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1970 Neath Rural District Council election

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An election to the Neath Rural District Council in West Glamorgan, Wales was held on 7 May 1970.[1] It was preceded by the 1967 election, and was the last election to the authority as the Rural District Council was abolished at the 1974 re-organization of local government in Wales

Overview of the results

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The election was held shortly before the 1970 General Election, which Labour was at the time tipped to win. A Plaid Cymru challenge did not materialize.

Candidates

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At these final elections to the RDC, the profile of candidates was similar to three years previously with a number of long-serving Labour councillors again returned unopposed.[2] While the Communist Party contested Seven Sisters, there was no candidate in their former stronghold of Onllwyn. At Rhigos, Independent councillor Henry Walters was returned unopposed as a Labour councillor.

Outcome

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Independents gained two seats at the expense of Labour while losing another two, resulting in an unchanged representation overall.

Ward results

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Baglan Higher (one seat)

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Baglan Higher 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lilian Jones* 143
Independent Jephtha Emanuel Ioan Johns 42
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (two seats)

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Blaengwrach 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Clifford Graham Jones* Unopposed
Independent David Emanuel Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan, Bryncoch Ward (one seat)

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Blaenrhonddan, Bryncoch Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Royston Jones* 1,236
Plaid Cymru David Huw John 460
Labour hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan, Cadoxton Ward (one seat)

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Blaenrhonddan, Cadoxton Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Davies* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan, Cilfrew Ward (one seat)

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Blaenrhonddan, Cilfrew Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Edward Rees 197
Labour Eric Royle Fletcher 175
Independent Brian Parry Wolfe 46
Independent gain from Swing

Clyne (one seats)

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Clyne 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Merfyn Jeffreys* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc, South Ward (one seat)

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Coedffranc, South Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas L. Thomas* 609
Independent Ashley Clifford Tremaine Hames 128
Independent Ronald James 128
Communist Glaslyn Morgan 84
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc, East Central (one seat)

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Coedffranc East Central 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Martin Thomas* 521
Labour Dudley Florance 202
Independent hold Swing

Coedffranc North Ward (one seat)

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Coedffranc North Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Wilfred Edgar Jones* 547
Independent John Alfred Frederick Wilsher 460
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc West Ward (one seat)

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Coedffranc West Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Eric Vernon Matthews* 312
Labour Leslie Ball 170
Independent hold Swing

Coedffranc West Central (one seat)

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Coedffranc West Central 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William David* 521
Labour Arthur Williams 142
Independent hold Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

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Dyffryn Clydach 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dewi Thomas* 625
Labour Norman Richard Thomas 567
Independent Idris Roy Rowlands 421
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Emlyn Davies* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

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Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Richards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

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Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Williams* 712
Labour Richard Davies* 690
Communist Chris Evans 349
Communist Lynwood Morgan 238
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

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Dulais Lower 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Myrddin Morris* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

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Michaelstone Higher 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwilym Thomas Morgan* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

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Neath Higher 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lewis Cynlais Adams* 1,204
Labour Robert Henry Dyer* 857
Labour Benjamin Thomas 712
Labour Annie Jeffreys 607
Plaid Cymru Thomas Penry Evans 543
Independent Doris Mary Morris 351
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

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Neath Lower 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Haydn Evans 92
Labour Gildas Thomas 78
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Resolven Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William John Powell* 816
Labour Melvin Dilkes 641
Plaid Cymru Arthur David Griffiths 275
Plaid Cymru John Harris 253
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Henry Walters Unopposed
Labour Iorwerth Williams* Unopposed
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (two seats)

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Resolven, Tonna Ward 1970
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Catherine Hopkins* Unopposed
Labour Idris Thomas* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Labour Retains Grip". Neath Guardian. 7 May 1970. p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Contests in 13 out of 22 Neath Rural Wards". Neath Guardian. 23 April 1970. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2023.