Town and community councils have never enjoyed the popularity, nor the financial returns, of their big brother the county council, but this year's election for the town wards could prove to be more exciting than a fireworks display on Christmas Eve.

As all Monmouth wards are being contested and with two new groups joining in the fray, there could be a few upsets come election night.

With Tory Top Gun Nick Hacket Pain standing down for the Wyesham ward, it leaves the path clear for new blood to emerge now that no Conservative nomination is forthcoming. With six candidates fighting for the four seats and the newly-formed Monnow Group putting up three of those candidates, including former town councillor Gary Witcombe, the question remains whether Bradley and Halliwell, both residents of Wyesham, can persuade voters to climb on board the Monnow Group bus and leave present incumbents Gunter, Were and Wilson standing at the station. It's a big hill to climb as both Were and Gunter are veteran councillors with proven capabilities.

The Town ward is a straight two-way fight between Chris Munslow, independent, and co-founder of the Monmouth Party, Terry Ashton.

Overmonnow is a ward with some big names in it, Gerry Bright, currently mayor, Sue Chivers, independent, John Fletcher, Welsh Conservative, (WC), and Sue White, none of whom will be easy to topple. But with Tudor Greaves and Daryl Hancock both having stood as candidates for town council before, it's not cut and dried yet.

Drybridge ward voters will be sad to see Richard Bond standing down after 25 years – a good councillor with a long history of public service – and with no Lib-Dem to replace him, his 369 votes are going spare.

Eight candidates are vying for just three seats in this ward – WC candidates Terry Christopher and Malcolm Jones defending their record here – with the Monmouth Party's Mark Williamson, Monnow Group candidates Stephen Davis and Ron Sutton plus Plaid Cymru's Sian Damon, WC Graham Pritchard and the Green Party's Christopher Were, it's certain this will be a colourful campaign with a new face guaranteed to sit in the council chambers at the AGM.

For the full story on the upcoming elections, see page 2 of this week's Beacon (18th April)