THIRTEEN Tory candidates have been barred from standing at the upcoming Castle Point Council elections after a “human error” on the nomination papers.

Paperwork errors have prompted council officers to rule the nomination of 13 prospective Tory councillors - including a former council deputy leader - as invalid.

The group of 13 have now been told they will not be able to stand at the May 2 poll, which will see all seats on Castle Point Council up for election.

Castle Point’s Conservative Group has declined to comment on the issue but the national Tory party has confirmed that issue was due to “human error” when submitting nominations.

A Conservative spokesman said: “Due to human error on nomination papers, 13 of the candidates are unable to stand in next month’s elections.

“We fully apologise to those candidates unable to stand and to the local people who will be unable to vote for a Conservative candidate in the upcoming elections.”

The Tory candidates who now cannot stand are:

  • John Nicol – Canvey Central ward
  • Wayne Lammert – Canvey East ward
  • June Johnson – Canvey North ward
  • Mandy Shevill – Canvey South ward
  • Jack Fortt – Hadleigh St James ward
  • Clive Water – St George’s ward
  • Graham Lawrence – St Mary’s ward
  • Jeffery Stanley – St Mary’s ward
  • Carole Cross – St Michael’s ward
  • Eleanor Dixon – St Michael’s ward
  • Catherine Sheldon – St Michael’s ward
  • Jamie Bomford – Tarpots ward
  • Jennifer Innis – Thundersley North ward

The nominations also revealed that for the first time in 28 years, Dave Blackwell, the current leader of the council, will not stand in the Canvey Island Central ward.

Mr Blackwell, leader of Canvey Island Independent Party, is now standing as a candidate for the Canvey Island North ward.

Mr Blackwell said: “I have been looking to change to North ward for eight years since I was elected on Essex County Council as the county councillor for the area.

“I also live in North ward and when my dear friend John Payne past away, there was the opportunity to move into North ward.

“I have been proud to represent central for 28 years and have always given 100 per cent to my residents and will do if elected in North ward.”

A new party, Canvey Residents` Alliance, has also been listed with 13 candidates standing.

The election nominations have revealed a number of current councillors are not running for re-election, including, including long-standing councillor and former mayor Godfrey Isaacs.

Other current councillors not standing also include Benjamin Bizzell (People’s Independent Party), Tom Skipp (Con), John Anderson (Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP), Alan Acott (CIIP), Jay Blissett (Con), Allan Taylor (CIIP), Susan Mumford (Con), Hannah Barton-Brown (PIP) and long-serving councillor Beverley Egan (Con).

Due to boundary changes, there has also been a reduction of wards in the borough and there is no longer a Cedar Hall ward, a St Peter’s ward, a Victoria ward, a Boyce ward or Canvey West.

However, there are three new wards - Thundersley South, Thundersley North, and Tarpots and St Michael’s.

Long-serving councillors Godfrey Isaacs, Tom Skipp and Beverley Egan are not standing in the poll on May 2.