1952 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1952.[1] It was preceded by the 1949 election and followed, by the 1955 election.

Overview of the result

After capturing control of the Council for the first time in 1949, Labour strengthened their hold by gaining an additional six seats in the Llanelli area. These included the two new wards created after boundary changes and the two wards in Llanelli town lost in by-elections in 1949. This counterbalanced the loss of Llangeler where Labour did not field a candidate. This was augmented by taking seven of the nine vacancies on the aldermanic bench.[2]

Boundary changes

Two additional seats were created, at Burry Port and Felinfoel.

Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were ...

Retiring Labour councillors Haydn Lewis and Evan Bevan stood down in Ammanford and Llandybie respectively to allow Aldermen Frank Davies, and D.B. Lewis to be returned unopposed. Likewise, H.H. Harries and J.H. Davies stood down in Llandissilio and Llansteffan in favour of Edward James and T.Ll. Harries. Aldermen John Phillips (Cwmamman) and J.D. Rees (St Clears) withdrew at the last moment.[3]

Unopposed returns

34 members were returned unopposed, which included both rural and urban seats.[3]

Contested elections

25 seats were contested, including a number of instances where rival Independents fought each other. As in 1949, Independents sought to fight elections in Llanelli as a group, but had little success. Following the elections, Labour held all nine wards in Llanelli town for the first time.

A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed. In Carmarthen, Alderman William Edwards, a member of the Council since 1928, stood in a town ward rather than in Llangunnor which he represented as a councilor until 1946. Edwards was defeated by the retiring Labour member.

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.

Carmarthesnhire County Council 1952: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1952 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1952 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru
  Independent

Ward results

Abergwili
Abergwili 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William John Phillips unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1
Ammanford No.1 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Frank Davies** unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ammanford No.2
Ammanford No.2 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Harries* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Berwick
Berwick 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William Isaac Daniel* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port East

Boundary Change

Burry Port East 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Labor Dennis 921
Independent Dr W.D. Williams 471
Labour win (new seat)

Burry Port West

Boundary Change

Burry Port West 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Edward Lewis* 901
Independent Gwyn Thomas 273
Labour win (new seat)

Caio
Caio 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Thomas Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 1
Carmarthen Division 1 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour G.V. Davies* 1,240
Independent William Edwards** 1,022
Labour hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 2 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J.O. Morgans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 3
Carmarthen Division 3 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J. Verdi Jenkins* 931
Labour Ellis J. Powell 708
Independent hold Swing

Cenarth
Cenarth 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent D.E. James Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent D.I. Lewis 448
Independent J.A. Owen* 290
Independent hold Swing

Conwil
Conwil 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent W.A. Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman
Cwmamman 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Felinfoel

Boundary Change

Felinfoel 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Joseph Howells** unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Hengoed

Boundary Change

Hengoed 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David John Stone* 864
Independent J.G. Thomas 358
Labour win (new seat)

Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour J.H. Williams* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Laugharne
Laugharne 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent W.G. John 797
Independent H.R. Lewis 582
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy
Llanboidy 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Joshua Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North
Llandebie North 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour D.B. Lewis** unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent David Marlais Humphreys unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent James Morgan Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery
Llandovery 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Davies 565
Independent Anthony H. Gower* 425
Independent James James 157
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio
Llandyssilio 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Edward James** unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy
Llanedy 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Gwyn Howells* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad
Llanegwad 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Griffith Evans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division.1
Llanelly Division.1 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Rev David Penry Jones* 1,064
Independent W.G. Edmunds 1,041
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 2 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Dr H.D. Llewellyn 1,117
Independent John Zammit* 1,070
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 3 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Mrs Claudia R. Rees* 696
Independent Edith A. Francis 283
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* 1,306
Independent Thomas B.J. Perks 685
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 5 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Sidney Lewis 532
Independent Frederick Howells* 500
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 6 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William J. Davies* 859
Independent William Hughes 93
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 7 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour D.J. Williams 1,387
Independent Eleanor Thomas* 651
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 8 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George M. McConkey unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 9
Llanelly Division 8 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour S.I. Thomas 1,150
Independent A.H. Olive* 865
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent T.J. Williams* 766
Labour D.G. Williams 446
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangadog
Llangadog 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Richard Evans 618
Independent William Jones 486
Plaid Cymru hold Swing

Llangeler
Llangeler 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Evans unopposed
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Rev R.G. James* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llangennech
Llangennech 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Thomas Bowen* 959
Plaid Cymru Trefor Beasley 289
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Dobson Phelps 626
Independent William Parry Thomas* 557
Independent hold Swing

Llanon
Llanon 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Sidney Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel
Llansawel 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Daniel Williams* 312
Independent John Morgan 295
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan
Llanstephan 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent T.Ll. Haries* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther
Llanybyther 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai
Myddfai 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Morgan Lewis Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey
Pembrey 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Simon John Elwyn Samuel* 1,180
Independent Evelyn M. Thomas 503
Labour hold Swing

Pontyberem
Pontyberem 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Williams* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Josiah Jones* 1,674
Independent Owen A. Jenkins 658
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent David Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears
St Clears 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent T.E. Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmaels
St Ishmaels 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Trevor Rhys Morris* 815
Independent M.T. Evans 418
Independent M. Jones 240
Labour hold Swing

Trelech
Trelech 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Simon Owen Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran
Trimsaran 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Brinley Jenkins* 718
Independent William Harries 288
Independent C. Phillips 206
Labour hold Swing

Westfa
Westfa 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W.J.F. Thomas unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Whitland
Whitland 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Hughes Mathias* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

In 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 nine aldermanic vacancies were taken by Labour. The leader of the Labour group, Douglas Hughes, justified this by stating that the Independents had behaved in a similar fashion over many years.[2]

  • Joseph Howells, Labour
  • D.B. Lewis, Labour
  • Frank Davies, Labour
  • John Harries, Labour
  • Edgar Lewis, Labour
  • D.J. Stone, Labour
  • Gwilym R. Thomas, Labour
  • Edward James, Independent
  • T.Ll. Harries, Independent

By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held. Four members of the previous authority who had stood down in favour of retiring aldermen were now returned unopposed.[4] The two contested elections included a strong showing by Plaid Cymru in Ammanford.[5]

Ammanford No.1 by-election
Ammanford No.1 by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Haydn Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ammanford No.2 by-election
Ammanford No.2 by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Thomas Elias Evans 663
Plaid Cymru David Samuel Gwynfor Evans 558
Labour hold Swing

Felinfoel by-election
Felinfoel by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Arthur Cledwyn Francis unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Hengoed by-election
Hengoed by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Edgar S. Samuel 497
Independent Labour Gwilym Thomas 344
Labour hold Swing

Llanarthney by-election
Llanarthney by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour D.M. Davies unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandybie North by-election
Llandybie North by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Evan Bevan*
Labour hold Swing

Llandybie South by-election
Llandybie South by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William Morris
Labour hold Swing

Llandyssilio by-election
Llandyssilio by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent H.H. Harries unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan by-election
Llanstephan by-election 1952
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J.H. Davies unopposed
Independent hold Swing
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References
  1. "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 11 April 1952.
  2. "New County Aldermen". Carmarthen Journal. 25 April 1952.
  3. "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 28 March 1952.
  4. "County Council by-elections". Carmarthen Journal. 16 May 1955.
  5. "County Council by-elections". Carmarthen Journal. 6 June 1955.
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