# 1981 South Glamorgan County Council election

The third election to South Glamorgan County Council was held in May 1981. It was preceded by the 1977 election and followed by the 1985 election.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Candidates

As in previous elections, Conservative and Labour candidates contested the vast majority of seats, with an increased number of Liberal candidates. There were a smaller number of Plaid Cymru and Ecology Party candidates and a few Independents.

## Outcome

Having lost control of the authority in 1977, Labour regained control with sweeping gains across the wards. The Liberals also made some advances in central Cardiff.

## Ward Results
### Adamsdown (two seats)

Adamsdown 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D. Evans* | 1,251 |
| | Labour | Kenneth Hutchings | 1,234 |
| | Conservative | W. Lewis | 344 |
| | Conservative | T. Hobbs | 314 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Barry, Baruc (one seat)

Barry, Baruc 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | E. Jones* | 1,380 |
| | Labour | C. Short | 889 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Barry, Buttrills (one seat)

Barry, Buttrills 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | R. Lane | 976 |
| | Conservative | E. Evans* | 626 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Barry, Cadoc (one seat)

Barry, Cadoc 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | F. Cook | 1,048 |
| | Conservative | J. Whitchurch* | 850 |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. Greaves | 80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Barry, Castleland (one seat)

Barry, Castleland 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | M. Sharp | 1,012 |
| | Conservative | K. Jones | 431 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Barry, Court (two seats)

Barry, Court 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | S. James | 1,319 |
| | Labour | Mick Antoniw | 1,198 |
| | Conservative | M. Davies* | 750 |
| | Conservative | M. Walnycki* | 632 |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Perriam | 125 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Barry, Dyfan (two seats)

Barry, Dyfan 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | B. Murray | 2,037 |
| | Labour | C. Watkins* | 1,984 |
| | Conservative | J. Donovan | 1,068 |
| | Conservative | R. Gibbons | 1.041 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Barry, Illtyd (one seat)

Barry, Castleland 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Tabernacle | 1,088 |
| | Conservative | G. Mackillican* | 1,074 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Canton (two seats)

Canton 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | M. Trickway | 1,333 |
| | Conservative | Bella Brown* | 1,328 |
| | Labour | T. Crews | 1,236 |
| | Conservative | Trevor C. Tyrrell* | 1,113 |
| | Liberal | A. Williams | 299 |
| | Liberal | P. Deogan | 274 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Cardiff Rural No.1 (one seat)

Cardiff Rural No.1 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | B. Clarke | 1,441 |
| | Labour | B. Edwards | 842 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Plaid Cymru | Conservative gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |

### Cardiff Rural No.3, Dinas Powys (two seats)

Cardiff Rural No.3, Dinas Powys 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | B. Jones* | 1,635 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Chris Franks | 1,537 |
| | Conservative | A. Beavan | 1,511 |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Roper | 1,030 |
| | Labour | T. Davies | 788 |
| | Liberal | J. Baker | 392 |
| | Liberal | S. Bakes | 370 |
| | Independent | T. Roberts | 128 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Plaid Cymru gain from Conservative | Plaid Cymru gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Cardiff Rural No.4, Wenvoe (one seat)

Cardiff Rural No.4, Wenvoe 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Rush* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Cardiff Rural No.5, Rhoose (one seat)

Cardiff Rural No.5, Rhoose 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | K. Bowles | 1,133 |
| | Labour | A. German | 787 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Cardiff South (two seats)

Cardiff South 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Peter Perkins | 1,569 |
| | Labour | D. Richards | 1,527 |
| | Conservative | M. Moorcroft | 747 |
| | Conservative | F. Arnold | 694 |
| | Liberal | J. Williams | 152 |
| | Liberal | J. Coley | 142 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Cathays (three seats)

Cathays 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | W. Matthews | 2,110 |
| | Liberal | G. Snell | 2,107 |
| | Liberal | David Rees | 1,956 |
| | Labour | T. Sweeney | 1,243 |
| | Labour | A. Thompson | 1,186 |
| | Labour | D. Francies | 1,156 |
| | Conservative | E. Chichister* | 904 |
| | Conservative | M. Adams | 844 |
| | Conservative | B. Jones | 804 |
| | Plaid Cymru | T. O'Neill | 200 |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Tilley | 173 |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Clancy | 150 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Central (two seats)

