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The newly elected MP for Woking has stepped down from his roles as borough and county councillor to “stand up for the community in parliament”. Will Forster MP has resigned from his position
as borough councillor for Hoe Valley and county member for Woking South - with two by-elections for the vacant seats taking place in July. Mr Forster had expected to stand down during the
since-cancelled May elections in order to save on the costs of a by-election. The long travel times between his Woking constituency, parliament and county hall in Reigate led him to conclude
residents would be better served by new councillors. He said he was "incredibly proud” of his decade and a half in the council chambers but that the time had come to call it a day. Mr
Forster said: “It has been the honour and privilege to serve my community as a Surrey county councillor for the past 16 years and as a Woking borough councillor for the last 14 years. “Now,
as Woking’s first and new Liberal Democrat MP, I am continuing standing up for our community - both locally and in Parliament. However, this means I must step down as a councillor. I had
intended to do so at the May 2025 local elections to save the taxpayer money - but sadly, the Conservatives and Labour cancelled them. “I am incredibly proud of what I achieved during my
time as a councillor. For much of my term, I was an opposition politician when Surrey and Woking councils desperately needed opposition. I was delighted to serve as Mayor of Woking. My
Mayoral charity was Woking’s homeless shelter, the York Road Project. As well as raising awareness of this amazing charity and improving the understanding of why people become homeless, I
was able to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the York Road Project. “Following the Lib Dems winning control of Woking Borough Council, I became deputy leader of the council and played a
leading role in clearing up the mess we inherited.” The two by-elections will take place on Thursday July 10 with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm. Poll cards will be issued to
registered voters in the coming weeks with the Notice of Election published on Thursday June 5. Details of candidates standing will be published following the close of nominations. Whoever
wins will only have a short time in the position as the two councils are expected to be merged into a new mega authority within two years as part of the government's devolution plans.
Speaking of his time as councillor. Mr Forster added: “I stopped the controversial Victoria Arch widening scheme which would have closed the main road through Woking for three years and
would have meant the council borrowing at least another £53 million. I got the council to consult local residents in Sheerwater about the future of the regeneration scheme there, and now the
council is delivering what residents asked of it - a smaller regeneration scheme, where perfectly good family houses are not knocked down." To vote, residents must be on the electoral
roll. the deadline to register is midnight on Tuesday June 24. Fellow Surrey MP and county councillor Rebecca Paul continues to perform both roles. JOIN OUR NEW WHATSAPP COMMUNITY! CLICK
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