An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1955.[1] It was preceded by the 1952 election and followed, by the 1958 election.
Overview of the result
editAfter six years under Labour control, the election produced a very close result with 29 Labour candidates, 28 Independents and 2 Plaid Cymru candidates being returned after the contested elections.[1] With the support of the two Plaid Cymru members, the Independents then proceeded to take seven of the eight aldermanic vacancies and to offer the other to the President of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans with the result that the Independent group regained control of the authority.[2]
Boundary changes
editThere were no boundary changes at this election.
Retiring aldermen
editThe aldermen who retired at the election were ...
A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included the members for Kidwelly, Llanelly Division 2, 6 and 7, Pontyberem and Westfa. Four of these members would not be returned to the new council as the aldermen were not re-elected. At Llansawel, Alderman David Thomas withdrew rather than face a contest.[3]
Unopposed returns
edit39 members were returned unopposed, an increase of five compared with 1955.
Contested elections
edit20 seats were contested. Labour defeats at St Ishmaels and one of the Llanelli wards, to Independents, and at Ammanford, to Plaid Cymru, led to their losing their majority of elected councillors.
A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed.
Summary of results
editThis section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 59 councillors were elected.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Ward results
editAbergwili
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William John Phillips | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Ammanford No.1
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Haydn Lewis* | 724 | |||
Ratepayers | David Howard Cooke | 597 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ammanford No.2
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plaid Cymru | David Samuel Gwynfor Evans | 715 | |||
Labour | Thomas Elias Evans* | 684 | |||
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour | Swing |
Berwick
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Burry Port East
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Burry Port West
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Caio
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G.V. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 2
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 3
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 962 | |||
Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 531 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cenarth
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cilycwm
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.I. Lewis* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Conwil
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Phillips* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cwmamman
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Felinfoel
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Hengoed
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edgar S. Samuel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Kidwelly
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Amos Jones** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Laugharne
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams | 768 | |||
Independent | W.G. John* | 636 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanarthney
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanboidy
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandebie North
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llandebie South
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Samuel Roberts* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llandilo Rural
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | 866 | |||
Independent | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 468 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandilo Urban
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | James Morgan Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandovery
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William J. Davies* | ||||
Independent | James James | 247 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandyssilio
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | H.H. Harries* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanedy
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gwyn Howells* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanegwad
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 1
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Zammit | 1,521 | |||
Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 888 | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Llanelly Division 2
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William T. Griffiths** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 3
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 4
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 5
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Lewis* | 381 | |||
Independent | William Gilbert Edmunds | 328 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 6
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 7
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 8
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George M. McConkey | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 9
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | 789 | |||
Independent | Frederick Howells | 724 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas John Williams* | 620 | |||
Labour | David Ivor James Evans | 528 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ivor Thomas Davies | 463 | |||
Independent | William Harry | 229 | |||
Independent | William Morgan Davies | 227 | |||
Independent | Evan Philip Richards | 175 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangadog
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans* | 585 | |||
Independent | William Jones | 484 | |||
Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |
Llangeler
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Evans | unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Llangendeirne
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llangennech
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John William Boyles* | 911 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Trefor Beasley | 352 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llangunnor
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Dobson Phelps | 916 | |||
Independent | Thomas Griffiths | 155 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanon
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llansawel
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Morgan | 312 | |||
Independent | Daniel Williams* | 267 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanstephan
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanybyther
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Evans | 829 | |||
Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 661 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Myddfai
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pembrey
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontyberem
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David John Jones** | 1,895 | |||
Plaid Cymru | David Eirwyn Morgan | 407 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Quarter Bach
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Rhydcymerau
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Arthur Evans* | 362 | |||
Independent | Vincent Roy James | 228 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Clears
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Ishmaels
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Morgan Thomas Evans | 763 | |||
Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 689 | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Trelech
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Trimsaran
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | 533 | |||
Independent Labour | William Daniel Evans | 415 | |||
Independent Labour | William Williams | 256 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Westfa
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Emrys Aubrey** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Whitland
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Election of aldermen
editIn addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, seven of the ten aldermanic vacancies were taken by the Independents and an eighth by Gwynfor Evans of Plaid Cymru, whose two representatives aligned with the Independents to guarantee their majority.[2]
- J.M. Davies, Independent
- Thomas Davies, Independent
- Griffith Evans, Independent
- Gwynfor R. Evans, Plaid Cymru
- W.H. Mathias, Independent
- J.O. Morgans, Independent
- S.O. Thomas, Independent
- T.J. Williams, Independent
- Emrys Aubrey, Labour
- W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
By-elections
editFollowing the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.[4]
Caio by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Rees Griffiths | 302 | |||
Independent | Thomas Davies | 301 | |||
Labour | David John Jenkins | 245 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 2 by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Mansel Thomas | 762 | |||
Labour | John Brynmor Jones | 530 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandeilo Urban by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Marie Ann Lewis | 590 | |||
Labour | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 358 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanegwad by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Llewellyn Griffiths | 534 | |||
Independent | Henry Thomas | 501 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 6 by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.J. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Ivor James Evans | 638 | |||
Labour | Thomas Peregrine | 438 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangadog by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Thomas Williams | 561 | |||
Independent | William Jones | 534 | |||
Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |
Trelech by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Davies | 377 | |||
Independent | David Trevor Davies | 356 | |||
Independent | John William Bowen | 286 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Westfa by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.J.F. Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Whitland by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Ivor Davies | 494 | |||
Independent | William Sandbrook Cole | 492 | |||
Independent | William Stephen Richards | 168 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |