TWO candidates standing under an Apolitical banner are planning to put the cat among the pigeons by standing for Newbury Town Council at next month's by-election.

Married couple Charlie Farrow and Dave Yates, from Berkeley Road, will be fighting on Thursday, May 9, for the two Victoria ward seats left vacant when Liberal Democrats Liz Salter and Mukesh Bansal stepped down last month because of work and personal commitments.

They are hoping to shake up the established parties and Charlie said this week: "The Council's not listening. If we can get two Apolitical voices on Newbury Town Council maybe we can amplify the voices of the thousands who are not being heard."

They decided to have their say after noticing Newbury Market was on the decline. After speaking to traders who see a move from the Market Place to Northbrook Street as vital to their survival, they say the council appears to be ignoring their pleas.

Dave said: "The Council seem hellbent on getting rid of the market. They seem to want to turn the town into the next Basingstoke. But the people haven't been consulted on this. The people that we speak to don't want the town changed, they want us to stay as a nice little market town.

"There's an 'us and them' situation, 'us' the people, and 'them' the Council. The Council do things to us not for us."

Charlie said: "The Charter Market is shrinking. Some traders will pack up soon for good and they do not want their children following them into third generation businesses.

"There is a lack of acceptance by the Town Council that the dynamic of the town has shifted north away from the Market Square."

The couple also hope to express their fury over Victoria Park, which they both believe has been neglected by the council, with cracked pathways and a general lack of repair work.

Charlie said: "We want to bring all of these voices into the council chamber, so that we aren't just beating on the doors from outside. We need to get them to listen to us."

The Liberal Democrat candidates in Victoria ward are ex-policeman Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera and Newbury barrister Alex Payton, for the Conservatives Stuart Fairbrother is a high-tech manufacturer and Malcolm Bowler is a highways expert, representing Labour will be Kate Butler and Gary John Puffett.