BLAENAU Gwent Council elections promise to be one of the most closely contested in Gwent.

The once Labour stronghold, home of the founder of the NHS Aneurin Bevan, has been through troubled times in recent years since the saga of the Labour all-women shortlist for the parlimentary elections in 2005.

The party's decision only to field women candidates saw AM and former Labour stalwart Peter Law quit the group and win the seat standing as an independent.

Expulsions of his supporters followed and since then the part has been haemorrhaging councillors, more recently suspended Deputy Leader of the authority Nigel Daniels, Llanhilleth ward councillor Dennis Hughes and Cwmtillery ward councillor Gill Clark over party differences.

With some of the Labour backbone members now standing as independents, People's Voice or no party candidates, it could soon be all change in the council chamber.

Whoever wins on polling day, they face some tough challenges.

Blaenau Gwent received one of its lowest cash settlements from the Assembly this year.

No matter which party they represent, councillors seem to agree that it will be tough to work with such a low budget without some services feeling the backlash.

Regeneration will be near the top of the list for councillors who are elected this year.

The revamp of the former Steelworks site has been long ongoing and the council is looking into ways to bring much needed work, leisure facilities and affordable homes to the borough.

Just this February, the Ebbw Vale railway reopened to passengers for the first time since 1962 - a project headed by Blaenau Gwent council.

But now the council face calls from the public to include Abertillery in the service.

Another challenge will be improving the borough's schools.

A report in December last year called for a £40 million investment into the quality of a number of school buildings in the borough.

It said that children are being educated in crumbling, damp buildings, some with no outdoor play areas.

The report said that at least four schools would need to be replaced with new buildings and others would have to undergo repairs in an extensive programme over the next five to seven years.