This is why there are no elections across Bristol region this year

Lots of people across the country head to the polls on Thursday, but not here

The local elections are on Thursday, May 7(Image: PA)

Across the country voters will head to the polls on Thursday (May 7) to decide which politicians should represent them. But not in the wider Bristol area where voters will not be taking part in local elections this year, unlike many other parts of England.

This is because of the sometimes confusing way that local elections are scheduled, at separate times in different councils. Bristol last voted in local elections two years ago, and the Greens are halfway through their term largely running Bristol City Council. The next elections are in 2028.

South Gloucestershire last voted three years ago, when the Liberal Democrats took over South Gloucestershire Council with support from Labour. The next elections are scheduled for May next year. But parish and town council by-elections are scheduled in some places on May 14.

Bath and North East Somerset Council also last voted in 2023, when the Liberal Democrats increased their majority. The next elections are due in May next year. North Somerset Council held elections in 2023 as well, and is under no overall control. The next elections are in 2027.

On a regional level, last year voters elected a new mayor to run the West of England Combined Authority. This organisation covers the wider Bristol and Bath area, and is responsible for issues like transport, skills and drawing up a regional housing plan. Labour kept control of the combined authority last year, and the next elections are due in 2029.

A handful of voters in South Gloucestershire will be heading to the polls on May 14, for by-elections. These include the Conygre ward for Filton Town Council, the West ward of Frampton Cotterell, and the Winterbourne ward of Winterbourne Parish Council.

Pollsters predict the local elections on Thursday, May 7, will be disastrous for Labour, with Reform and the Greens both forecast to make huge gains. Wales and Scotland are also both heading to the polls for national elections in the Senedd and Holyrood.