1973 Gwent County Council election

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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.

Contents

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]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 59N/A75.6N/A
  Conservative 12N/A15.3N/A
  Liberal 3N/A3.8N/A
  Plaid Cymru 1N/A1.2N/A
  Communist 0N/A0.01,185N/A
 Ratepayers2N/A2.5N/A
  Independent 1N/A1.2N/A

Ward results

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

Aberbeeg and Six Bells (1 seat)

Aberbeeg and Six Bells ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Plaid Cymru I. Lewis 1,415
Labour H. Snellgrove1,295
Turnout 58.8n/a
Registered electors 4,608

Abercarn and Cwmcarn (1 seat)

Abercarn and Cwmcarn ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. J. WilliamsUnopposed

Abergavenny Cantref and Grofield (1 seat)

Abergavenny Cantref and Grofield ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative R. Smith 947
Labour P. Stockham522
Turnout 39.2n/a
Registered electors 3,745

Abergavenny Castle and Priory (1 seat)

Abergavenny Castle and Priory ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Williams 1,000
Labour J. Pardoe-James904
Turnout 56.4n/a
Registered electors 3,376

Abersychan Central (1 seat)

Abersychan Central ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Smith 891
Communist G. Williams222
Turnout 48.6n/a
Registered electors 2,288

Abersychan North (1 seat)

Abersychan North ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Gertrude Morgan 891
Communist G. Mills794
Turnout 57.8n/a
Registered electors 2.916

Abertillery (1 seat)

Abertillery [b] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. G. OwenUnopposed

Alexandra (1 seat)

Alexandra [c] (Newport) ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Jones 1,067
Plaid Cymru D. Hughes308
Turnout 49.1n/a
Registered electors 2,802

Allt-yr-yn (1 seat)

Allt-yr-yn (Newport) ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative S. Miller 1,464
Liberal D. Owen778
Labour S. Seaman343
Turnout 48.2n/a
Registered electors 5,360

Alway (2 seats)

Alway (Newport) [d] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Turner 1,718
Labour R. Murray 1,439
Conservative T. Tranter951
Conservative (Mrs) D. Griffiths856
Liberal H. Clark834
Turnout 53.3n/a
Registered electors 6,569

Bassaleg and Marshfield (1 seat)

Bassaleg and Marshfield ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative P. Grimmer 1,027
Labour T. Lewis638
Liberal I. Wasgett401
Turnout 46.2n/a
Registered electors 4,474

Bedwellty No. 2 Pengam (1 seat)

Pengam [e] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. JenkinsUnopposed

Bedwellty No. 3 Argoed and Cefn Fforest (1 seat)

Argoed and Cefn Fforest [f] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour (Mrs) O. G. LloydUnopposed

Beechwood (2 seats)

Beechwood (Newport) [g] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Marsh 1,322
Liberal (Mrs) W. Crowther 1,143
Labour G. Purnell1,081
Conservative T. Elliot975
Conservative W. Wright812
Plaid Cymru G. Lee308
Turnout 62.9n/a
Registered electors 5,961

Bettws (1 seat)

Bettws (Newport) [h] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. MorganUnopposed

Blackwood (1 seat)

Blackwood ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. BosleyUnopposed

Blaenavon (1 seat)

Blaenavon ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Puddle 1,568
RatepayerW. Arnold1,481
Independent W. Edwards [i] 209
Turnout 63.4n/a
Registered electors 5,137

Brynmawr (1 seat)

Brynmawr ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Fenton 1,756
Plaid Cymru R. Williams737
Conservative V. Jones535
Turnout 68.8n/a
Registered electors 4,399

Caerleon (1 seat)

Caerleon ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Kirkwood 1,274
Plaid Cymru (Mrs) L. Lewis952
Liberal R. Zeal498

Caerwent (1 seat)

Caerwent ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. Baldwin 1,203
Conservative L. Horton1,169

Caldicot (1 seat)

Caldicot ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour G. Powell 1,917
Conservative M. Shirington772

Central (1 seat)

Central (Newport) [j] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. Hames 1,276
Conservative C. Courtney653

Chepstow (1 seat)

Chepstow ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. O'Neill 1,240
Plaid Cymru E. Spanswick [k] 219

Crickhowell and Llanelly Parish (1 seat)

Crickhowell and Llanelly Parish [l] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Jones 622
Independent T. Thomas491
Independent William Morris375

Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio Pertholey (1 seat)

Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio Pertholey [m] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Davies 940
Labour E. Blour567

Crumlin (1 seat)

Crumlin ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. E. EnglandUnopposed

Cwmbran Central and Llantarnam (1 seat)

Cwmbran Central and Llantarnam ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Oliver James 1,263
Independent D. Miles831

Cwmtillery (1 seat)

Cwmtillery ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour T. MyttonUnopposed

Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and N Central

Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and North Central [n] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour F. Watley 1,771
Ratepayer W. Jones 1,723
RatepayerA. Pope1,689
Labour K. Barnes1,665
Plaid Cymru J. Evans1,231

Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central

Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central [o] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Rogers 3,792
Labour R. Morgan 3,667
Labour P. Cross 3,070
RatepayerA. O'Donovan2,965
RatepayerM. Jones2,357
Plaid Cymru D. Kerwick1,937

Fairwater and Henllys (1 seat)

Fairwater and Henllys ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Wellington 1,319
Communist D. Clarke169

Langstone (1 seat)

Langstone (Newport) ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative D. Duthie 1,227
Labour J. Murphy855

Llanfoist and Llanover (1 seat)

Llanfoist and Llanover ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative C. Williams 1,143
Labour H. Gail712

Llanfrechfa Lower (2 seats)

Llanfrechfa Lower ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour M. Thomas 2,114
Labour R. Hill 1,968
Conservative N. Davies1,346
Conservative D. Chappell1,298
Independent F. Hole601

Llanhilleth (1 seat)

Llanhilleth ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. RiceUnopposed

Lliswerry (2 seats)

Lliswerry [p] (Newport) ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. Lloyd 1,527
Labour H. Herbert 1,422
Conservative J. Maynard [q] 1,010
Conservative E. Di Villa842

Malpas (1 seat)

Malpas [r] (Newport) ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour K. James 1,864
Labour M. Lewis 1,754
Conservative D. Jewett1,177
Conservative M. Bellew1,128

Monmouth (1 seat)

Monmouth ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. Lewis 1,363
Labour T. Flynn757

Mynyddislwyn Penmaen (1 seat)

Mynyddislwyn Penmaen ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. LloydUnopposed

Nantyglo and Blaina Central and South (1 seat)

Nantyglo and Blaina Central and South ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour K. Jayne 1,909
Independent W. Chard1,418

Nantyglo and Blaina North (1 seat)

Nantyglo and Blaina North ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. AbrahamUnopposed

Newbridge (1 seat)

Newbridge ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour T. MatthewsUnopposed

Old Cwmbran (1 seat)

Old Cwmbran ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Derrick Rex 784
Labour B. Smith737

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James D. Touhig 1,683
Independent C. Irving932

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. SkuseUnopposed

Pontllanfraith (1 seat)

Pontllanfraith ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour B. ChickenUnopposed

Pontnewydd (1 seat)

Pontnewydd ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ratepayer P. Pritchard 973
Labour P. Maplestone537

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

Pontnewydd North (1 seat)

Pontnewydd North ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour S. BallUnopposed

Pontnewydd South (1 seat)

Pontnewydd South ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Gibson448
Plaid Cymru E. Palmer312

Pontypool (1 seat)

Pontypool ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour P. Strickland671
Plaid Cymru P. Palmer151

Ringland (2 seats)

Ringland (Newport) [s] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour I. CardUnopposed
Labour F. EdwardsUnopposed

Risca Central (1 seat)

Risca Central ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Griffiths 918
Independent D. Rees160

Risca North (1 seat)

Risca North ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour A. West 1,022
Progressive Independent [t] M. Bevan473

Risca South (1 seat)

Risca South ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Bendall 1,579
Independent R. Webster877

Rogerstone (1 seat)

Rogerstone ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Scrivens 1,178
Independent G. Howell939

Shaftesbury (2 seats)

Shaftesbury (Newport) [u] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Bosley 1,574
Conservative D. Davies839

Shirenewton and Tintern (1 seat)

Shirenewton and Tintern ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative I. Heath 1,192
Labour A. Huntley402
RatepayerD. Millard286

St Julians (2 seats)

St Julians (Newport) [v] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E. Ovens 1,595
Conservative W. Morris 1,468
Conservative R. Thomas1,425
Labour R. Soni1,387

St Woolos (2 seats)

St Woolos (Newport) [w] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Pembridge 1,884
Labour L. Turnbull 1,729
Liberal D. Hando1,364

Tredegar Central and West (1 seat)

Tredegar Sirhowy ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Angus Donaldson 2,172
Labour William Harry1,856

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Price 925
Liberal A. Holley663
Independent L. Perriam143

Tredegar Sirhowy (1 seat)

Tredegar Sirhowy ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Douglas Thomas 1,425
Labour Oliver Williams1,383

Councillor Thomas won after a recount. [2]

Upper Cwmbran (1 seat)

Upper Cwmbran ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D. Price 745
Independent J. Price273

Usk and Pontypool Rural (1 seat)

Usk and Pontypool Rural ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative V. Etheridge 2,033
Labour J. Davies677

Victoria (1 seat)

Victoria (Newport) [x] ward 1973
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Patrick Geraghty 1,333
Conservative Percy Jones1,075

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
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour R. EvansUnopposed

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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Dad gets her vote - but he still loses seat - Gwent (results)". South Wales Echo. 13 April 1973. p. 8.
  3. 1 2 "Gwent County Council Election Results 1973-1993" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 14 September 2019.
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