On Thursday, 7 May 2026, local elections will be held across West Surrey for the new West Surrey Council.
How many candidates can you vote for?
At the West Surrey Council election, each voter will be able to choose up to two candidates on their ballot paper in their ward.
Your ballot paper will clearly show the candidates standing in your area and how many votes you can cast.
What is the West Surrey Unitary Council?
West Surrey Council is a new unitary authority that brings together responsibilities previously split between the local borough and district councils and Surrey County Council. Instead of having two tiers of local government, a single council will now deliver all local services in the area.
Surrey has been reorganised into two unitary authorities:
- West Surrey, covering:
- Guildford
- Woking
- Waverley
- Surrey Heath
- Runnymede
- Spelthorne
- East Surrey, covering:
- Elmbridge
- Mole Valley
- Epsom and Ewell
- Reigate and Banstead
- Tandridge
Why was a unitary council created?
The move to a unitary council system was made to simplify local government, reduce duplication, and make decision‑making clearer for residents. Under the previous two‑tier system, responsibilities were shared between borough or district councils and the county council, which could sometimes lead to confusion about who was responsible for services.
A single unitary council is intended to:
- Make local decision‑making clearer and more accountable
- Improve coordination of services
- Reduce administrative costs
- Provide a stronger, unified voice for the area
Parish and town councils are not affected by the creation of the new West Surrey unitary council. Parish councils remain the most local level of government and continue to represent their individual communities. They are responsible for local matters such as community facilities, open spaces, footpaths, and acting as a voice for residents on local issues.
The West Surrey Council will take over the responsibilities that were previously managed by Surrey County Council and the borough or district councils, but it does not replace parish councils.
Finding your polling station
To find out where your nearest polling station is, visit: wheredoivote.co.uk and enter your postcode.
Voting and photo ID
You will need to bring an accepted photo ID to vote in person at this election.
Before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, check whether you already have an accepted form of photo ID and whether it is still valid.
If you do not have a suitable photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document (valid for this election) must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5:00 pm on 28 April 2026.
Who is standing for election?
Guildford Borough Council has published the Statement of Persons Nominated for the West Surrey Council elections in the Guildford area.
To see details of the candidates standing in your ward, visit: www.guildford.gov.uk/article/27664/Elections-to-the-new-West-Surrey-Council
STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED
West Surrey Council – Guildford Area
The following is a statement of the persons nominated for the election of
Councillors for the Ash Ward of the West Surrey Council on Thursday 7 May 2026
|
Name of Candidate |
Home Address (1) |
Description of candidate
(if any) |
|
BELLAMY, Philip Edward |
25 Old School Close, Ash, Surrey, GU12 5EX | Liberal Democrats |
| BOLTON, Andrew John
Campbell |
4 Huxley Close, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AS | Conservative Party
Candidate |
| GRONDINGER, Freya
Christine |
(address in Guildford) | Green Party candidate |
| HODGE, Laurence Dietrich | (address in Guildford) | ReformUK – Changing
Politics for Good |
| JEWELL, Lewis Frederick
Simmons |
25 Gloster Close, Ash Vale, GU12 5SS | Labour Party |
| KELLY, Patrick Hugh
Joseph |
(address in Guildford) | ReformUK – Changing
Politics for Good |
| MANNING, Nigel | 40 Wentworth Crescent, Ash
Vale, Surrey, GU12 5LE |
Independent |
| MORSON, Carla Jane | 11 Foxhurst Road, Ash Vale, Surrey, GU12 5DY | Liberal Democrats |
| SHAHRUM-SMITH, Josh | (address in Woking) | Green Party candidate |
| TONKS, John Kenneth | 73 Vale Road, Ash Vale, Surrey, GU12 5HR |
Conservative Party Candidate |
(1) If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the relevant electoral area in which their home address is situated (or the country if their address is outside the UK) will be provided.
Dated Thursday 09 April 2026 Deputy Returning Officer
Printed and Published by the Deputy Returning Officer,
Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB