Two borough councillors have resigned from their seats with immediate effect.

Liberal Democrats Cllr Peter Lidstone and Cllr Tara Matthews stepped down from the party, triggering a by-election later this year.

It means by-elections for the St John’s Ward and the Park Ward in Tunbridge Wells will now be held on May 1 – the same day as the Kent County Council elections.

Cllr Lidstone, who won his third term of office at the elections last May, said: “I have taken the difficult decision to resign in order to spend more time with my young family.

“It has been an immense privilege, and one of the highlights of my life, to serve the people of St John's as a councillor.

“It has also been a real privilege to have been the borough's first walking and cycling champion. Sadly our roads remain unpleasant and unsafe places to walk and cycle compared with our continental neighbours.

“I am optimistic that a unitary council (after the planned local government re-organisation) might continue some of the work we have started, and find a sweet spot between the scale of KCC and the local knowledge of TWBC.”

‘Disagreements have largely been respectful...’

Cllr Lidstone added: ”There have been some lively debates over the years, particularly in the Calverley Square days!

“But disagreements have been largely respectful, and officers have been incredibly supportive throughout.”

Cllr Matthews’ departure was less happy. She had been heavily criticised by opposition party members for failing to record her full address on her election nomination papers when she stood for the first time last year.

Some claimed the councillor had given voters the impression of living in Tunbridge Wells, when in fact she lived in Frant, in East Sussex, and in the Wealden Council district.

In her emailed resignation letter, seen by KentOnline, she said: “Since being elected in May, I have taken on new professional responsibilities, leaving less time than I would like to contribute to the borough council.

“So, I have reached the difficult decision that I should pass the baton onto someone else.

“It has been both a privilege and a pleasure to represent Park residents and contribute to decision-making.

“As you know, over the last few months I have been the subject of repeated untrue statements by other councillors.

“While my experience of being a councillor has largely been positive, this does leave a bitter taste. But to be clear, it has had no bearing on my decision to stand down.”

Ms Mathews added: “I would be the first to defend free speech in political life. Free speech is fundamental to liberal democracy and political debate – there is rightly a very wide berth for fair comment in politics.

“I believe that everyone should be able to participate and contribute to local political life in a positive, constructive and respectful way – whilst also providing fair and robust challenge, accountability and scrutiny of our peers. My only hope is that no other Tunbridge Wells Councillor should have a similar experience to mine in the future. “

Cllr Ellen Neville, the Tunbridge Wells Alliance party leader on the council, had a different view.

‘Gaming the system undermines trust...’

She said: “Residency is not the only qualification for standing yet, it is a key factor in voter perception.

“Ms Matthews’ decision to withhold her full address meant that voters were not given a true representation of her connection to the community in Park Ward.

“While remaining technically within the law, this gaming of the system isn’t clever and undermines trust with the electorate (and fellow councillors) at a time when trust couldn’t be needed more.”

Ms Matthews denied she had ever sought to hide or disguise her address, insisting that her home address and postcode were published on the public Notice of Nominations issued by the borough council.

The Lib Dems took control of the council with a large majority last May.

Even with the two resignations from their party, the Lib Dems still have 20 seats while the four opposition parties muster 17 between them.

Nominations to fill the two vacancies close on April 2, after which a list of candidates will be available.

Ms Matthews ran the Lib Dem local election campaign in Tunbridge Wells from January to May, and then ran the general election campaign for the Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin as an unpaid volunteer. However, following his successful election in July, she now works full-time as his chief of staff.