A Buckhurst Hill councillor has been aiming for re-election while also campaigning for a seat on the Welsh Assembly, almost 200 miles from Epping Forest.

Gavin Chambers, Conservative councillor for Buckhurst Hill West, has represented his ward since May 2012.

In local elections tomorrow (May 5) he hopes to keep his seat, but he is also running to become a member of the National Assembly for Wales, with a home address in Gwent listed on his nomination – some 184 miles away from Buckhurst Hill by car.

Concerns have been raised that cllr. Chambers, who is the chairman of Epping Forest District Council’s standards committee, would be unable to do both roles properly if successfully elected.

He has refused to speak about his decision to stand in both areas despite many attempts to contact him.

His Twitter account, which describes him as self-employed, has been locked to the public and a mention of his Welsh Assembly campaign has recently been removed from his description.

People have also drawn attention to the number of areas cllr. Chambers talks about living in, including not only Buckhurst Hill and Gwent but also Loughton, Southend and Leigh in Essex.

Councillor Gagan Mohindra, chairman of the Epping Forest Conservative Association, said it was “very, very” unlikely that cllr. Chambers would be elected in Wales.

“If he is lucky enough to be elected, we will have a look at how practical it is for him to remain as a district councillor in Buckhurst Hill.”

He added: “Once he is elected as a district councillor, he is allowed to remain on the council for the four year term, but I think we would probably have a chat internally within the party.

“If he was successful within Wales I would assume he would want to be there - and I have not discussed this with him - but I would expect him to, when appropriate, stand down and we would have a by-election.”

Asked if cllr. Chambers had been open with the people of Buckhurst Hill, cllr. Mohindra said the campaigns are on public record.

Green Buckhurst Hill councillor Steven Neville agreed it is unlikely cllr. Chambers will be elected in Wales.

However, he added: “Obviously it is an issue… the voters will make their own minds up on polling day whether it is an issue for them.”

A district council spokeswoman said: “Candidates do not need to live in a particular ward to represent it.

“Some candidates could potentially be eligible to stand in several different electoral areas.”

She added: “It is extremely important that candidates provide truthful information in their nomination papers.

“To do otherwise is a criminal offence.”