An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1955.[1] It was preceded by the 1952 election and followed, by the 1958 election.
After six years under Labour control, the election produced a very close result with 29 Labour candidates, 28 Independents and 2 Plaid Cymru candidates being returned after the contested elections.[1] With the support of the two Plaid Cymru members, the Independents then proceeded to take seven of the eight aldermanic vacancies and to offer the other to the President of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans with the result that the Independent group regained control of the authority.[2]
There were no boundary changes at this election.
The aldermen who retired at the election were ...
A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included the members for Kidwelly, Llanelly Division 2, 6 and 7, Pontyberem and Westfa. Four of these members would not be returned to the new council as the aldermen were not re-elected. At Llansawel, Alderman David Thomas withdrew rather than face a contest.[3]
39 members were returned unopposed, an increase of five compared with 1955.
20 seats were contested. Labour defeats at St Ishmaels and one of the Llanelli wards, to Independents, and at Ammanford, to Plaid Cymru, led to their losing their majority of elected councillors.
A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed.
This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 59 councillors were elected.
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Carmarthesnhire County Council 1955: elected members
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
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Labour |
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Plaid Cymru |
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Independent |
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Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
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Labour |
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Plaid Cymru |
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Independent |
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Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Labour |
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Plaid Cymru |
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Independent |
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Abergwili
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Ammanford No.1
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Ammanford No.2
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Berwick
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Burry Port East
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Burry Port West
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Caio
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Carmarthen Division 2
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Carmarthen Division 3
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Cenarth
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Cilycwm
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Conwil
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Cwmamman
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Felinfoel
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Hengoed
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Kidwelly
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Laugharne
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Llanarthney
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Llanboidy
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Llandebie North
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Llandebie South
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Llandilo Rural
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Llandilo Urban
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Llandovery
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Llandyssilio
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Llanedy
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Llanegwad
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Llanelly Division 1
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Llanelly Division 2
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Llanelly Division 3
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Llanelly Division 4
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Llanelly Division 5
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Llanelly Division 6
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Llanelly Division 7
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Llanelly Division 8
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Llanelly Division 9
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Llanfihangel Aberbythick
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Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
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Llangadog
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Llangeler
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Llangendeirne
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Llangennech
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Llangunnor
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Llanon
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Llansawel
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Llanstephan
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Llanybyther
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Myddfai
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Pembrey
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Pontyberem
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Quarter Bach
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Rhydcymerau
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St Clears
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St Ishmaels
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Trelech
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Trimsaran
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Westfa
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Whitland
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In addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, seven of the ten aldermanic vacancies were taken by the Independents and an eighth by Gwynfor Evans of Plaid Cymru, whose two representatives aligned with the Independents to guarantee their majority.[2]
- J.M. Davies, Independent
- Thomas Davies, Independent
- Griffith Evans, Independent
- Gwynfor R. Evans, Plaid Cymru
- W.H. Mathias, Independent
- J.O. Morgans, Independent
- S.O. Thomas, Independent
- T.J. Williams, Independent
- Emrys Aubrey, Labour
- W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.[4]
Caio by-election
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Carmarthen Division 2 by-election
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Llandeilo Urban by-election
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Llanegwad by-election
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Llanelly Division 6 by-election
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Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election
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Llangadog by-election
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Trelech by-election
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Westfa by-election
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Whitland by-election
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"County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 8 April 1955.
"Independents Get Aldermanic Majority". Carmarthen Journal. 22 April 1955.
"County Council Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 25 March 1955.
"County Council by-elections". Carmarthen Journal. 24 June 1955.