Llanelli Rural

Community in Carmarthenshire, Wales

Community in Wales

Llanelli Rural

Community

Llanelli Rural

Location within Carmarthenshire

Principal area|

* Carmarthenshire

Country| Wales
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Police| Dyfed-Powys
Fire| Mid and West Wales
Ambulance| Welsh

List of places

Wales
Carmarthenshire

51°40′59″N 4°07′48″W﻿ / ﻿51.683°N 4.130°W﻿ / 51.683; -4.130

Map of the community

Llanelli Rural (Welsh: Llanelli Gwledig) is a community in the southeast of Carmarthenshire, Wales.

## Description

[edit]

Despite its name, Llanelli Rural covers large parts of the Llanelli urban area, including Bynea, Llwynhendy, Cefncaeau, Pemberton, Bryn, Cwmcarnhywel, Cwmbach, Cynheidre, Penygraig, Penceilogi, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, along with the villages of Pont-Henri, Pontiets, Pwll, and Five Roads, as well as a number of hamlets. The community surrounds Llanelli, except at the coast.

According to the 2001 census it had a population of 21,043,[1] increasing to 22,800 at the 2011 Census.[2]

Llanelli Rural is bordered by the communities of: Llanelli; Pembrey and Burry Port Town; Trimsaran; Llangyndeyrn; Pontyberem; Llannon; and Llangennech, all being in Carmarthenshire; and by: Gorseinon; Llwchwr; Gowerton; Llanrhidian Higher; and Llanrhidian Lower, all being in the City and County of Swansea.

## Llanelli Rural Council

[edit]

Llanelli Rural Council

Cyngor Gwledig Llanelli

Type
Type|

Community council

Leadership

Leader

Cllr. Susan Lewis, Labour

Deputy Leader

Cllr. Edward Skinner, Labour

Chair

Cllr. Susan Lewis, Labour

Vice Chair

Cllr. Michelle Donoghue, Labour

Seats| 21
Meeting place
Vauxhall Buildings, Vauxhall, Llanelli
Website
www.llanelli-rural.gov.uk

Llanelli Rural Community Council governs the area at a community level. The council headquarters is located in Llanelli town centre.

In 2013/14 Llanelli Rural Council received £959,530 via the council tax precept, the highest of any community council in Wales.[3]

### Current Composition (after the May 2022 election and 2025 by elections)

[edit]

Group affiliation  | Members[4]

|

| Labour | 8
| Plaid Cymru | 6
| Independent
| 7
| Vacant
| 0
Total
| 21

Following the previous full election on 4 May 2017 the council composition was:[5]

Group affiliation  | Members

|

| Labour | 13
| Plaid Cymru | 4
| Independent
| 4
Total
| 21

Following the election in May 2022 the council elected Cllr. Susan Lewis as leader and Cllr. Edward Skinner as deputy leader.

Following the 2 by elections in 2025 Cllr Alex Evans put forward a motion of 'no confidence' in the leader Cllr Susan Lewis in an effort to take control. The motion was lost in a council meeting and Cllr Lewis remains leader of Council with the support of members from all groups across the chamber.

### Election history

[edit]

#### 2017 election

[edit]

Ward  | Party  | Rural councillors elected - May 2017[5]

|
|

Bynea |  | Labour | Stephen Donoghue
| Labour | Michelle Donoghue
| Labour | Ian Wooldridge
Dafen |  | Independent | Sharen Davies
| Labour | Tegwen Devichand
| Labour | Susan Lewis
| Labour | Andrew Rogers
Felinfoel |  | Labour | John Evans
| Labour | Bill Thomas
Glyn |  | Independent | Jim Jones
| Independent | Carol Rees
Hengoed |  | Independent | Sian Caiach
| Plaid Cymru | Martin Davies
| Labour | Bethan Williams
| Plaid Cymru | Jennifer Susan Phillips
Pemberton |  | Labour | Fozia Akhtar
| Labour | Jason Peter Hart
| Labour | Rafia Najmi
| Labour | Ella Simmons
Swiss Valley |  | Independent | Giles Morgan
| Conservative | Jordan Spencer Randall

#### 2021 By-elections

[edit]

Councillors Mina Najmi and Ella Simmons left the council in 2020, leading to a by-election for their Pemberton ward seats on 6 May 2021.[6] The by-election saw Christopher Beer (Labour) and Samantha Nurse (Independent) elected.[7]

Following the death of Carol Rees in 2021, Alexander Evans (originally independent but joined Plaid Cymru soon after) was co-opted to serve as a member for the Glyn ward.

