THE Tory backlash in the Waverley borough council election that slashed the number of councillors from 49 to 23 at Friday’s count, continued at a brusing town and parish count on Saturday.

It’s all change at Haslemere Town Council where Tory members have been cut from 17 to seven.

Formerly consisting of 17 Tories and one Independent, the town council now has seven Tories, seven Lib Dems, two Independents and two Greens.

The dramatic Lib Dem comeback that saw the number of Waverley councillors elected increase from one to 14, continued at Haslemere Town Council putting them on equal footing with the Tories.

Huge support shown for successful Independent candidate Nikki Barton in the Haslemere county council by-election was also echoed in the town council elections in which both she and fellow Independent Kirsten Ellis were voted in for Haslemere South ward, together with Tories Simon Dear and David Dullaway.

Striking a blow for the Greens, who have two borough council seats for the first time, Green town council candidates Claire Matthes and Gary Lloyd both won their seats.

Prominent Tory Haslemere borough councillors including deputy leader Ged Hall and executive member Jim Edwards failed to be re-elected both as Waverley members or Haslemere town councillors.

Tory town mayor and mayoress David Round and Melanie Odell wee re-elected as town councillors but many well-known long serving members at both borough and town council level failed to win back their seats.

*See Thursday’s paper for full story.