The Residents’ Association putting forward county council candidates living in a different town to the division they seek to represent is “rather cheeky”, the Epsom head of the Conservative opposition has claimed.

Epsom and Ewell Conservative chairman Sean Sullivan added that borough councillors representing one town, but seeking election in another, could also create a conflict of interest.

But the Residents’ Association (RA) dismissed the claim as a ‘petty’ criticism and arguing there are far more important issues at stake in the election.

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RA councillor Clive Woodbridge (pictured below, left) represents Ewell ward on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and also lives in Ewell. He is running for the Epsom Town & Downs seat on Surrey County Council.

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His colleague, Councillor Barry Nash (pictured below, right) represents West Ewell on the borough council and lives in Ewell. He is running for the Epsom West seat at county level.

“If it’s the best reason they can come up with not to vote for me, I think that’s a pretty poor show,” Cllr Woodbridge said.

“I’ve been a resident of Epsom and Ewell for 35 years, and I don’t think it’s wrong or misleading for me to stand for Epsom Town & Downs.”

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He added that residents had told him they felt “unsafe” walking home after the county council turned out street lights between midnight and 5am, that fly-tipping was on the rise since Surrey started charging for dumping non-household waste, and that the council was in a “really difficult situation financially”.

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The Conservative-led council was previously forced to dip into £24.8 million of reserves – its largest ever planned use of reserves – after blowing its budget by £15 million, and considered a council tax increase of 15 per cent to balance its budget.

“Putting five RA councillors who have a long track record of providing prudent financial management at local level will send a strong message to those in national parties,” Cllr Woodbridge said.

“I think we can bring a bit more common sense to Surrey County Council.”

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Mr Sullivan (pictured above), who stood as the Conservative candidate for Tottenham in the 2010 general election, said: “The RA are our main opposition (in the county council elections) and we think it is rather cheeky to say you are a Residents’ Association councillor when you’re not even a resident.

“I’m concerned that people will be deceived.”

Surrey goes to the polls on Thursday, May 4. Make sure you are registered to vote by Thursday, April 13.

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