Epsom town’s first Conservative county councillor in recent years has said she is committed to serving its residents in any way she can, despite her belief that the Residents' Association has "let Epsom go downhill" and is using "dirty politics" against her.

Tina Mountain, of The Ridge, in Epsom, was elected to represent the Epsom Town and Downs ward on Surrey County Council (SCC) in May, beating Residents’ Association borough councillor Neil Dallen and making her the first Conservative to win the seat for nearly 20 years.

The mum-of-two, who received an award from David Cameron four years ago for her services to the Conservative party, said the Residents’ Association, the majority party on Epsom and Ewell Council, "are not quite so happy working with me" - a relationship she is keen to foster because she sees herself not "simply as a county councillor".

She has formulated a vision for Epsom she wishes to see come good which covers issues controlled by the borough council.

She said: "I don’t believe in dirty politics and I’ve had a lot of dirty politics thrown at me.  I don’t like the way my opposition has treated me.  They have been quite unkind.  

"But I won’t stoop to that level.  I won’t slag people off.  Each one of us has to live with our consciences."

The daughter of Conservatives who got her first job as a cleaner aged 15, Coun Mountain’s father had his own business and "didn’t believe any of his money should be paying" for her university education.

She dropped out of studying for a History and Politics degree after two years because she could not make ends meet. 

In her early 20s, she was juggling up to three jobs a day while her husband was working to establish his building business.

The 62-year-old, who joined the Conservative party at this time, said: "I’ve never believed in a dependency culture.  Give people the ability to earn their money rather than give them a handout."

Coun Mountain graduated from Kingston University aged 53 and trained as a special needs teacher - something she still does on a voluntary basis at an Epsom primary school.

She said that teaching, along with the charity work she conducted with her husband in the local community and beyond, inspired her to pursue politics after his death.

She said: "I get so angry when we send food aid to countries like India when we have so many people on the streets in London.

"After Andrew died the only reason I could see for carrying on was by helping people and that’s what I’ve been doing through my teaching and my charity work and hope to do as a councillor." 

Coun Mountain stood unsuccessfully for election to SCC eight years ago and has tried to get onto Epsom and Ewell Council twice.

She was finally elected this year, winning 39 per cent of the vote, after the Residents’ Association’s Chris Frost stood down.

When asked why she campaigned on issues arguably not within the remit of the county council - getting Epsom station into Zone 6, Epsom Hospital and 'saving; Epsom from any further development - Coun Mountain acknowledged that they are not county issues, but insisted "they were the right ones to stand for".

Your Local Guardian:

Tina Mountain worked with Chris Grayling MP on last year's Save Epsom Town campaign

She said: "Epsom is going downhill and I blame the local council for this.

"I consider my role as serving the people of Epsom Town and Downs in any way I can. 

"I don't see my role as simply a county councillor and I have not been treated that way by the people of Epsom. 

"Part of my opposition was scathing because when I was elected I said I wanted to work with the local borough councillors.  They have not been very forthcoming."

The chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Conservatives, Coun Mountain is on SCC’s health scrutiny committee and said she is "putting as much pressure on them as I can to save Epsom Hospital".

She said she believes SCC does not use the money invested in education for children with learning difficulties in the right way because many of them "can’t keep up with the curriculum so they fall through the net".

She said Epsom is "desperately in need of another school" as an influx of children have moved into the town’s new developments.

Coun Mountain said: "There are not enough schools in Epsom.  I can’t understand why we are thinking about another 250 homes in the Epsom proximity when schools are already bursting.

"I am pushing heavily for this."

The councillor is also passionate about the issue of parking in Epsom town centre and the effects of the new residents’ parking zone, although when asked whether she disagreed with the introduction of the policy by SCC earlier this year, she said: "I have not been in the role long enough to disagree with the policy."

She also wants to introduce a one-way system and pedestrianised area through Epsom town centre and revitalise its trade by introducing a "fixed market, street cafes and cheap rates for market stalls for students".

She added: "It’s hard work as you’re having to work with decisions which were taken before you were elected.  It’s frustrating. 

"But I hope by next year I can start establishing myself."

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