By-elections have been called to fill the seats left empty by two former Elmbridge Borough councillors.
Councillor Charu Sood, described by friends and colleagues as a ‘community champion’ and ‘utterly devoted’ to Weybridge, died after cancer battle in August. The former deputy mayor for Elmbridge served the community for six years as a Conservative councillor for St George’s Hill in Weybridge between 2018-2024.
The other former councillor, Chester Chandler, has resigned and emigrated to Australia according to the Elmbridge Liberal Democrat Party. Cllr Chandler has represented the Hersham Village ward since 2022 and spoke against plans to develop the Hersham Shopping Centre.
Read more: Quaint Surrey village fears shopping centre will be turned into 'monstrosity'
The by-elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 10, in what will be one of the first polls since the Labour General Election landslide in July. Every eligible registered voter will be sent a poll card with information about the election including your polling station.
Candidates for the by-election in both wards have been announced and are as follows:
St George’s Hill ward
- Colin McFarlane (Conservative Party)
- Andrew Kelly (Weybridge & St George’s Independents)
- Brittany Johansson (Green Party)
Hersham Village ward
- Francis Eldergill (Labour Party)
- Varsha Khodiyar (Liberal Democrats)
- John O’Reilly (Conservative Party)
Elmbridge Borough Council is currently jointly-run by the Liberal Democrats (22 members) and Residents Associations Political Group (13 members). The Lib Dem/Residents Association coalition started in May 2019, creating a majority group on the council.
As recently as 2021, the council was made up of 21 Conservative councillors, 17 Residents’ Group and 8 Liberal Democrats. The Tory party's grip on power has slipped in the last few years, as Lib Dems have increasingly gained ward seats.
The 48 seats on Elmbridge Borough Council are held by the following parties and groups:
Conservatives, 10
Hinchley Wood Residents’ Association Group, 2
Independent, 1
Liberal Democrats, 22
Resident Association Groups, 13
Vacant, two
