IT was an historic day for Farnham Town Council on Saturday, when the Conservative Party lost control of the local authority to Farnham Residents.

But the independent party had gone into Saturday’s town and parish count in optimistic mood, having become the official opposition at Waverley Borough Council on Friday following the May 2 vote.

The party now holds 15 seats at the borough council, compared to 23 Conservative councillors.

And at the town council, Farnham Residents won a majority of 14 seats, with just two Conservative councillors – Carole Cockburn and Paula Dunsmore – and two Liberal Democrat councillors, David Attfield and Mark Merryweather, gaining seats.

Standing for the first time was Roger Blishen, who was elected a Farnham Residents councillor for the Farnham Bourne ward at both town and borough level.

Roger said it was time to stand up and be counted, and aims to represent “all the residents and their requirements”.

Also new to both the borough and town council is John Neale, elected a Farnham Residents councillor for Farnham Firgrove.

He said: “In four years’ time we should have a good idea how Farnham is going to go forward, where it’s been a bit static for many years.

“It’s a great place and we want to see things brighten up.”

Retaining his seat with 1,092 votes, Farnham Moor Park councillor Andy Macleod said: “I’m hoping we’ll have a different atmosphere at the town council.

“To be fair to the Conservatives, it’s never been particularly adversarial.

“We’ve got to continue that but we’ve got to run the town council better than the Conservatives did.”

George Hesse was also re-elected as councillor for the Farnham Castle ward and he told the Herald: “We’ve got everything to play for now – we’ve got to earn that vote.”

He would like to see town-centre roads resurfaced, street furniture renewed and a landscaping scheme for the new East Street, as well as more surgery capacity and school places for those living in new housing developments.

Re-elected councillor for Shortheath and Boundstone, John Ward was elated and said: “I expected it to be good, but not this good.

“I’m hoping the borough council will take more notice of the needs of Farnham town.

“I want to see the town council continue as apolitical and cooperate across political boundaries, and a fairer, more open and more cohesive government at Waverley Borough Council.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Merryweather said he felt a “sense of responsibility” when he was elected in the Weybourne and Badshot Lea ward, but wants to see the town and borough council held more accountable.

“I want people to see things getting done – or understand why they’re not getting done,” he said.

Tory councillor Paula Dunsmore, re-elected in Farnham Wrecclesham and Rowledge ward, said: “I’m looking forward to the next term with quite a few projects I’d like to see going forward.”

For full election results, se this week’s Farnham Herald.