THE Conservatives have lost two seats in the local council elections in Reigate and Banstead.

In a closely fought contest, Independent candidate Christopher Whinney won the seat vacated by Conservative councillor Scott Colvin. Mr Whinney successfully fended off opposition from Mr Colvin's would-be successor Franco D'Andrea, who trailed him by 175 votes.

The Liberal Democrats finally have a full house in Meadvale and St John's where Anna Tarrant won the seat by 241 votes. She succeeds Conservative councillor Tom Stoddart who has moved to Eastbourne.

Otherwise the election was an all-Tory affair. Conservative newcomers to the council include Robert Webb, who takes over from Ben Mearns in Earlswood and Whitebushes, and Richard Olliver, who succeeds John Meach in Horley East.

Imran Khan takes over from Andrea Venn in Horley West, Frank Moore, replaces John Jones in Redhill East, and Stephen Bramhall, is the new ward councillor for South Park and Woodhatch who takes over from Andrew Mountney.

The narrowest win was that of Cllr Moore in Redhill East who beat Green Party candidate Jonathan Essex by just 20 votes.

In the north of the borough the Residents Associations continued their dominance by retaining both seats in Nork and Tattenhams.

The biggest turnout was in Reigate Central where 43% of the electorate turned out to vote. Horley West had the worst turnout where just 28% of people voted.

The average turnout across the borough was 36%.

The new council is made up of 39 Conservatives, six Residents Association councillors, three Liberal Democrats, two independents and one Labour councillor.

Results:

BANSTEAD VILLAGE Elected: Brian Christopher Cowle (C) 1,492. Not elected: Anthony Neville Graham Atkinson (UKIP) 268; Moray William Macleod Carey (LD) 249; Wayne Andrew Scivier (L) 127; Philip Charles Simms (BNP) 165.

CHIPSTEAD, HOOLEY AND WOODMANSTERNE Elected: Richard Frederick Charles Wagner (C) 1,554. Not elected: Keith Brown (BNP) 269; Christopher Ian Howell (LD) 241; Tammy Phelan (UKIP) 140; David Tidy (L) 159.

EARLSWOOD AND WHITEBUSHES Elected: Robert David Webb (C) 1,022. Not elected: Stuart Gosling (L) 328; Colin Robert Hoffman (UKIP) 188; Steve Keith Oddy (LD) 478.

HORLEY CENTRAL Elected: Allen James Kay (C) 974. Not elected: Janice Frazer Gall (UKIP) 248; Bernard Gudgeon (BNP) 207; Linda Jane Mabbett (L) 377.

HORLEY EAST Elected: Richard John Olliver (C) 982. Not elected: John Robert Beagle (L) 231.

HORLEY WEST Elected: Imran Khan (C) 905. Not elected: Denese Lee Brooke-Harte (UKIP) 438; Gabriella Upton (L) 290.

KINGSWOOD WITH BURGH HEATH Elected: Julie Anne Tomlinson (C) 1,385. Not elected: Robert Edward Cambridge (UKIP) 291; Robert James Fromant (L) 137.

MEADVALE AND ST. JOHN'S Elected: Anna Frances Tarrant (LD) 1,079. Not elected: Darren Christopher Gandley (C) 838; Diedre Davidson Hicks (UKIP) 153; Andrew David Saunders (L) 147.

MERSTHAM Elected: Mark Alan Brunt (C) 1,179. Not elected: Elizabeth Mary Parker (UKIP) 196; Roger Neville Peerless (LD) 508; Peter Phillips (BNP) 197; Drummond Richardson (G).

NORK Elected: Norman Harris (RA) 1,550. Not elected: Paul Edward Tweedale (C) 530.

REDHILL EAST Elected: Frank Moore (C) 783. Not elected: John William Barton (L) 274; Jonathan Christopher St. Aubyn Essex (G) 763; Joseph Brian Fox (UKIP) 159; Rohitha Mendis (LD) 190.

REDHILL WEST Elected: Natalie Bramhall (C) 1,103. Not elected: John Berge (L) 362; Leonie Patricia Lockhart (LD) 331; Timothy Howard Kuvey Pearson (UKIP) 214.

REIGATE CENTRAL Elected: Christopher Whinney (Ind) 893. Not elected: Franco D'Andrea (C) 718; Helen Jane Kulka (LD) 562; Stephen Philip Smith (UKIP) 109.

REIGATE HILL Elected: Roger Charles Newstead (C) 1,052. Not elected: Andrew James Cressy (LD) 217; Jane Dunsmuir (L); John Stuart Hill (UKIP) 153.

SOUTH PARK AND WOODHATCH Elected: Stephen Thomas Bramhall (C) 830. Not elected: Neil Sylvester Cox (UKIP) 215; Patricia Ann Johnson (L) 307; Anthony John Lambell (LD) 273; Emma McAuliffe (G) 132.

TADWORTH AND WALTON Elected: Victor William Broad (C) 1,488. Not elected: Peter Alan Bartram (LD) 275; David Knowles (L) 133; Yvonne Larg (UKIP) 188.

TATTENHAMS Elected: Jill Scott Bray (RA). Not elected: Keith Francis Witham (C) 750.

Neighbouring wards in Tandridge District Council:

BLETCHINGLEY AND NUTFIELD Elected: Marian Myland (C) 1,049. Not elected: Graham Bailey (UKIP) 207; Richard Fowler (LD) 235; Rebecca Pritchard (L) 106.

BURSTOW, HORNE AND OUTWOOD Elected: Alan Jones (C) 1,251. Not elected: Stephen Case-Green (L) 225; William Nock (UKIP) 189.

KEY: BNP, British National Party; C, Conservative; G, Green; Ind, Independent; L, Labour; LD Liberal Democrat; RA, Residents Association; UKIP, UK Independence Party.