Councillor’s Resignation Triggers By-Election In Ash

Published on: 15 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 17 Apr, 2025

By David Reading

A by-election will be held to elect a new member of Ash Parish Council to replace Sara Badger in the Ash South Ward.

Ms Badger, who was co-opted as an Independent on to the parish council in June 2023, has recently resigned.

In her resignation letter, she said she and her spouse had dealt with several health concerns over the past year and she felt it better for the community if she stood down to make way for a new member.

The rules state that when there is a casual vacancy, the signatures of ten local electors are needed in order to call an election, otherwise the council can co-opt a member.

In this case, a local resident gathered 12 signatures – saying it was vital there should be an election “for the sake of local democracy”.

So long as the election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday, May 29.

Sara Badger: an Independent who has recently decided to stand down

Ms Badger’s resignation letter voiced a concern about political allegiances at parish level. She believed too much time had been spent debating matters better discussed at borough council level, where party politics were more valid.

She said she hoped the councillor who replaces her – regardless of their political allegiance at borough level – would decide to stand as an Independent. In that way, the parish would benefit far more by working as a unified entity.

The makeup of Ash Parish Council includes three Conservatives – Cllr Nigel Manning, Cllr Marsha Moseley and Cllr John Tonks.

With Sara Badger having resigned, seven of the remaining eight members sit on the council as Independents. Four of those – Cllr Fiona White (chair), Cllr Carla Morson, Cllr Richard Lucas and Cllr Philip Bellamy – are Lib Dems on Guildford Borough Council. Cllr Michael Moriarty has declared his membership of the Labour Party.

The full line-up can be seen here:

https://www.ashpcsurrey.gov.uk/person-category/parish-councillors/

For those wishing to stand as candidates for election, nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at Guildford Borough Council by no later than 4pm on Wednesday, April 30. Anyone wishing to stand can go to:

https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/27420/Ash-Parish-Council-By-Election-Ash-South-Ward