Tandridge Election Result Mirrors Guildford

Published on: 4 May, 2019
Updated on: 4 May, 2019

Martin Fisher, former leader of Tandridge District Council after losing his seat. Photo – local democracy reporter.

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

The result at Tandridge, in the north-east of Surrey, announced in the early hours of Friday morning, presaged what was about to happen here in Guildford.

As in Guildford for the first time in 20 years, there is now no party with overall control of Tandridge District Council.

Among the losses on Thursday night was council leader Martin Fisher who lost out to David Stamp from Oxted and Limpsfield Residents’ Group (OLRG).

Mr Fisher said he felt the Local Plan and Brexit had had a huge effect on voters.

As results started flooding in at the de Stafford Sports Centre in Caterham it soon became clear for Mr Fisher that it was going to be a “very bad night” for the Conservatives.

The Local Plan blueprint includes building a 4,000-home “garden community” in South Godstone, similar to the settlement planned for Wisley..

Mr Fisher said the “lack of leadership from Westminster” over how the council would deliver the housing targets set in the Local Plan, plus “background chaos of Brexit”, had “not helped” the Conservative party.

Blasting his national party he said: “I just wish there was more unity. I think they have been so focussed on Brexit they have forgotten about all the important issues.”

He said Tandridge has one of the highest percentages of green belt land, another similarity to Guildford, so to meet the housing need they had to build in green belt land.

Mr Fisher added: “The Local Plan is a key issue. I believe we need to build houses for the next generation. But we need clear clarity from government about how we build that in particular with the green belt.”

Mr Fisher lost his seat to OLRG candidate David Stamp with 578 votes to 1,584.

Mr Stamp said after it was announced he had won from the leader: “I’m quite overwhelmed at the moment. It’s going to take the weekend to settle in.”

OLRG won all three seats they contested bumping up their total with the Independence Alliance to 13 councillors overall.

Group leader Cllr Catherine Sayer said: “We are absolutely delighted. We feel we have touched a nerve with this election. People want really local residents representing them. We offer an alternative position for residents.”

Out of the 14 seats up for grabs, Conservatives lost eight and held four, Independents won four, Liberal Democrats won two and held one and OLRG won three.

Cllr Chris Botten, Lib Dems, said: “We have got what we were hoping for. We have made clear gains and a hold.

“There’s now no overall control so there needs to be some sort of conversation.”

He said all parties now need to put “egos and petty squabbling behind them” and debate a way forward.

Turnout for the 47,597 residents entitled to vote was 39.9%

Conservatives have had overall control of Tandridge since 2000.

Conversations will now take place for a way forward.

• Tandridge District Council

Total number of seats: 42

No. of seats contested in May 2019: 14

Ruling Party Now (before elections): No overall control (Conservative)

Political makeup of the council (previous figure):

Conservative 16 (22)

Independent group 2 (2)

Lib Dem 11 (9)

Oxted and Limpsfield Residents’ Group and Independents Alliance 13 (9)

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