:Betws, Carmarthenshire (electoral ward)

{{Short description|Electoral ward in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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

Profile

In 2014, the Betws electoral ward had an electorate of xxx.{{cite web|title=Betws Ward: Electoral Division Profile|url=http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/wards/Betws_Ward.pdf|website=Carmarthenshire County Council|accessdate=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830151407/http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/wards/Betws_Ward.pdf|archive-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead}} The total population was xxx, of whom xxx were born in Wales. xxxx% of the population were able to speak Welsh.

Current representation

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

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

{{Election box begin | title=Betws, 1995}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Dorian Evans

|votes = 442

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Plaid Cymru

|candidate = Brian Keith Vaughan

|votes = 200

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = William Gwyn Thomas

|votes = 36

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 242

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

In 1999, Evans was re-elected.

{{Election box begin | title=Betws 1999}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Dorian Evans*

|votes = 484

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Plaid Cymru

|candidate = Brian Keith Vaughan

|votes = 331

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 153

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

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

{{Election box begin | title=Betws 2004}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Dorian Evans*

|votes = 329

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Plaid Cymru

|candidate = Charlotte Price

|votes = 299

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 30

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

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

{{Election box begin | title=Betws 2008}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Eira Audrey Jones

|votes = 274

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Plaid Cymru

|candidate = Annette Price

|votes = 224

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John Dorian Evans*

|votes = 217

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 50

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Independent (politician)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

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

{{Election box begin | title=Betws 2012}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Ryan Bartlett

|votes = 325

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Eira Audrey Jones*

|votes = 274

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Plaid Cymru

|candidate = Annette Price

|votes = 155

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 51

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =

|percentage = 44.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Independent (politician)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Earlier History

=County Council Elections=

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=

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.

References

{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Carmarthenshire}}

Category:Carmarthenshire electoral wards

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