Ammanford (electoral ward)

Ammanford is the name of an electoral ward to Carmarthenshire County Council, representing the community of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Profile

According to the 2001 UK Census, the Ammanford ward had a population of 2,664[1] of whom 2,347 were born in Wales and 1,599 were able to speak Welsh.[1]

Prior to May 2022 the Ammanford ward covered only part of the town, namely the Iscennen and Pantyffynnon town wards. The other two town wards, Myddynfych and Wernddu, formed the Pontamman county ward. Following a boundary review, the two county wards were combined, with a two-councillor representation, to take effect from the May 2022 local elections.[2]

Representation

The Ammanford Ward was a single-member ward until May 2022 for the purposes of Carmarthenshire County Council elections. Since 2022 it has been represented by two county councillors.

Between 1989 and 1996, Ammanford was a county ward, including the whole of Ammanford town and neighbouring Betws, electing one councillor to Dyfed County Council.[3]

Election history

The first election to the new unitary Carmarthenshire County Council took place in 1995. Meinir Thomas, who had represented the ward on the former Dinefwr Borough Council was elected by a small majority over the Labour candidate.

Ammanford 1995
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Meinir Thomas* 304
Labour Shireen Davies 299
Majority 5
Independent hold Swing

Boundary changes in 1999 saw the Ammanford ward merged with the Pantyffynnon ward to create a new ward which was named Ammanford. The two sitting councillors opposed each other and Michael Hugh Evans, who previously represented Pantyffynnon, defeated Meinir Thomas.

Ammanford 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Hugh Evans* 780
Independent Meinir Thomas* 493
Majority 287
Labour win (new seat)

Evans faced opposition from Plaid Cymru in 2004 but comfortably retained the seat.

Ammanford 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Hugh Evans* 636
Plaid Cymru David Thomas 337
Majority 299
Labour hold Swing

In 2008, Evans's majority was significantly reduced a Plaid Cymru opponent.

Ammanford 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Hugh Evans* 457
Plaid Cymru Deian Harries 451
Majority 6
Labour hold Swing

Evans stood down at the 2012 and his successor as Labour candidate was defeated by Plaid Cymru.

Ammanford 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Deian Harries 480
Labour Chris Jones 455
Majority 25
Turnout 48.3
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour Swing

Earlier History

County Council Elections

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

With the formation of Dyfed County Council, Ammanford continued to elect two councillors until the wards were merged in 1989.

When the current Carmarthenshire County Council was formed in 1995, an Ammanford ward based on the boundaries for elections similar to those in existence between 1889 and 1974 was re-established.

District Council Elections

From 1973 until 1996, Ammanford formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Dinefwr Borough Council.

References
  1. "Ammanford Ward: Electoral Division Profile" (PDF). Carmarthenshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. "Review of the Electoral Arrangements of the County of Carmarthenshire – Final Recommendations Report" (PDF). Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales. October 2019. pp. 17–18. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  3. Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 2266 The County of Dyfed (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1988 . Retrieved 30 July 2022.

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