Carmarthenshire Council Boundary Reforms Confirmed

REFORMS to Carmarthenshire Council’s ward boundaries are to go ahead after the Welsh Government decided to accept the recommendations of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales with minor modifications only made to recommended ward names.

The Commission’s Final Recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government 21 August 2019 and minister for finance and local government, Rebecca Evans MS, has today confirmed that the decision has been made to accept the recommendations.

The changes accepted by the Welsh Government mean that Carmarthenshire will gain 1 councillor, increasing the size of the council from 74 to 75 members. This results in an average of 1,915 electors per councillor.

Meanwhile the number of wards will be reduced from 58 to 51, with 22 of those being multi-member wards.

20 wards will elect 2 councillors while 2 wards, Bigyn and Carmarthen Town North and South, will elect 3 councillors.

34 current wards will see no change under these reforms.

A small number of recommendations on Welsh language ward names were not accepted by Welsh Government.

Responding to the Welsh Government’s decision, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales said:

“I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has accepted these recommendations with only minor modifications.

“These changes will mean greater electoral parity for the people of Carmarthenshire.

“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the review, the members of the public, councillors, Carmarthenshire Council, and everyone else who sent us a representation or contributed in any other way.”

The boundary changes are expected to take effect from the 2022 local government elections.

The full list of retained wards:

Abergwili
Betws
Burry Port
CarmarthenTown
West
Garnant
Glanamman
Glanymor
Glyn
Gorslas
Hengoed
Laugharne Township
Llanboidy
Llanddarog
Llandeilo
Llandovery
Llandybie
Llanegwad
Llanfihangel
Aberbythych
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadog
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llannon
Llanybydder
Lliedi
Llwynhendy
Pembrey
Penygroes
Pontyberem
Quarter Bach
Saron
Swiss Valley
Trimsaran
Whitland

Recommendations not accepted by Welsh Government:

The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Betws is given the single name of Betws. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Y Betws
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Dafen and Felinfoel be given the Welsh language name of Dafen a Felinfoel. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Dafen a Felin-foel
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Garnant is given the single name of Garnant. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Y Garnant.
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Gorslas is given the single name of Gorslas. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Gors-las.
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Penygroes is given the single name of Penygroes. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Pen-y-groes.
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Trelech is given the single name of Trelech. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Tre-lech.
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Tycroes is given the single name of Tycroes. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Tŷ-croes.
The Commission proposed the electoral ward of Whitland is given the Welsh language name of Hendy-Gwyn. The electoral ward will be given the Welsh language name of Hendy-gwyn ar Daf