Central 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | C. Champion | 780 |
| | Labour | H. Rhoden | 701 |
| | Liberal | R. Hill | 570 |
| | Liberal | A. Miles | 500 |
| | Conservative | P. Lowes | 446 |
| | Conservative | C. Thomas* | 434 |
| | Ecology | K. Pearson | 128 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Cowbridge No.1 (one seat)

Cowbridge No.1 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | R. Thomas | 1,787 |
| | Labour | J. Jones | 698 |
| | Liberal | M. Weston | 428 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Cowbridge No.2 (two seats)

Cowbridge No.2 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | P. Jones | 1,632 |
| | Conservative | J. George* | 1,625 |
| | Labour | G. Rees | 1,180 |
| | Independent | D. Hardie | 938 |
| | Labour | M. Pember | 904 |
| | Independent | C. Thomson | 719 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing |

### Ely (four seats)

Ely 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Robert Morgan* | 2,800 |
| | Labour | H. Gough | 2,607 |
| | Labour | B. Phillips | 2,480 |
| | Labour | Emyr Currie-Jones | 2,478 |
| | Conservative | G. Derrick | 1,023 |
| | Conservative | R. Benson | 1,016 |
| | Conservative | J. Rushrod | 1,010 |
| | Conservative | S. Jose | 997 |
| | Ecology | G. Jones | 720 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Gabalfa (three seats)

Gabalfa 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Davies | 2,058 |
| | Labour | A. Hearne | 1,995 |
| | Labour | A. Huish | 1,925 |
| | Conservative | T. Merridew* | 1,393 |
| | Conservative | C. Saunders* | 1,371 |
| | Conservative | V. Kempton | 1,358 |
| | Plaid Cymru | L. Evans | 401 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Grangetown (two seats)

Grangetown 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D. Lydiard | 1,679 |
| | Labour | G. Gallagher | 1,626 |
| | Conservative | L. Quinn* | 1,384 |
| | Conservative | N. Leworthy | 1,007 |
| | Liberal | I. Taher | 174 |
| | Liberal | P. Verma | 129 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Lisvane, Llanedeyrn and St Mellons (one seat)

Lisvane, Llanedeyrn and St Mellons 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Lysaght* | 1,273 |
| | Labour | S. Caeser | 680 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llandaff (three seats)

Llandaff 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Julius Hermer* | 2,258 |
| | Conservative | J. Donovan | 2,230 |
| | Conservative | M. Jones* | 2,157 |
| | Labour | G. Rhoden | 1,010 |
| | Labour | D. Jenkins | 998 |
| | Labour | W. Laing | 948 |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Jones | 508 |
| | Plaid Cymru | J. Edwards | 488 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llanishen (four seats)

Llanishen 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | T. Cronin* | 3,351 |
| | Conservative | F. Court | 3,345 |
| | Conservative | B. Rees* | 3,335 |
| | Conservative | G. Tatham* | 3,286 |
| | Labour | C. Jones | 1,894 |
| | Labour | R. Hughes | 1,889 |
| | Labour | D. Elwell | 1,854 |
| | Labour | E. Williams | 1,776 |
| | Ecology | M. Evans | 887 |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Balch | 457 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Penarth North/Central (one seats)

Penarth North/Central 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | P. Gray | 843 |
| | Conservative | P. Church | 566 |
| | Liberal | J. Janes | 317 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Penarth South Ward (two seats)

Penarth South Ward 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | W. Goddard* | 1,525 |
| | Conservative | P. Lloyd | 1,495 |
| | Labour | I. Boyce | 433 |
| | Labour | L. Barrett | 418 |
| | Liberal | A. Jones | 397 |
| | Liberal | M. Jones | 350 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Penarth West (one seat)

Penarth West 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | S. Thomas* | 1,499 |
| | Labour | E. Tincknell | 1,457 |
| | Conservative | E. Lloyd* | 1,429 |
| | Labour | K. Nelson | 1,415 |
| | Liberal | E. Humphreys | 680 |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Packer | 279 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Penylan (five seats)

Penylan 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | C. Peterson* | 5,136 |
| | Conservative | Peter Meyer* | 5,097 |
| | Conservative | A. Thomas* | 5,047 |
| | Conservative | Stefan Terlezki* | 5,040 |
| | Conservative | M. Wigmore | 4,924 |
| | Liberal | D. Hill | 3,722 |
| | Liberal | P. Bramall | 3,381 |
| | Liberal | I. Foster | 3,372 |
| | Liberal | C, Mitchell | 3,277 |
| | Liberal | G. Sagoo | 2,918 |
| | Labour | C. Evans | 2,186 |
| | Labour | P. Malekin | 2,065 |
| | Labour | M. Phelps | 2,041 |
| | Labour | P. Williams | 2,010 |
| | Labour | D. Richards | 1,998 |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Morgan | 652 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Plas Mawr (four seats)

Former Labour MP Caerwyn Roderick was among the successful candidates in this ward. Former Penylan councilor Mary Hallinan sought to retain a seat for the Conservatives but was defeated.
Plas Mawr 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D. Longden | 2,743 |
| | Labour | J. Lewis | 2,722 |
| | Labour | Caerwyn Roderick | 2,609 |
| | Labour | G. Brooks | 2,543 |
| | Conservative | B. Hall* | 1,595 |
| | Conservative | H. Phillips | 1,559 |
| | Conservative | E. Clarke | 1,498 |
| | Conservative | Mary Hallinan° | 1,494 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Plaid Cymru | Labour gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |

### Plasnewydd (two seats)

Plasnewydd 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Olwen Watkin* | 1,253 |
| | Labour | F. Dobbs | 1,188 |
| | Conservative | S. James* | 1,149 |
| | Liberal | P. Jarman | 1,049 |
| | Labour | C. Richards | 997 |
| | Liberal | P. Davies | 898 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Owen John Thomas | 291 |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Rees | 181 |
| | Communist | R. Macmillan | 97 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Rhiwbina (three seats)

Rhiwbina 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | M. Davies* | 2,929 |
| | Conservative | Gareth Neale* | 2,770 |
| | Conservative | W. Bain* | 2,727 |
| | Liberal | S. Crossley | 1,651 |
| | Labour | P. MacCormack | 970 |
| | Labour | J. Cocks | 967 |
| | Labour | A. Davies | 901 |
| | Plaid Cymru | P. Richards | 368 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Riverside (two seats)

Riverside 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Jane Hutt | 1,429 |
| | Labour | D. Campbell | 1,363 |
| | Conservative | R. Souza* | 980 |
| | Conservative | F. Cooper | 941 |
| | Ecology | Peter Bridger | 338 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Roath (three seats)

Roath 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | I. Hermer* | 2,193 |
| | Conservative | F. McCarthy* | 2,167 |
| | Conservative | R. Richards* | 2,156 |
| | Labour | T. Tucker | 976 |
| | Labour | N. Davies | 972 |
| | Labour | A. Rannasut | 877 |
| | Liberal | M. Davies | 792 |
| | Plaid Cymru | B. Smith | 249 |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Smith | 224 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Rumney (five seats)

Rumney 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Vita Jones | 4,273 |
| | Labour | W. Bowen | 4,236 |
| | Labour | F. Yeomans | 4,077 |
| | Labour | R. Morris | 4,026 |
| | Labour | A. Pithouse | 4,021 |
| | Conservative | S. Brown | 2,019 |
| | Conservative | I. Davis | 1,924 |
| | Conservative | N. Smith* | 1,910 |
| | Conservative | C. Nicholson* | 1,901 |
| | Conservative | M. Battistea | 1,896 |
| | Liberal | J. Cuff | 888 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Splott (three seats)

Splott 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Gordon Houlston* | 1,811 |
| | Labour | John Brooks* | 1,734 |
| | Labour | W. Kitson | 1,654 |
| | Conservative | F. Chichister | 809 |
| | Conservative | A. Hopkins | 754 |
| | Conservative | R. Jones | 722 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Whitchurch (three seats)

Whitchurch 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | David Purnell* | 2,793 |
| | Conservative | R. Evans* | 2,733 |
| | Conservative | W. Richards* | 2,721 |
| | Labour | C. Fennessy | 1,607 |
| | Labour | B. Bowler | 1,591 |
| | Labour | A. Parsons | 1,486 |
| | Plaid Cymru | I. Williams | 461 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |