WAVERLEY'S Conservatives were reeling this week after a "golden night of success" for the Lib Dems saw Tories lose control of the borough council.

The Lib Dems snatched control of Waverley, taking 30 of the 57 seats in a tense head-to-head battle with the Tories.

The challenges from the Labour Party, the Green Party and UK Independence were smashed in the two-horse race, which left Haslemere as the only Conservative-controlled town council in the borough.

Speaking this week, Lib Dem leader Chris Slyfield said he was thrilled with the "important victory".

As news of the victory reached Mr Slyfield last Thursday night, he outlined priorities including a review of the council's administration and further work on the borough- wide recycling scheme.

Leader of Waverley's Conservatives and councillor for Hindhead, David Harmer, blamed his party's defeat on massive council tax increases.

The overall increase in the council tax bills collected by Waverley came from a hike of 40 per cent from Surrey Police, an 18 per cent increase from Surrey County County Council, and a 10 per cent rise from Waverley itself.

Mr Harmer said: "I think there are a range of reasons why we lost. I think East Street [redevelopment scheme in Farnham] was a factor but the main factor was council tax. We got the blame for being a tax collector."

But fellow Conservative and prospective parliamentary candidate for SW Surrey, Jeremy Hunt took a darker view.

He blasted the Lib Dems for using "outrageous campaign tactics" which he said alleged the Conservative administration had been wasteful.

"I hope they run Waverley more honestly than they campaigned and we will be fighting hard to expose their deception," sniped Mr Hunt.

Hitting back, Mr Slyfield maintained that his party had run an honest and open campaign.

"I think these claims are a case of sour grapes on the part of Mr Hunt, and would very much like to know the reasoning behind his allegations," countered Mr Slyfield.

More positive feedback on the election result reached the Lib Dem camp from their parliamentary spokesman Simon Cordon.

Hailing the success as "golden" Mr Cordon said he was elated with the result.

"Voters have defeated the Conservatives and effectively abolished the Labour Party in S W Surrey. It is now clearer than ever that the battle in this region is one of the tightest fights between the Lib Dems and Conservatives anywhere in the country, with Labour giving up," Mr Cordon stated.

Although hit hard by the overall defeat, the Tories had victories in the Haslemere East and Grayswood, Chiddingfold and Dunsfold, Witley and Hambledon, and Milford wards.

James Mackie (Cons) kept his seat on the Haslemere East and Grayswood ward and will be joined by former town councillor, Mary Foryszewski (Cons), and Luisa Hodgson (Cons).

And just one of the borough's Haslemere wards- Critchmere and Shottermill, was taken by the Lib Dems. Haslemere town councillor, Jacquie Keen, Waverley crime prevention officer and former policeman John Robini, and Michael Allan beat off competition from the Green Party, the Labour Party, and the tories to take the three seats in the newly formed ward.