1973 Gwent County Council election

The 1973 Gwent County Council election was held on Thursday 12 April 1973 to elect councillors to the new Gwent County Council, governing the new county of Gwent, Wales. It took place on the same day as other county council elections in the United Kingdom.

These were the first elections to the new county council, which would come into effect on 1 April 1974. Future elections would take place every four years, with the next one scheduled for April 1977.

The 1973 election saw the Labour Party win a strong majority on the Council.

Background

Gwent was created following local government reorganisation enacted by the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of Monmouthshire and Newport County Borough, which would be transferred from England to Wales in 1974.

The 1973 elections were the first to the new local authorities, with councillors acting in a shadow capacity until 1 April 1974 when the new councils took full effect.[1]

The position of alderman on the local authorities was abolished, with all members of the new councils being elected ward councillors.[1]

Overview of the result

Seventy-eight Gwent County Council seats in 66 electoral wards were up for election in April 1973. Labour overall increased its presence in comparison with the old councils, though there were some close battles between Labour, the Liberals and Independents in some wards.[2]

In Cwmbran Labour did not fare so well, with an Independent and a Ratepayer candidate winning seats, and the Conservatives polling strongly.[2]

Gwent County Council election result 1973 [3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 59 N/A 75.6 N/A
  Conservative 12 N/A 15.3 N/A
  Liberal 3 N/A 3.8 N/A
  Plaid Cymru 1 N/A 1.2 N/A
  Communist 0 N/A 0.0 1,185 N/A
  Ratepayers 2 N/A 2.5 N/A
  Independent 1 N/A 1.2 N/A

Ward results

Contests took place in 49 wards, with candidates in seventeen of the wards being elected unopposed.[2][lower-alpha 1][3]

Aberbeeg and Six Bells (1 seat)
Aberbeeg and Six Bells ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru I. Lewis 1,415
Labour H. Snellgrove 1,295
Turnout 58.8 n/a
Registered electors 4,608

Abercarn and Cwmcarn (1 seat)
Abercarn and Cwmcarn ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. J. Williams Unopposed

Abergavenny Cantref and Grofield (1 seat)
Abergavenny Cantref and Grofield ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R. Smith 947
Labour P. Stockham 522
Turnout 39.2 n/a
Registered electors 3,745

Abergavenny Castle and Priory (1 seat)
Abergavenny Castle and Priory ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Williams 1,000
Labour J. Pardoe-James 904
Turnout 56.4 n/a
Registered electors 3,376

Abersychan Central (1 seat)
Abersychan Central ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Smith 891
Communist G. Williams 222
Turnout 48.6 n/a
Registered electors 2,288

Abersychan North (1 seat)
Abersychan North ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gertrude Morgan 891
Communist G. Mills 794
Turnout 57.8 n/a
Registered electors 2.916

Abertillery (1 seat)
Abertillery[lower-alpha 2] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. G. Owen Unopposed

Alexandra (1 seat)
Alexandra[lower-alpha 3] (Newport) ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Jones 1,067
Plaid Cymru D. Hughes 308
Turnout 49.1 n/a
Registered electors 2,802

Allt-yr-yn (1 seat)
Allt-yr-yn (Newport) ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative S. Miller 1,464
Liberal D. Owen 778
Labour S. Seaman 343
Turnout 48.2 n/a
Registered electors 5,360

Alway (2 seats)
Alway (Newport)[lower-alpha 4] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Turner 1,718
Labour R. Murray 1,439
Conservative T. Tranter 951
Conservative (Mrs) D. Griffiths 856
Liberal H. Clark 834
Turnout 53.3 n/a
Registered electors 6,569

Bassaleg and Marshfield (1 seat)
Bassaleg and Marshfield ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative P. Grimmer 1,027
Labour T. Lewis 638
Liberal I. Wasgett 401
Turnout 46.2 n/a
Registered electors 4,474

Bedwellty No. 2 Pengam (1 seat)
Pengam[lower-alpha 5] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Jenkins Unopposed

Bedwellty No. 3 Argoed and Cefn Fforest (1 seat)
Argoed and Cefn Fforest[lower-alpha 6] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour (Mrs) O. G. Lloyd Unopposed

Beechwood (2 seats)
Beechwood (Newport)[lower-alpha 7] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Marsh 1,322
Liberal (Mrs) W. Crowther 1,143
Labour G. Purnell 1,081
Conservative T. Elliot 975
Conservative W. Wright 812
Plaid Cymru G. Lee 308
Turnout 62.9 n/a
Registered electors 5,961

Bettws (1 seat)
Bettws (Newport)[lower-alpha 8] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Morgan Unopposed

Blackwood (1 seat)
Blackwood ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Bosley Unopposed

Blaenavon (1 seat)
Blaenavon ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Puddle 1,568
Ratepayer W. Arnold 1,481
Independent W. Edwards [lower-alpha 9] 209
Turnout 63.4 n/a
Registered electors 5,137

Brynmawr (1 seat)
Brynmawr ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Fenton 1,756
Plaid Cymru R. Williams 737
Conservative V. Jones 535
Turnout 68.8 n/a
Registered electors 4,399

Caerleon (1 seat)
Caerleon ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Kirkwood 1,274
Plaid Cymru (Mrs) L. Lewis 952
Liberal R. Zeal 498

Caerwent (1 seat)
Caerwent ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour S. Baldwin 1,203
Conservative L. Horton 1,169

Caldicot (1 seat)
Caldicot ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Powell 1,917
Conservative M. Shirington 772

Central (1 seat)
Central (Newport)[lower-alpha 10] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Hames 1,276
Conservative C. Courtney 653

Chepstow (1 seat)
Chepstow ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. O'Neill 1,240
Plaid Cymru E. Spanswick [lower-alpha 11] 219

Crickhowell and Llanelly Parish (1 seat)
Crickhowell and Llanelly Parish[lower-alpha 12] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Jones 622
Independent T. Thomas 491
Independent William Morris 375

Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio Pertholey (1 seat)
Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio Pertholey[lower-alpha 13] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Davies 940
Labour E. Blour 567

Crumlin (1 seat)
Crumlin ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. E. England Unopposed

Cwmbran Central and Llantarnam (1 seat)
Cwmbran Central and Llantarnam ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Oliver James 1,263
Independent D. Miles 831

Cwmtillery (1 seat)
Cwmtillery ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. Mytton Unopposed

Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and N Central
Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and North Central[lower-alpha 14] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour F. Watley 1,771
Ratepayer W. Jones 1,723
Ratepayer A. Pope 1,689
Labour K. Barnes 1,665
Plaid Cymru J. Evans 1,231

Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central
Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central[lower-alpha 15] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Rogers 3,792
Labour R. Morgan 3,667
Labour P. Cross 3,070
Ratepayer A. O'Donovan 2,965
Ratepayer M. Jones 2,357
Plaid Cymru D. Kerwick 1,937

Fairwater and Henllys (1 seat)
Fairwater and Henllys ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Wellington 1,319
Communist D. Clarke 169

Langstone (1 seat)
Langstone (Newport) ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative D. Duthie 1,227
Labour J. Murphy 855

Llanfoist and Llanover (1 seat)
Llanfoist and Llanover ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative C. Williams 1,143
Labour H. Gail 712

Llanfrechfa Lower (2 seats)
Llanfrechfa Lower ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Thomas 2,114
Labour R. Hill 1,968
Conservative N. Davies 1,346
Conservative D. Chappell 1,298
Independent F. Hole 601

Llanhilleth (1 seat)
Llanhilleth ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Rice Unopposed

Lliswerry (2 seats)
Lliswerry[lower-alpha 16] (Newport) ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Lloyd 1,527
Labour H. Herbert 1,422
Conservative J. Maynard [lower-alpha 17] 1,010
Conservative E. Di Villa 842

Malpas (1 seat)
Malpas[lower-alpha 18] (Newport) ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour K. James 1,864
Labour M. Lewis 1,754
Conservative D. Jewett 1,177
Conservative M. Bellew 1,128

Monmouth (1 seat)
Monmouth ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Lewis 1,363
Labour T. Flynn 757

Mynyddislwyn Penmaen (1 seat)
Mynyddislwyn Penmaen ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour S. Lloyd Unopposed

Nantyglo and Blaina Central and South (1 seat)
Nantyglo and Blaina Central and South ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour K. Jayne 1,909
Independent W. Chard 1,418

Nantyglo and Blaina North (1 seat)
Nantyglo and Blaina North ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. Abraham Unopposed

Newbridge (1 seat)
Newbridge ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T. Matthews Unopposed

Old Cwmbran (1 seat)
Old Cwmbran ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Derrick Rex 784
Labour B. Smith 737

Councillor Rex was a credit company agent and had been a member of Cwmbran Urban Council for 16 years.[2]

Panteg East (1 seat)
Panteg East ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James D. Touhig 1,683
Independent C. Irving 932

This was local newspaper reporter Don Touhig's first ever election, which he won by over 700 votes.[2]

Panteg West (1 seat)
Panteg West ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. Skuse Unopposed

Pontllanfraith (1 seat)
Pontllanfraith ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour B. Chicken Unopposed

Pontnewydd (1 seat)
Pontnewydd ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ratepayer P. Pritchard 973
Labour P. Maplestone 537

Councillor Pritchard was General Secretary of the Monmouthshire Federation of Ratepayers.[2]

Pontnewydd North (1 seat)
Pontnewydd North ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour S. Ball Unopposed

Pontnewydd South (1 seat)
Pontnewydd South ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Gibson 448
Plaid Cymru E. Palmer 312

Pontypool (1 seat)
Pontypool ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. Strickland 671
Plaid Cymru P. Palmer 151

Ringland (2 seats)
Ringland (Newport)[lower-alpha 19] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour I. Card Unopposed
Labour F. Edwards Unopposed

Risca Central (1 seat)
Risca Central ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Griffiths 918
Independent D. Rees 160

Risca North (1 seat)
Risca North ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour A. West 1,022
Progressive Independent[lower-alpha 20] M. Bevan 473

Risca South (1 seat)
Risca South ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Bendall 1,579
Independent R. Webster 877

Rogerstone (1 seat)
Rogerstone ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Scrivens 1,178
Independent G. Howell 939

Shaftesbury (2 seats)
Shaftesbury (Newport)[lower-alpha 21] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Bosley 1,574
Conservative D. Davies 839

Shirenewton and Tintern (1 seat)
Shirenewton and Tintern ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative I. Heath 1,192
Labour A. Huntley 402
Ratepayer D. Millard 286

St Julians (2 seats)
St Julians (Newport)[lower-alpha 22] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E. Ovens 1,595
Conservative W. Morris 1,468
Conservative R. Thomas 1,425
Labour R. Soni 1,387

St Woolos (2 seats)
St Woolos (Newport)[lower-alpha 23] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Pembridge 1,884
Labour L. Turnbull 1,729
Liberal D. Hando 1,364

Tredegar Central and West (1 seat)
Tredegar Sirhowy ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Angus Donaldson 2,172
Labour William Harry 1,856

Bill Harry had been one of four Monmouthshire county councillors in Tredegar for 13 years, but Gwent County Council would only have three Tredegar county councillors, with Harry being the loser against Angus Donaldson who was a sitting Liberal Monmouthshire councillor for Tredegar.[2]

Tredegar Georgetown (1 seat)
Tredegar Georgetown ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Price 925
Liberal A. Holley 663
Independent L. Perriam 143

Tredegar Sirhowy (1 seat)
Tredegar Sirhowy ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Douglas Thomas 1,425
Labour Oliver Williams 1,383

Councillor Thomas won after a recount.[2]

Upper Cwmbran (1 seat)
Upper Cwmbran ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Price 745
Independent J. Price 273

Usk and Pontypool Rural (1 seat)
Usk and Pontypool Rural ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative V. Etheridge 2,033
Labour J. Davies 677

Victoria (1 seat)
Victoria (Newport)[lower-alpha 24] ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patrick Geraghty 1,333
Conservative Percy Jones 1,075

Percy Jones, an alderman and former major of Newport County Borough had been a council member in Newport for 20 years.[2]

Ynysddu (1 seat)
Ynysddu ward 1973
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour R. Evans Unopposed

See also

Notes
  1. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) results page also provides some middle initials of candidates, also indicating which candidates are female
  2. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Abertillery No. 2"
  3. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Alexandra" (per the town's Alexandra Dock area) but the Election Centre calls it "Alexander"
  4. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, Alway"
  5. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as simply "Bedwellty No. 2", though the Election Centre adds "Pengam"
  6. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Bedwellty No. 3" though the Election Centre shows Mrs Lloyd as being elected to "Argoed and Cefn Fforest"
  7. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, Beechwood"
  8. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Bettws"
  9. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) describes "W. Edwards" as "Independent" though Elections Centre describes "N. Edwards" as "Democratic Labour"
  10. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Central"
  11. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) results page lists Spanswick as the "Plaid Cymru/Common Market Referendum" candidate
  12. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Crickhowell"
  13. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio" while Elections Centre says "Crucorny Fawr & Llantilio Pertho" (though this will refer to Llantilio Pertholey)
  14. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the full ward name as "Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and North Central" and Election Centre name appears to be abbreviated
  15. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the full ward name as "Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central" and Election Centre name appears to be abbreviated
  16. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Liswerrry" while the Election Centre calls it "Lliswerry"
  17. Election Centre has repeated the losing Malpas ward Conservative candidates here, but South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the Lliswerry losing candidates as J. Maynard and E. Di Villa
  18. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Malpas"
  19. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Ringland"
  20. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) describes Bevan as a 'Progressive Independent'
  21. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Shaftesbury"
  22. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, St. Julians"
  23. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, St. Woolos"
  24. South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Victoria"

References
  1. "Echo Survey - on the great unknowns". South Wales Echo. 3 April 1973. p. 6. These are the most important local elections in living memory. This year for the first time every council will be elected together. Formerly one-third came up for election each year ... For the year following the elections the new councils will gradually take over from the old ones. Then, when the year is up, the old councils will meet for the last time and the new ones take full responsibility. Because aldermen, who at present make up a quarter of the county and county borough councils, are to be abolished several of those now serving will have to contest elections if they want a seat on the new councils ...
  2. "Dad gets her vote - but he still loses seat - Gwent (results)". South Wales Echo. 13 April 1973. p. 8.
  3. "Gwent County Council Election Results 1973-1993" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 14 September 2019.
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