A senior councillor has quit the Farnham Residents Group to join the Liberal Democrats, warning that “Farnham cannot afford to be parochial” ahead of next year’s unitary elections.

Cllr Tony Fairclough, deputy leader of Waverley Borough Council and portfolio holder for enforcement and regulatory services, said he believed Farnham would be better represented through a national party as Surrey prepares for major local government changes.

“I am proud of the time that I have spent as a Farnham Residents councillor and recognise the excellent work that they continue to do, particularly on the town council,” he said.

“However, Local Government Reorganisation and the upcoming unitary elections in Surrey next May will see Farnham as part of a new authority, one that will face significant challenges in terms of both the services it is required to provide and the finances available to pay for them.

“Faced with such challenges, in my opinion, Farnham cannot afford to be parochial.”

Cllr Fairclough, who was elected in May 2023, added: “While local issues, particularly with respect to planning, will continue to be of paramount importance to the people of Farnham, I believe that our residents will be best served by a ‘louder voice’ and a greater presence within the new unitary council.

“With that in mind, I’m delighted to join the Liberal Democrats, a party that I see as being capable of acting locally from a national perspective.”

Waverley Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Paul Follows welcomed Cllr Fairclough as the group’s 23rd councillor on the borough council.

He said: “I am thrilled that Tony has decided to join us. He is one of the hardest working and most dedicated councillors at Waverley with a history of service to the residents of Farnham and of Waverley, much of it behind the scenes and without fanfare.

“He will be a huge asset for our group and our ongoing work across our borough, supporting our mission to be a liberal, compassionate, and professional group that can represent all residents, wherever they live in Waverley.”

The defection is believed to the first in the Farnham Residents Group’s 10-year history.

A spokesperson said the move came as a surprise but added: “We respect his choice and wish him well in his future political journey.

“Our commitment to Farnham is stronger than ever and residents can be confident that their voices will be heard — free from party politics and focused solely on what matters most: the people of Farnham.”

The spokesperson said the group remained “the driving force” behind Farnham’s representation at town, borough and county level.

The Liberal Democrats now hold three seats in Farnham Town and 23 at Waverley Borough Councils, compared with Farnham Residents’ 13 and 12 respectively. Both groups also have seats on Surrey County Council.

Waverley’ Conservative Opposition leader Cllr Jane Austin said Cllr Fairclough had “consistently sided with the Liberal Democrats” during his tenure as a councillor.

“As portfolio holder, he pushed through a steep 30 percent rise in parking charges over the past two years, a move that has hit local shoppers and businesses hard,” she said.

“He also frustrated our recent motion for an independent review of CIL practices, denying homeowners facing crippling CIL charges transparency and openness.

“Farnham voters will not easily overlook these serious failings,” she added.