# 1981 West Glamorgan County Council election

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

## Candidates

The Labour Party fielded candidates in every ward. A significant proportion of seats were contested by the Conservative Party and Plaid Cymru with fewer candidates fielded by the Liberal Party. A feature of the election was the number of Ratepayer candidates.
In the Neath area, Labour contested all thirteen seats, with Plaid Cymru running nine candidates.

## Outcome

Labour retained their majority and regained some of the ground lost to Ratepayers four years earlier.

## Results

* indicates sitting councillor

## Ward Results
### Aberavon East and West (three seats)

Aberavon East and West 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Colin Crowley* | 3,656 | |
| | Labour | Cyril Lewis* | 3,434 | |
| | Labour | P. Jones* | 3,287 | |
| | Tenants Association | B. Thomas | 1,495 | |
| | Tenants Association | W. Johnson | 1,423 | |
| | Tenants Association | Jim Roberts | 1,241 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Aberavon North (one seat)

Aberavon North 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Malcolm Harris | 1,653 |
| | Ratepayers | R. Hubbard* | 1,590 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Swing |

### Aberavon South (one seat)

Aberavon South 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W. Llewellyn | 1,310 |
| | Ratepayers | L. Carey* | 709 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Swing |

### Brynmelyn (two seats)

Brynmelyn 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. Dowdle* | 1,407 | |
| | Labour | J. Adams* | 1,334 | |
| | Conservative | P. Morgan | 382 | |
| | Ratepayers | M. John | 348 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Castle (two seats)

Castle 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Jones | 945 | |
| | Labour | B. Ludlam* | 893 | |
| | Ratepayers | I. Williams | 558 | |
| | Ratepayers | B. Matthews | 508 | |
| | Conservative | S. Patriarcia | 358 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Cwmafan (one seat)

Cwmafan 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mel John* | 1,632 |
| | Independent | A. Bevan | 122 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Fforest Fach (two seats)

Fforest Fach 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Bevan* | 1,292 | |
| | Labour | Victor Cyril Alexander* | 1,193 | |
| | Ratepayers | D. Jones | 1,115 | |
| | Ratepayers | L. Evans | 1,091 | |
| | Conservative | C. Andrews | 767 | |
| | Conservative | E. Charles | 750 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Williams | 319 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Morton | 305 | |
| | Communist | B. Lewis | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Ffynone (two seats)

Ffynone 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Paul Valerio* | 1,840 | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Thomas | 1,383 | |
| | Conservative | G. Ashmole | 1,296 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | J. Thomas | 456 | |
| | Liberal | S. Evans | 441 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Ratepayers gain from Conservative | Ratepayers gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Glyncorrwg (two seats)

Glyncorrwg 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. Davies* | 1,839 | |
| | Labour | D. Daniels* | 1,601 | |
| | Ratepayers | G. James | 934 | |
| | Independent | Mairwen Goodridge | 922 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 58.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Gower No.1 (one seat)

Gower No.1 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Bartlett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Gower No.2 (one seat)

Gower No.2 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ratepayers | C. Sanders | 1,660 | |
| | Labour | F. Lord* | 1,407 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.5 |
| | Ratepayers gain from Labour | Ratepayers gain from Labour | Swing | |

### Gower No.3 (one seat)

Gower No.3 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | P. Bevan | 1,565 | |
| | Ratepayers | G. Beynon | 1,166 | |
| | Labour | M. Thomas | 273 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | |

### Landore (two seats)

Landore 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Cox* | 1,286 | |
| | Labour | S. John* | 1,237 | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Lewis | 921 | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Phillips | 917 | |
| | Communist | R. Thomas | 97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llansamlet (two seats)

Llansamlet 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | L. Penhaligan* | 2,471 | |
| | Labour | W. Davies | 1,931 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | C. Phillips | 1,181 | |
| | Ratepayers | E. James | 845 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | W. Smith | 779 | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Stevens | 773 | |
| | Conservative | J. Edgecombe | 661 | |
| | Conservative | J. Holmes | 560 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.1 (one seat)

Llwchwr No.1 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. Williams | 1,410 | |
| | Independent | D. Thomas | 829 | |
| | Conservative | R. Day | 576 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.2 (two seats)

Llwchwr No.2 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Davies* | 2,518* | |
| | Labour | J. Jones* | 1,962 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | E. Thomas | 1,780 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 48.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.3 (two seats)

Llwchwr No.3 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Thomas* | 1,835 | |
| | Labour | D. Turner* | 1,697 | |
| | Conservative | W. Davies | 1,301 | |
| | Independent | Cled Morgan | 1,176 | |
| | Conservative | M. Bevan | 1,167 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | H. Price | 862 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Margam Central (one seat)

Margam Central 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Rogers | 1,252 |
| | Independent | W. Jones | 606 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Margam North (one seat)

Margam North 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D. Southall | 843 |
| | Independent | S. Williams* | 618 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Swing |

### Margam West (one seat)

Margam West 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ratepayers | Edward Miles* | 1,254 |
| | Labour | E. Hayward | 541 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ratepayers hold | Ratepayers hold | Swing |

### Morriston (two seats)

Morriston 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Evans | 1,996 | | |
| | Labour | S. Havard | 1,977 | | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Hadley | 1,810 | | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Howes | 1,295 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Mumbles (two seats)

Mumbles 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Chilcot | 3,180 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Jones | 3,072 | | |
| | Labour | L. Neale | 1,757 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Neath No.1, South and Briton Ferry (four seats)

Neath No.1, South and Briton Ferry 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Fred Kingdom* | 3,620 |
| | Labour | Dillwyn David* | 3,549 |
| | Labour | David Jeffs | 3,399 |
| | Labour | David Roberts* | 3,371 |
| | Ratepayers | Samuel Leonard Evans | 1,879 |
| | Plaid Cymru | M. Griffiths | 882 |
| | Conservative | John Leaker | 734 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Neath No.2, North, Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr (two seats)

Neath No.2, North, Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Frank Cecil Evans* | 2,086 |
| | Labour | M. Jones | 1,834 |
| | Ratepayers | Ronald Jones* | 1,318 |
| | Ratepayers | O. Phillips | 1,289 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Iris Curtis | 593 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Labour gain from Ratepayers | Swing |

### Neath Rural (six seats)

Neath Rural 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Jones | 2,905 | | |
| | Independent | Martin Thomas$^o$ | 2,534 | | |
| | Labour | N. Thomas | 2,385 | | |
| | Labour | T. Thomas | 2,131 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | H. Evans | 1,919 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | O. Roberts | 1,629 | | |
| | Labour | W. Jones | 1,575 | | |
| | Labour | C. Jones | 1,499 | | |
| | Independent | T. Rees | 1,346 | | |
| | Labour | R. Davies | 1,300 | | |
| | Independent | L. Adams | 1,191 | | |
| | Communist | Glaslyn Morgan | 734 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | T. Evans | 346 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 67.3 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) |
| | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) |

### Neath Rural No.5 (one seat)

Neath Rural No.5 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Hull | 1,470 | | |
| | Independent | R. Rees | 1,277 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Dawe | 273 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.2 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Penderry (three seats)

Penderry 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Allison | 3,152 | | |
| | Labour | T. Jones | 3,090 | | |
| | Labour | G. Thomas | 3,032 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Reynon | 972 | | |
| | Communist | W. Jones | 584 | | |
| | Communist | B. Lewis | 424 | | |
| | Communist | H. Barrow | 280 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.1 (one seat)

Pontardawe No.1 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Williams | 1,151 | 62.1 | |
| | Labour | G. Williams | 703 | 37.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.1 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.2 (two seats)

Pontardawe No.2 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Maunder | 2,694 | | |
| | Independent | M. Rees | 1,948 | | |
| | Labour | C. Jones | 1,836 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | M. Mulcahy | 1,507 | | |
| | Independent | R. Jones | 1,037 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.9 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.3 (three seats)

Pontardawe No.3 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Lake | 4,702 | | |
| | Labour | W. Rees | 4,615 | | |
| | Labour | B. Richards | 4,464 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Davies | 3,305 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 65.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St Helens (two seats)

St Helens 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Dilley | 1,741 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Hinds | 1,545 | | |
| | Labour | D. Davies | 1,067 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.1 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Sketty (two seats)

Sketty 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Vaughan | 5,270 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Perry | 4,819 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Massey-Shaw | 4,477 | | |
| | Labour | J. Dalton | 2,372 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### St Johns (two seats)

St Johns 1973 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | A, Morris | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | H. Tabram | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St Thomas (two seats)

St Thamas 1973 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | A. Hare | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | I. Morgan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Townhill (two seats)

Townhill 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Wignall | 1,848 | | |
| | Labour | T. Evans | 1,748 | | |
| | Conservative | C. McPherson | 429 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Victoria (two seats)

Victoria 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ratepayers | D. Jenkins | 1,390 | | |
| | Ratepayers | S. Jenkins | 1,132 | | |
| | Labour | A. Taylor | 1,051 | | |
| | Labour | R. Lloyd | 852 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Morgan | 477 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Burrington | 329 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 57.5 | |
| | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) |
| | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) |