A NEW councillor has been co-opted onto Farnham Town Council following the resignation of Sam Hollins-Owen, member for the Bourne Ward.

As there was no call for a by-election, the vacancy was filled by co-option during the full council meeting on December 20.

Simon Foale, a Conservative, was elected after two rounds of voting. He received half the votes plus one, totalling nine votes.

He beat off four other candidates – Roger Blishen, Pat Evans, Andrew Jones and Simon Robinson. Each candidate gave a three-minute presentation to the council and councillors were given the chance to ask up to three questions per candidate.

Mr Foale spent 26 years in the Royal Navy, bringing him to Surrey around 21 years ago.

He moved into Lower Bourne two years ago but told the council that in that time he’s “grown to realise how special Farnham really is”.

Mr Foale was previously an elected councillor in two Surrey boroughs and prides himself on “always been actively involved in the community”, which included setting up a neighbourhood watch in both Weybridge and Surrey Heath and being a governor at a local infant school.

He ended his speech by adding: “I want to get really engaged with the local community and it would be a real privilege if I was selected here in what I believe is a non-political town council, to work within the community and to represent the ward that I live in.”

Mr Foale made his declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat at the council table. He will hold the position until the next full town council election on May 2.

Speaking to the Herald after the meeting, Mr Foale said: “I’m delighted. It is a real privilege and I hope I can make a difference.

“It opens doors and it’s using that influence to better the community because an MP, a county councillor, the leader of South West Trains in this area, the homes and communities agency regional director - they will listen to you because you’re a councillor and you can make your case.”

He added: “It is really nice to represent your own ward, it’s fantastic because it’s your own community.”