Betws, Carmarthenshire (electoral ward)

Betws is an electoral ward, representing part of the community of Betws, near Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Profile

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In 2014, the Betws electoral ward had an electorate of xxx.[1] The total population was xxx, of whom xxx were born in Wales. xxxx% of the population were able to speak Welsh.[1]

Current representation

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The Betws Ward is a single-member ward for the purposes of Carmarthenshire County Council elections. Since 2012 it has been represented by Plaid Cymru councillor Betsan Wyn Jones.

Recent history

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The first election to the new unitary Carmarthenshire County Council took place in 1995. Dorian Evans won the seat by a comfortable majority.

Betws, 1995
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Dorian Evans 442
Plaid Cymru Brian Keith Vaughan 200
Independent William Gwyn Thomas 36
Majority 242
Labour hold Swing

In 1999, Evans was re-elected.

Betws 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Dorian Evans* 484
Plaid Cymru Brian Keith Vaughan 331
Majority 153
Labour hold Swing

Evans faced opposition from Plaid Cymru in 2004 but the majority fell to 30 votes.

Betws 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Dorian Evans* 329
Plaid Cymru Charlotte Price 299
Majority 30
Labour hold Swing

In 2008, Evans was beaten into third place as the seat was won by an Independent candidate.

Betws 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Eira Audrey Jones 274
Plaid Cymru Annette Price 224
Labour John Dorian Evans* 217
Majority 50
Independent gain from Labour Swing

In 2012, Labour having held the seat from 1995 until 2008, came from third place to recapture Betws with a new candidate

Betws 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ryan Bartlett 325
Independent Eira Audrey Jones* 274
Plaid Cymru Annette Price 155
Majority 51
Turnout 44.3
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Earlier History

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County Council Elections

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Betws first became an electoral ward for county elections in the early twentieth century, having initially been part of the Llandybie ward at the formation of Carmarthenshire County Council. In due course, it became part of one of the two Ammanford wards for county council elections and these continued to exist until Carmarthenshire was abolished in 1974.

With the formation of Dyfed County Council, Betws was part of one of the Ammanford wards. The two wards were merged in 1989.

When the current Carmarthenshire County Council was formed in 1995, a Betws ward, based on the boundaries of the existing ward for the purposes of elections to Dinefwr Borough Council was established.

District Council Elections

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From 1894 until 1973, Betws formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Llandeilo Rural District Council.

Following re-organization in 1973, and until the creation of unitary authorities in 1996, Betws formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Dinefwr Borough Council.

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  • "Betws Ward: Electoral Division Profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2014.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Betws Ward: Electoral Division Profile" (PDF). Carmarthenshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2014.