# 1970 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held on 9 April 1970. It was preceded by the 1967 election and was the last election prior to the reorganization of local government in Wales. Carmarthenshire County Council was merged with Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire to form the new county of Dyfed and the first elections to the new authority were held in 1973.

## Overview of the result

59 councillors were elected. The final elections to the council before dissolution saw the Independents retain control of the authority. The Plaid Cymru advance which was apparent in 1967 was halted and most candidates made little impact.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Unopposed returns

As in 1967, these were fewer in number than at most post-war elections.

## Contested elections

Contests took place in the majority of wards, and Labour lost some further ground in the Llanelli area while at the same time winning back some seats lost three years previously. Labour also won two seats in Carmarthen town for the first time.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.H. Edwards* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Haydn Lewis* | 924 |
| Plaid Cymru | J.D. Davies | 466 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Myrddin Evans* | 1,407 |
| Independent | M.G. Jenkins | 324 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Berwick

Berwick 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | John Raglan Thomas | 1,058 |
| Independent | D.W. Davies | 436 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Burry Port East

Burry Port East 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D.C. Thomas* | 615 |
| Plaid Cymru | Leslie Thomas | 210 |
| Labour | Labor Dennis** | 230 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Burry Port West

Burry Port West 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Eirwen Jones Parry | 460 |
| Labour | A.T. Wilkins* | 450 |
| Plaid Cymru | G.T.G. Samuel | 207 |
| Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Trevor Wynne Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Idwal Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 488 |
| Independent | R.B. Evans | 365 |
| Plaid Cymru | J. Williams | 283 |
| Independent | Mrs V.M. Chapman | 80 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.R. Nicholl | 584 |
| Independent | T.J. Hurley | 383 |
| Labour | G.B. Evans | 137 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | G.E. Howell | 711 |
| Independent | L.G. Roberts | 319 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | James James* | 297 |
| Independent | W.D.R. Davies | 284 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Conwil

Conwil 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.L. James | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Walters* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfoel

Felinfoel 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | 1,310 |
| Plaid Cymru | Mrs M.M. Cook | 360 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.J. Stone** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Plaid Cymru | D. Leslie .W. Morris* | 755 |
| Labour | W.H.D. Jones | 683 |
| Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D.M. Jenkins | 654 |
| Independent | Rev V.H. Jones* | 583 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Ratepayers | T. Austin Griffiths* | 1,745 |
| Labour | Ryan Jones | 845 |
| Ratepayers Association hold | Ratepayers Association hold | Swing |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C.D. Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William Morris* | 991 |
| Plaid Cymru | D.O. Davies | 678 |
| Independent | T.J. Thomas | 184 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1967 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Idris Evans* | 1,243 |
| Plaid Cymru | Andrew Williams | 798 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.A. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Elfryn Thomas | 530 |
| Independent | D.T. Jones | 441 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D.T. Davies* | 536 |
| Independent | David Hamilton Evans | 473 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Daniel Clodwyn Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.T. Price* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Harry J. Richards* | 879 |
| Labour | H. Morris | 584 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Brinley Owen* | 697 |
| Plaid Cymru | W.H. Davies | 223 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Eric Griffiths | 444 |
| Plaid Cymru | Mrs P.D. Bevan | 114 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | A.C.H. Robertson* | 630 |
| Labour | A.C. Hemment | 379 |
| Plaid Cymru | P. Davies | 145 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Grismond J. Williams | 260 |
| Independent | Gwilym Gibby* | 238 |
| Plaid Cymru | E.E. Jones | 63 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William J. Davies* | 358 |
| Plaid Cymru | M.J. Evans | 159 |
| Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R.A. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George M. McConkey* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | S.I. Thomas** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythych

Llanfihangel Aberbythych 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Ivor James Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Harry* | 546 |
| Plaid Cymru | Gerallt Jones | 301 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.T. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.T. Enoch* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1964 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | M.J. Thomas | 538 |
| Independent | T.G. Lewis | 456 |
| Plaid Cymru | Hywel Teifi Edwards | 438 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Arthur J. Harries* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | David William James* | 1,389 |
| Plaid Cymru | E.D. Evans | 615 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D. Idris Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R.H.F. John* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E.G. Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | G.P. Evans | 1,212 |
| Plaid Cymru | Mrs J. Lewis | 329 |
| Labour gain from Plaid Cymru | Labour gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Howard Jones* | 1,414 |
| Independent | T.M. Morris | 769 |
| Democrat | T. Ieuan Edwards | 346 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Josiah Jones** | 1,468 |
| Plaid Cymru | Elfyn Talfan Davies | 494 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymerau

Rhydcymerau 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.M. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Rev H.D. Griffiths* | 876 |
| Independent | W.E.V.J. Davies | 709 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E.T. Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | T.S. Davies | 536 |
| Independent | Mrs A.M. Thomas | 285 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | 932 |
| Plaid Cymru | M. Davies | 262 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Westfa

Westfa 1970 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W.J. Franklyn Thomas* | 571 |
| Plaid Cymru | Brinley Thomas | 295 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Whitland

Whitland 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.G. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | 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, the majority of the aldermanic seats were taken by Labour.

### Retiring aldermen

A number of retiring councillors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed.