Woking MP to stand down from local council roles

The newly elected MP for Woking in Surrey 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 role as Woking Borough councillor for Hoe Valley and Surrey County Council member for Woking South, with two by-elections for the vacant seats taking place in July, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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."

The by-elections will take place on 10 July.

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.

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