WITH just seven weeks to go until the local government elections, Liberal Democrats on Waverley Council have been shocked by a third defection from their ranks - this time by one of their longest standing councillors. Retired architect Michael Blower, who topped the poll in the Weybourne and Badshot Lea ward in the 2003 elections, has announced he can no longer support the local Liberal Democrats. Mr Blower, a Lib Dem borough councillor for 16 years, will contest the seat for the newly formed Waverley Independents Network (known as WIN) at the elections on May 3. In the meantime, he will be joining the three Independent councillors who hold the balance of power between Conservatives and Lib Dems on the "hung" council. Mr Blower's change of allegiance, which is linked to the East Street redevelopment controversy, will leave the Lib Dems with 27 councillors - just one more than the Conservatives. It strengthens the hand of the Independents, whose critical votes have already dealt the Lib Dem administration at least one embarrassing defeat. And it could not have come at a better time for WIN. The network has been formed, according to the Independent councillors, because of continued representations from the public for less politics in local government. It is currently touting for new members, offering help to anyone who wants to be an Independent candidate at the forthcoming borough and town council elections. "It was not an easy decision for me to make," said Mr Blower. "I have had a long association with the party, but over recent years I have become more and more disillusioned with party politics in local government." The former county councillor first stood for the Liberals in Godalming in 1965, around the time that he first began working on Farnham's buildings. It was his production in 2002 of a set of drawings showing his vision for the East Street - a vision very unlike the current Crest Nicholson planning application - which has led to his split with the local party. The ruling of Waverley's legal department has been that this gives him a prejudicial interest, preventing him from staying in the chamber during debates on East Street, let alone speaking or voting. "It has been very difficult to have been sidelined because of my submission of the plans, which were well received. From then on I was cast into the darkness. "I have had no input at all, yet I have worked on every building on that site in the last 40 years. "I cannot say anything. I am not asked anything. The portfolio holder makes statements on architectural matters without any reference to me." As an Independent, Mr Blower will still be excluded from the relevant debates, but believes fellow network members will be open-minded to his views outside the chamber. "They will be governed by good sense, there will be no whip telling us what to do. That is the understanding under which I am joining." Mr Blower added that when the East Street scheme was first suggested, everybody reiterated that it should be a non-political issue. "I have seen it with great despair become political over the years." He described the current block two-party situation as counter-productive to good decision making. The East Street situation had brought to a head the shortcomings in fulfilling promises made by both parties. "It is impossible to think that the Independents will suddenly become the major party. But in Farnham there seems to be quite a good little team building up. It could be an influence for the good." He added: "I remain a Liberal Democrat in its ideals, but I don't see that locally I have loyalties, in view of what has been happening." Lib Dem group and council leader Gillian Ferguson described Mr Blower's decision as "really disappointing and disheartening". "It is very, very sad and I am very disappointed indeed that he is leaving us," she said. "He has been one of the most valued councillors for the Liberal Democrats for many, many, years." Miss Ferguson said there was great respect for Mr Blower as an architect and agreed that his East Street designs were mostly well received. "Unfortunately, we have a contract that was signed before we took over and we have had to work with that contract," she pointed out. "Because he put up his own designs for the scheme he prejudiced himself. It was very evident that he was in that prejudiced position and stood back from these discussions on East Street." The leader added that personally, she would have had no problem with Mr Blower speaking and saying whatever he liked on East Street. "We have listened to what he has said outside the chamber. We all know how he feels about East Street." Miss Ferguson questioned the Independents' claim to be non-political and said they seemed to be standing on a single issue - East Street, "It's almost like another anti-East Street group. I can't see anything else they stand for." She also acknowledged the difficult situation the Lib Dem administration is in with its slim hold on the council yet further reduced. "It was always going to get more and more political as we go towards May 3, but I would hate to see it interfere with the solid work the council is doing," she observed. Victor Duckett, who was the first Lib Dem defector two years ago and now leads Waverley's Independents, commented: "I am really pleased that Michael is joining us on the council, it will give him the freedom to follow his conscience rather than be pressured by the party whip." Fellow defector Penny Marriott claimed: "There has been an outpouring of frustration from residents right across the Waverley borough. "People are fed up with Waverley councillors supporting party positions that are fundamentally detrimental to Farnham and other areas of the borough. It is time that there was a more representative voice on local councils free of party politics." Independent Farnham town councillor Peter Marriott observed: "Farnham is fraught with campaigns and petitions on most local issues. Local councils should serve the local people and not the whims of the party whip." Anyone wanting more information about the Waverley Independents Network can contact Independent Farnham town councillor Janet Maines on 01252 711271 or email [email protected]">[email protected]