Despite there being a council ward called Old Town, it doesn’t include some the places most associated with the area.

Wood Street, Swindon Art Gallery and Museum on Bath Road and the eastern side of Devizes Road all belong to Eastcott, which shares many of the same concerns and issues as its neighbour for those who live in the tightly-packed late 19th and early 20th century terraces.

These include the availability of housing, the growth of student-style shared houses of multiple occupation, traffic and parking and the impact on neighbours of a busy, and buzzy, evening and night-time economy.

But Eastcott is also a rarity, politically, among Swindon wards.

It is one where the Liberal Democrats have done well recently.

The seat is represented by two Labour councillors and one Lib Dem – Coun Stan Pajak, who has been a councillor since before Swindon Borough became a unitary authority just before the turn of the century.

The sitting councillor in this election, Labour’s Paul Dixon won the seat in 2015 for the first time, handily enough, with 35 per cent of the vote. His majority was 400 more than his nearest rival, Toby Robson, standing for the Lib Dems.

In 2016 Coun Pajak held on to his seat again, with nearly 45 per cent of the vote.

And last year, another first-time Labour candidate, Imtiyaz Shaikh, took the seat with 45 per cent of the vote, making it it a gain for Labour from the Lib Dems, whose sitting councillor Dave Wood had stepped down.

Coun Shaikh’s majority was less than 300 over Lib Dem candidate Mr Robson, who had improved his performance from two years previously by 13 percentage points, gaining 38 per cent of the vote, with the Conservative candidate a long way back in third.

That has been the pattern for more than a decade; you have to go back to 2008 for an election where the Conservatives did better than third – so the party’s candidate Victoria Pratt has plenty of room to work to increase the party’s presence in the ward.

UKIP’s candidate Susan Day will be hoping that discontent with national politics and the main parties in Westminster translates to votes for her – but previous voting patterns in Eastcott don’t suggest it is fertile territory for the party.

The likely face-off between Labour and the Lib Dems could have quite an impact in the council chamber. A hold for Labour is a necessary step in its quest for overall control.

A gain by the Lib Dems, depending on how results elsewhere go, could put the group in a strong position to hold the balance of power and influence policy.

The Candidates

Sue Day (UKIP)

I am 68 years old and am a Swindonian born and bred.

I have been a member of UKIP for 6 years, and I currently hold the position of treasurer for the Swindon Branch of the party.

I was born in Even Swindon. I have also lived in Penhill, Old Town, Kingshill and Central Swindon.

I worked in financial services for over 20 years before retiring in 2010.

I am proud of Swindon and my country. I know that together we can work to make it great again.

If I am elected I guarantee to do my very best to represent you and your best interests.

The candidate did not supply a photograph.

Paul Dixon (Labour)

I’m standing for re-election in Eastcott.

It has been an honour to serve as a councillor in the ward where I live and to respond to local residents concerns and highlight the issues that are important to people in Eastcott.

If re-elected I will continue to campaign for improvements in housing conditions for private renters and the challenge the proliferation of inappropriate HMO conversions.

I will support increased powers to tackle flytipping and antisocial behaviour and will continue to campaign to ensure that Clifton Street School is restored and the historic nature of the building is respected.

I would like to see a Labour council in Swindon so that we can start to support and invest in our local communities, improve the environment and recycling rates and start to bring back children’s centres to support parents.

Victoria Pratt (Conservative)

I am originally from Old Town and now live in Eastcott with my son.

I am a working single parent and understand the pressures parents face in terms of schooling, resources available for Special Educational Need and finding affordable childcare.

I am standing for election as I feel we need better representation for families and the particular challenges we are facing.

If elected I would work to achieve safer routes to schools, improvements to air quality and greater transparency for accessing SEN resources - which I know from personal experience are often difficult to access.

Toby Robson (Liberal Democrat)

Vibrant Eastcott, the ward I my partner and 3 children have called home for 20 years. I am passionately involved in the parish council along with fellow councillors Stan and Dawn Pajak, dedicating our time and energy to making Eastcott a friendly, safe and desirable place to live.

Being intimately involved in the Eastcott community gives me great insight and understanding of what makes Eastcott a great place to live but also the challenges we face. If issues arise I act quickly and effectively using my extensive experience in local affairs in dealing with the issues.

If elected I will challenge the council, fellow councillors and myself on anything that isn’t in Eastcott’s or Swindon’s interest ensuring accountability for all Swindon tax payers at the same time promoting openness, transparency and honesty.