Although originally elected under a Labour ticket, Sharen Davies and Jason Hart left the party and became independent members in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Jordan Randall was originally elected as a Plaid Cymru candidate but moved to the Conservative party. Ian Wooldridge also crossed from Plaid Cymru to Labour during his term of office.

#### 2022 election

[edit]

Ward  | Party  | Rural councillors elected - May 2022[8]

|
|

Bynea |  | Labour | Deryk Cundy
| Labour | Michelle Donoghue
| Independent | Simon Ford
Dafen |  | Labour | Rob Evans
| Labour | Sue Lewis
| Labour | Andrew Rogers
| Labour | Neil Stephens
Felinfoel |  | Labour | Nysia Evans
| Labour | Eve Evans
Glyn |  | Plaid Cymru | Alex Evans
| Plaid Cymru | Owen Williams
Hengoed |  | Labour | Edward Skinner
| Plaid Cymru | Susan Phillips
| Labour | Bethan Williams
| Plaid Cymru | Martin Davies
Pemberton |  | Independent | Sharen Davies
| Independent | Jason Peter Hart
| Independent | Samantha Nurse
| Independent | Andrew Stephens
Swiss Valley |  | Independent | Giles Morgan
| Independent | Stephen Bowen

#### 2025 By-elections

[edit]

Following the sad passing of Neil Stephens (Labour) a by-election was held in the Dafen ward on March 27th which was won by Karl Morgan (Plaid Cymru)

Following the resignation of Bethan Williams (Labour) a by-election was held in the Hengoed ward on February 20th which was won by Jason Lovell (Plaid Cymru).

### Chairs of Council

[edit]

* 2025/26 Susan Lewis
* 2024/25 Martin Davies
* 2023/24 Susan Phillips
* 2022/23 Gyles Morgan
* 2021/22 Tegwen Devichand
* 2019/21 Sharen Davies
* 2018/19 Sian Caiach
* 2017/18 John Evans
* 2016/17 Stephen M Donoghue
* 2015/16 Martin Davies
* 2014/15 Lindy J Butlern
* 2013/14 Thomas J “Jim” Jones
* 2012/13 Tegwen Devichand
* 2011/12 Susan Lewis
* 2010/11 Sharen Davies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Census 2001 Statistics Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
3. ^ Professor Michael Woods (2013). Developing a Comprehensive Understanding of Community and Town Councils in Wales (PDF). Aberystwyth University. pp. 6, 52. ISBN 978-1-4734-0874-6.
4. ^ Council Members and Wards
5. ^ a b Town and Community Council Election Results 2017, Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 18 December 2019
6. ^ "Llanelli Rural Council seats could be decided by election in May". In Your Area. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
7. ^ "Town and community council election results 2021". South Wales Guardian. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
8. ^ "Election Results". Llanelli Online News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Llanelli Rural Council
* Llanelli Rural Council Training

* v
* t
* e

Communities of Carmarthenshire

* Abergwili
* Abernant
* Ammanford
* Betws
* Bronwydd
* Carmarthen
* Cenarth
* Cilycwm
* Cilymaenllwyd
* Cwmamman
* Cynwyl Elfed
* Cynwyl Gaeo
* Dyffryn Cennen
* Eglwyscummin
* Gorslas
* Henllanfallteg
* Kidwelly
* Laugharne Township
* Llanarthney
* Llanboidy
* Llanddarog
* Llanddeusant
* Llanddowror
* Llandeilo
* Llandovery
* Llandybie
* Llandyfaelog
* Llanedi
* Llanegwad
* Llanelli
* Llanelli Rural
* Llanfair-ar-y-bryn
* Llanfihangel Aberbythych
* Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
* Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn
* Llanfynydd
* Llangadog
* Llangain
* Llangathen
* Llangeler
* Llangennech
* Llangunnor
* Llangyndeyrn
* Llangynin
* Llangynog
* Llanllawddog
* Llanllwni
* Llannon
* Llanpumsaint
* Llansadwrn
* Llansawel
* Llansteffan
* Llanwinio
* Llanwrda
* Llanybydder
* Llanycrwys
* Manordeilo and Salem
* Meidrim
* Myddfai
* Newcastle Emlyn
* Newchurch and Merthyr
* Pembrey and Burry Port Town
* Pencarreg
* Pendine
* Pontyberem
* Quarter Bach
* St Clears
* St Ishmael
* Talley
* Trelech
* Trimsaran
* Whitland

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