Twickenham Riverside councillor Scott Naylor will not stand for the Conservative Party for the next election.

Neither Coun Naylor nor Councillor Sam Salvoni was chosen by the Twickenham Conservatives for next year’s election.

However, many residents have come out fighting Coun Naylor’s corner, claiming the decision was made after his strong opposition to the Tory administration’s approval of the Twickenham station development.

John Parson, of Cole Park Road, said: “It appears that being active, visible and vocal - unlike many other councillors of all political colours who are rarely seen or heard - that a Conservative councillor working to support some actions that are insensitive to the policies of the governing Conservative party council rather than for voters, results in de-selection.”

Tennyson Avenue resident Sarah Meagher said: “It is important that the improper undemocratic, insidious and downright Machiavellian behaviour of both some Conservative and Liberal Democrats is put under the microscope so that the electorate can see exactly who and what they are voting for.”

The three Tory candidates confirmed to stand in the May 2014 Twickenham Riverside election are Benedict Dias, Tony Shoebridge and current Twickenham Riverside councillor Susan Chappell.

Chairman of Twickenham Conservative Association Jon Hollis said the decision was made by local members of the Conservative Party.

He said: “The responsibility of members was to select three candidates who they felt would do the best job for Twickenham Riverside and who would give the conservatives the best chance of winning the ward.

“I’m sure the process is much the same as the one used by other parties and I believe it is commendable that sitting councillors are accountable and not simply re-selected.

“There was no question of Scott being asked to stand down. He applied for selection as one of the three Conservative candidates in Twickenham Riverside ward but was unsuccessful. Local members voted for three other applicants.”

Leader of the council, Lord True said it was not his place to comment on the situation and Coun Naylor did not wish to comment at present.