The first Conservative elected to represent Epsom town in many years has attributed her victory to hard work by her party locally and complacency by the dominant Residents' Association.

With 39 per cent of the vote, Conservative candidate Tina Mountain beat Resident’s Association borough councillor Neil Dallen, who received 28 per cent of the vote, to capture the Epsom Town and Downs seat - which the Residents’ Association of Epsom and Ewell lost control of today.  

Mrs Mountain, of Ridge End, Epsom, the chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Conservatives, who has lived in the town for 26 years, campaigned on the issues of saving Epsom Hospital’s acute services, getting Epsom into Zone 6 and the Save Epsom Town campaign, which protested against "inappropriate developments" in the town.

Having stood unsuccessfully for election as a borough and county councillor three times before, she said her victory was a "major step forward" for the Tories in Epsom, but that she would be working with borough councillors to serve the people of Epsom.

Speaking to the Epsom Guardian this afternoon while sipping a celebratory glass of champagne, the mum-of-two said: "I was shocked that not one person from the other parties clapped when it was announced that I was Surrey county councillor. 

"Everyone apart from the Conservatives stood with their hands by their sides.

"I am the first Conservative councillor for this ward on SCC for nearly 20 years and I think it was a shock to them and they were not happy about it. 

"But this is a major step forward for us and I want to work very closely with both the residents’associations and SCC to make sure we get the best we can for Epsom."

She added: "Maybe people thought it was just time for a change.  The Residents’ Association have been in power for 75 years in Epsom and maybe people feel they have got a bit complacent and wanted a shake-up. 

"This is recognition that we, as Conservatives, have been working hard.

"People are dissatisfied.  We have a Conservative county council and RA councillors are in the minority in SCC and they are not able to work as clearly with the Conservative county councillors. 

"Being a Conservative, I will be able to work far more closely with them and achieve better things for Epsom."    

Mrs Mountain, who teaches children with learning disabilities, said she will be "fighting an unbelievable fight" alongside Chris Grayling to save Epsom Hospital’s services and believes people were pleased with the Save Epsom Town campaign because "Epsom station has offended many people and we are trying to maintain Epsom’s market town feel".

She said: "I want to create a new Epsom which has a pedestrianised area with a one-way system, a fixed market and pavement cafes. 

"We need to get something done about the potholes.

"I want to reduce parking costs because I want people to come to Epsom and stay in Epsom, not just have a quick look round The Ashley Centre and go away again."

Mrs Mountain said she believes the rise of UKIP in this year’s local elections - Iain Bonner-Fomes finished in third position in Epsom Town and Downs with 13 per cent of the vote - is a protest vote and that the party has no local issues they have campaigned on.

She said: "People are upset about restrictions Europe puts on.  There are also a number of immigration issues, we can’t seem to get rid of Abu Hamza.

"David Cameron is looking quite seriously to renegotiate in Europe but I think when the referendum is held on the subject people will probably that we should stay in Europe. 

"I can’t name one thing UKIP said they would do in Epsom to warrant the 500 votes they got."