THE clock is counting down for what could be the final elections to Salisbury and Kennet district councils.

Nominations for seats on the two councils closed last Thursday, and winners at the May 3 polls will have little more than 18 months to serve if controversial plans for a huge local government shake-up is approved by ministers in July.

Under the plans - fiercely opposed by both Salisbury and Kennet - all five of Wiltshire's existing councils would be replaced by a single super council covering the whole of the county by 2009.

But despite such an uncertain future, the competition for council places in next month's elections will be intense.

A total of 123 candidates will be fighting for the 55 seats on Salisbury District Council, currently controlled by the Tories, whose decision to press ahead with the building of new £15.4m centralised offices at Bourne Hill is certain to be a major election issue.

All but one of the council's 28 wards are to be contested, and the Conservatives will be fielding a team of 45 candidates. The Liberal Democrats, hoping to repeat their triumph of 1995 when they won power, are putting forward 35 candidates and Labour a team of 15.

But the surprise package is the United Kingdom Independence Party, which is fielding a record 11 candidates.

The Green Party, too, has entered the fray in earnest, with a record ten nominees. There are also seven Independents seeking election.

The only uncontested ward is Bulford, which has two seats for which the only nominees - one Liberal Democrat and one Conservative - have been returned unopposed.

Nine Tory councillors are standing down this time, including cabinet member Sara Willan, Mayor of Salisbury, Sheila Warrander, Laverstock vetaran, Frank Bissington, and Harnham East member John Collier.

Meanwhile, Labour are losing Paul Leo, who is not seeking re-election in Downton and Redlynch ward, and former city Mayor, Sue Mallory, standing down in Fisherton and Bemerton Village.

Liberal Democrat, Judith Greville, is standing down at Durrington, long-serving Allan Peach (a Conservative who switched last year to the Independents) is retiring from his Amesbury seat and Independent Jeremy Hooper is standing down in Tisbury and Fovant ward.

The make-up of the former council was Conservative 31, Labour 11, Liberal Democrats nine and Independents 4.

All but two of the 31 Kennet District Council wards are being contested, and nominations for the 43 seats on the Devizes-based authority, include a record 17 Ukip candidates.

The make-up up the previous council was Conservatives 29, Independents seven, Liberal Democrats two, Labour one, Devizes Guardians three and Ukip one.

Five of the Kennet wards - Collingbourne, Ludgershall, Netheravon, Tidworth and Upavon - are in the Journal circulation area.