The dust had barely settled from May's dramatic General Election result when Hampton Wick people were asked to take to the polls again.

Business Secretary Vince Cable's shock defeat to Conservative councillor and NHS doctor Tania Mathias created a political domino effect.

Since winning the much sought-after Twickenham seat, Dr Mathias has stepped down from her role as a Hampton Wick councillor.

A byelection has been triggered and a casual vacancy has arisen.

The Liberal Democrats, or any party for that matter, have failed to break the Tory stranglehold on the ward since 1998.

They suffered a huge blow at the last local election in 2014, when all three of their candidates polled lower than a single Green Party candidate and lagged even further behind the three elected Tories.

But byelection candidate Geraldine Locke, who joined the party last month, was hopeful voters would switch allegiances because of what she calls "buyer's regret".

She said: "I think there is a real chance this time because, from what we are hearing on the street, a lot of people have buyer's regret over the General Election.

"A lot of people were surprised at Vince Cable's defeat as an MP in this area and people may wish to reflect on that.

"I have spoken to a number of people who voted Tory in the General Election who were swayed by the argument of Labour and the SNP."

As chairman of Collis Primary School's board of governors, her key campaigning issue is education.

Despite lacking the same will as London Assembly member and Teddington councillor Stephen Knight for the Turing House free school to be located at the Udney Park Road playing fields, she remains open-minded.

She said: "The reason for Turing House was to find school places, particularly for those at Stanley Primary, who have real difficulty getting into Teddington School.

"It would be fantastic if we could keep them as playing fields but clearly Imperial College are going to be commercial [with the sale] - a school might be the best compromise."

But her Conservative opponent Jon Hollis, bidding to retain the sea of blue in the ward, is fiercely against placing the school on the for-sale Imperial College playing fields.

He said: "There are significant issues with parking and if we were to put a school there, it would only worsen the situation.

"I haven't looked into the pros and cons of the potential site in Whitton but in terms of Teddington, I don't think the playing fields would be suitable."

Mr Hollis, a transport researcher at the Greater London Authority, ought to be confident of success on July 2 despite his defeat in Teddington ward last year.

He said: "I think I'm a hard worker and I have lived locally all my life - I have knocked on a lot of doors over the past 10 years.

"It gives me an understanding of the issues that matter to people.

"The challenge is to follow up Tania Mathias's good work - there were a lot of people on the doorstep saying they wish she was staying on as a Hampton Wick councillor."

There are whispers that if the Greens are to ever make any sort of headway in Richmond, this byelection poses their best opportunity to build on positive voting numbers last time out.

Construction entrepreneur Anthony Breslin hopes to be the man to push his party into the forefront of Richmond politics.

He said: "If we initially win just one Green councillor that would be a huge step forward in the representative democracy of our local authority.

"Our council is dominated by Conservatives and there is no serious opposition - that is bad for democracy."

Finally, NHS accident and emergency registrar Paul Tanto is standing as Labour's candidate and hopes to apply his expertise to the campaign.

He said: "Integrating health and social care will be a huge challenge even for a well-off borough like Richmond.

"I do think that our current councillors are underestimating the future burden and are hoping it will all sort itself out."

Candidates:
Anthony Breslin, Green
Jon Hollis, Conservative
Michael Lloyd, Independent
Geraldine Locke, Liberal Democrats
Sam Naz, UKIP
Dr Paul Tanto, Labour

To vote, ensure you are registered by Tuesday, June 16, by visiting richmond.gov.uk.