FARNHAM’S very own populist movement, the Farnham Residents party, stormed to victory in three out of four by-elections in the town last week - delivering a mighty blow to the area’s Conservative ruling majority.

Waverley Borough Council’s opposition group now counts five councillors in its ranks after the elections of party founder and leader Jerry Hyman in Farnham Castle ward, and the Mayor of Farnham, John Ward in Shortheath & Boundstone having crossed the floor from the Tories just last month.

Farnham Residents also increased their presence at Farnham Town Council with the election of former independent councillor David Beaman in Farnham Castle ward which, adding to Mr Ward’s defection, swells the party’s band of town councillors to six.

The only positive on a grim day for the local Conservatives was Wyatt Ramsdale’s narrow victory in the Surrey County Council by-election for Farnham South, preventing Mr Hyman from securing a double victory as reported elsewhere in this week’s Herald.

Although disappointed not to secure the county seat, the by-elections carried huge personal significance for Mr Hyman who founded Farnham Residents just last year promising to “eradicate party politics from local government” and has finally secured a council seat for himself after almost a decade of trying.

Mr Hyman, who first ran for election in 2007 and has long campaigned against Waverley’s handling of the East Street regeneration, told The Herald: “It was a very pleasing result and the message from the electorate was clear - party politics has absolutely no place in Local Government and voters like what we stand for, which is to return control to Farnham.

“It is about doing what’s best for Farnham and basing decisions on factual evidence and the law. The Farnham public want localism and more scrutiny at Waverley, and this win should give us chairmanship of the borough council’s scrutiny committees which is hugely significant.

“It was very gratifying and we’re very thankful to the people of Farnham for putting their faith in us and we’ll do everything we can to deliver.

“We shouldn’t have to do this of course, the residents should be able to trust our elected representatives to stand up for us.

“But it’s just the way politics is now, that Waverley can never admit that they’re wrong and that really does restrict progress because if nobody can ever admit that there is a problem, then you’re never going to get a solution. That’s where we got to with East Street a long time ago of course.

“I expect Waverley will still be in denial, they have been for years and I can’t see them turning around and admitting for one minute that they’ve actually done anything wrong. But this result just might make them sit up and listen. I suggest it might be a good idea for them to do so.”

Mr Hyman thanked his party’s dedicated helpers for distributing some 8,000 leaflets in the build-up to the by-elections.

It was also a triumphant election for the Mayor of Farnham, Mr Ward, whose high-risk strategy to depart the Conservatives for Farnham Residents paid off spectacularly, as he defeated the man chosen to contest the election ahead of him by the Tories, Donal O’Neill, by 123 votes.

Mr Ward, who previously represented Shortheath & Boundstone at the borough council from 2007 to 2015, said: “I am naturally delighted to have been re-elected as a Waverley borough councillor. This has been an interesting election which showed that the large party political machine can be defeated by a small group of determined people.

“I am grateful to the Farnham Residents for allowing me to put myself before the electorate and it was good to see so many votes cast for independently minded candidates rather than just political parties.

“I have to thank the many people who assisted me by proof-reading, printing and delivering my literature but mostly the residents of Shortheath & Boundstone who have shown great faith in me.

“I shall not let them down but intend to thoroughly examine any proposals brought forward by the Waverley executive and to hold them to account for their actions.”

David Beaman, the former independent town councillor for Upper Hale also secured his return to local politics after taking the Farnham Castle town ward for Farnham Residents, polling a resounding 57 per cent of the vote.

He said: “I am overwhelmed and absolutely staggered to get such a large percentage of the vote. When I was unelected last year I thought there may be opportunities to stand again, but I didn’t anticipate this result so soon. I’m incredible humble and will do my best to deserve it.”

Farnham Residents’ party chairman and town and borough councillor for Farnham Castle, John Williamson, added: “Thank you to all the residents of Farnham who voted on Thursday to remove party politics from local government. It is clear to me that the residents of Farnham irrespective of their political persuasion have had enough of decisions being taken in local government along party lines.

“Too many decisions have been made which adversely affect the town without their views being fully considered. The overwhelming support for our candidates at last week’s by-election clearly demonstrates that this situation must change.”

South West Surrey Conservative Association deputy chairman Tom Martin said: “I’d like to congratulate Wyatt Ramsdale on his election as county councillor for Farnham South. We know he will continue to work hard for local residents.

“We are obviously disappointed by the mid-term blues of the results in the Castle and Shortheath & Boundstone wards where we were unable to improve on our vote share from 2015, but wish all the new councillors well.”