndburn residents, if elected, are mandated to use their own judgement and local knowledge in order to help the community, and unlike other parties are not controlled from ‘Central Office’.”

The Green Party, which is fielding two candidates, said the party does not want to involve itself in a ‘class war’. They said: “The Green Party does not promote policies to privatise the NHS, to make homes unaffordable to ordinary people, to convert all schools to academies, to build the HS2 high speed rail, to replace our Trident nuclear weapons or to protect wealthy bankers.”

Polling stations across the borough will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, May 5.

Jane Ellis, returning officer for Hyndburn, said: “With the elections fast approaching, we want to make sure everyone knows how to cast their vote with confidence on May 5.

“Anyone looking for more information will likely find the answer to their questions at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk , and they can get in touch with the team here at Hyndburn council if they have any further queries.”

Party statements for Hyndburn council local elections:

CONSERVATIVE

We have some amazing community caring candidates standing for us throughout Hyndburn this year. They come from all walks of life but stand before you passionate and creative about how they want to improve the wards in which you live. Much has been said about the bus station moving and we as a group have never been in favour of the new location, our preference was always to refurbish the current bus station.

In the years in which we controlled the council up to 2010, all our investment was based on the bus station in its current position, the refurbishment of the market hall.

The bus station is the centre of our town and that’s why we were never in favour of the move.

All our candidates are passionate about local accountability, that’s why we give an undertaking to reintroduce area councils, so that you can hold each of your councillors to account.

We will fight the proposed closures of libraries and other public buildings as we are convinced that if modernised and managed correctly these still have a future. We will work with bus operators to make sure we are providing the best services possible in Hyndburn. Within weeks of gaining control of the council, we will come forward with a solid business plan and vision for Accrington town centre, residents and business people are crying out for a vision for our town centre so that people can invest and residents can be reassured that someone cares.

GREEN PARTY

Politics in this country is changing and the established parties are no longer convincing voters of their competence. The Green Party is growing nationally because it is the only party that fully acknowledges the sheer scale of the global challenges that we face. It has a vision of a better future, it does not involve itself in “class war” politics and it is brave enough to set out the unique plans that would make that future a reality.

Green Party policies are rooted in the aspirations of its members making it a truly democratic party. Nationally, the Green Party prioritises policies to provide 1) a free, publicly owned NHS; 2) enough decent homes; 3) free, locally controlled education; 4) better transport; 5) a safe climate and 6) a fair economy. It does not promote policies to privatise the NHS, to make homes unaffordable to ordinary people, to convert all schools to academies, to build the H2S high speed rail, to replace our Trident nuclear weapons or to protect wealthy bankers.

The East Lancashire Green Party is growing like the national party and is determined to start winning local elections so that Green policies can be put into effect at a local level. It is adopting the campaigning strategies to do this. In its campaigns, it will simply state its own position to the electorate on all issues both local and national.

LABOUR

Hyndburn has suffered the deepest cuts in England while southern councils have been given millions extra. The Tories do not care about the North.

Labour have kept your HBC council tax at the same level as 2010, garden waste collection, pest control and bulky goods removals are still free services and we will never charge for car parking.

Labour have fought for Hyndburn and continue to manage finances without resorting to additional borrowing. We are working with the private sector to bring in new investment and create jobs for local people at new business parks. We also work in partnership with several voluntary groups which has brought in millions of pounds for projects around the borough.

Labour continually source grants for parks and leisure, which enabled a new games area at Milnshaw, a forthcoming £2m revamp at Rhyddings and new sports facilities including 3G football pitches, changing rooms, saunas and a women’s gym. We are now also entering into lease agreements with local football teams so that they can have dedicated home grounds, with Rishton United being the first of its kind.

Labour have invested over £22m into regeneration projects around Hyndburn since 2011, plus secured £7m for new homes and over £10m for a major town centre renovation starting this year.

Only Hyndburn Labour has protected you from these unfair conservative government deep cuts. We offer continuing sound financial management and innovative ideas across Hyndburn, not reckless spending in favoured areas. Please vote Labour on May 5.

UKIP

Paul Thompson and Malcolm Pritchard, UKIP’s local councillors, have an excellent record in both promoting and prioritising issues designed to benefit the community.

They live in the area and have helped shape UKIP policy which puts local people at the very heart of their priorities.

They lead a strong team dedicated to serving the community, and emphasise that ‘local people know best what is right for Hyndburn’ and they will listen carefully to all your concerns.

Your UKIP candidates, who are all Hyndburn residents, if elected, are mandated to use their own judgement and local knowledge in order to help the community, and unlike other parties are not controlled from ‘Central Office’.

A glance at a few of UKIP’s Local Manifesto Priorities demonstrate these points.

Spending our money at home. Hyndburn sends over £10 million a year to Brussels, just imagine the good it could do to help the local area.

Zero tolerance on crime and anti social behaviour, many local people are frightened to go out at night, this cannot be tolerated, more money to our local police force.

Regain local control over development, this just makes good sense.

lPromote local referenda, a move to real democracy.

lWe will work closely with any and all parties who put the local people FIRST !

Your UKIP candidates can be trusted, they live among you and will serve you faithfully.