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Brian Binley MP

, the Conservative MP for Northampton South, is another MP who hopes the local elections are actually fought on local issues.

The overriding issue in is still town centre development and that's bound up with the future of the town's sports clubs. Plans suggested by both the Saints and the Cobblers for Sixfields and Franklins Gardens are a key election issue, as is the long term development of the town centre to deliver more shops and better access for pedestrians and cyclists.

"It would be fantastic to get that sorted out and moving," said Mr Binley.

"We really need 10,000 new jobs in the town centre. That's something worth fighting for."

Councillor Brian Hoare, the leader of the Lib Dem group says: "I'm surprised at the Conservatives saying they would scrap the Town Centre First policy-because they voted for it in the Council Chamber.

"And it's not been bad for the town - it's a sensible policy that follows national planning guidelines. It's led to the regeneration of the town centre. And whilst it says Town Centre First, it does not stop or prohibit retail development anywhere in our town."

Labour is also fighting on the issue of Northampton's regeneration.

Councillor Lee Mason says: "Of course the town centre's important to the whole of Northampton and we're just as frustrated as anyone else as how long it's taken for progress to be made with the Grosvenor Centre. We want to see it happening soon but it's not either/or - we can have progress in the centre and we also support development for our sporting venues - both the Saints and the Cobblers."

Meanwhile Mr Binley is bemused at Labour's showing on the party lists. "There are only 31 candidates for 45 seats. And that's in a town where there used to be two Labour MPs."

He's right. All the Borough Council seats are contested this year, they don't elect in thirds as many other councils do.

In January Parliament approved a change in the town's Borough Ward boundaries, so the map has completely changed, and many people will have to vote at different polling stations. The town has moved from 47 Councillors in 23 Wards to 45 Councillors in 33 wards, but in 14 of them you can't vote for a Labour candidate.

Labour's leader maintains: "We're the listening party and we want to do more for the people and consult with them more as to what they want to happen."

She thinks there are numbers of disillusioned Lib Dem voters: "I've certainly had on the doorstep remarks about 'Well, we made a mistake voting the way we did last time - yes, I'll certainly be voting Labour this time'. I've had quite a few people saying that to me."

But Councillor Hoare for the Lib Dems thinks this is a particularly important polling day for the Lib Dems.

He said: "There's very good reason for coming out at this election because you can change the voting system for the future to an alternative vote system that makes your vote count even more in the future. So I'd encourage people to vote AV in a positive way.

"I'd also encourage them to vote in the local elections because Northampton is at a crossroads. I hope it does mean that that they can make the decision which returns a Liberal Democrat administration which will continue the improvements we've demonstrated we can deliver for Northampton."

"In Northampton I am hopeful rather than confident," Mr Binley says guardedly.

That may say more about the high water mark the Conservatives hit last time these seats were fought in 2007 than the state of the coalition partners today. Who knows, maybe even local issues may play a part...

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