HASLEMERE has been hit by a ‘double whammy’ after its Conservative county councillor Richard Hampson resigned and fellow Tory Hindhead borough councillor Christian Hesse was disqualified due to non-attendance.

The next county council elections are not due until 2021, so Waverley Borough Council has agreed to hold a by-election for Mr Hampson’s vacant seat as part of the May 2 elections for borough, town and parish councillors – when Mr Hesse’s seat will also be up for grabs.

Mr Hampson, who had not responded to requests for information or attended town council meetings for some time, is a former army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and he has now re-joined the army.

In his letter of resignation to Surrey’s chief executive Joanna Killian, he said: “It has been an honour to serve the people of Haslemere as their elected representative and to work with yourself and other officers at Surrey County Council.

“However, due to resumption of regular military service I am now prohibited from holding elected political office and can no longer continue in my capacity as a county councillor.” Since being elected in May 2017, he had attended 15 meetings. The minimum allowed before disqualification is to attend one meeting every six months.

In a statement, Haslemere Town Council said: “We are pleased to hear that Richard Hampson has finally resigned from his post.

As highlighted at the annual town meeting, residents feel that he has not adequately represented them for quite some time.

“While Richard Hampson had served Haslemere well in his first two years and was quite active in Surrey, Haslemere Town Council found it was increasingly difficult to make contact with him.

“Cllr Hampson has thus not been able to respond to our requests to discuss important issues such as the recent Surrey consultations on children’s services, libraries and community recycling centres.

“We very much hope that whoever replaces him has the time and commitment to the post that our residents deserve.”

Mr Hampson’s predecessor, town councillor Nikki Barton, added: “It is an honour to be elected by your community to serve as a councillor.

“As the previous Independent Surrey county councillor for Haslemere, I had a real sense of the public duty to serve my constituents and felt a personal obligation to be fully engaged with the community that I care deeply about.

“You cannot be the voice of Haslemere, standing up for residents and organisations, as well as lobbying for scarce and diminishing funds and resources, if you are not engaged or able to be present. ”

On Cllr Hesse’s disqualification, Godalming Liberal Democrat borough councillor Paul Follows said: “It is clear that the people of Hindhead have been let down by yet another Conservative councillor failing to under take that most minimal of a councillors duties – to even show up at meetings to represent their residents.

“In my own 16 months as a councillor I have only seen Christiaan Hesse on one occasion, so I am amazed it has taken this long.

“His contempt for residents is compounded further by his not even offering a reason when asked by officers. I will also be asking if he has been claiming his members allowance during his absence from the chamber.

“We understand the county councillor for Haslemere has also resigned and we hope this, too, is contested in May for the sake of residents. The attendance records of many councillors right across Waverley are often shameful and it is something that I urge residents to check when it comes to May.”

Waverley Borough Council published the notice of the May 2 elections last Friday.

Those who wish to stand for a seat in borough, town or parish council elections have until 4pm on Wednesday, April 3, to submit their nomination papers.

Tom Horwood, Waverley Borough Council’s returning officer, said: “Nominations can be submitted between 9.30am and 4pm. The close of nominations deadline of 4pm on April 3 is set in law and is absolutely final.”