CONSERVATIVES have lost control of Hart District Council following two councillors defecting to an opposing campaign group.

Richard Woods and Sara Kinnell said they left the party to join the Community Campaign Hart (CCH) so that they can ‘represent their residents fully’ during upcoming discussions in regards to housing proposals across Hart in the Local Plan.

Mr Woods said: “It’s a true honour to be elected as a district councillor, but when you feel you are unable to represent the residents of your ward honestly, it’s time to put your political beliefs to one side and do what the people who entrusted you with their vote would want you to do to represent them in the fullest possible way.

“Sara and I are looking forward to working with the CCH group. It will be great to be part of a community focused team for the benefit of all residents in Fleet and Church Crookham during the Local Plan process.

“We look forward to continuing to work with all members of Hart District Council, regardless of political beliefs, for the good of Fleet and Church Crookham and the wider Hart district.”

Sara Kinnell, who was first elected in 2005, added that it was one of the most difficult decisions of her life: “I have been a Conservative councillor for 12 years, initially in Hartley Wintney and now Fleet West, where I live with my family,” she added.

“This move should be taken in the honest spirit in which it was made.

“While some people may be disappointed, we trust our residents will understand that our ability to represent them robustly together with our personal happiness must always come before party politics.”

The Community Campaign (Hart), which saw its first councillors elected in 2004, is made up of 10 independent local councillors from Fleet and Church Crookham and James Radley, leader of the CCH said: “The Community Campaign have long admired Richard and Sara’s integrity and focus on the issues which really matter to residents; always putting those they represent ahead of political agendas.

“We therefore welcome them both into our team and look forward to them being even more effective for the people of Fleet West now they can be truly independent representatives and not held back by constraints imposed by national politics.”

Prior to the defections at the beginning of the month, the Tories held 16 of the 33 seats and relied upon independent councillor Rob Leeson for a majority.

However, they now only hold 14 seats which despite still making them the largest party, still leaves them two short of an overall majority.

David Turver of campaign group We Heart Hart said: “Their move is strange for a number of reasons. First, even though the CCH amendment failed, the current position does not preclude a new settlement.

“Secondly, We Heart Hart understands that the proposed Winchfield New Town has failed testing, so regardless of the opinions of councillors Kinnell and Woods, this new town won’t go ahead because it is not viable.”

It is still unclear the affect this will have on Hart’s Local Plan, which has faced over a year of delays due to a number of varying reasons.