An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1955. It was preceded by the 1952 election and followed, by the 1958 election.
Contents
Overview of the result
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. With the support of the two Plaid Cymru members, the Independents then proceeded to take seven of the town 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.
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Retiring aldermen
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 the aldermen were not re-elected. At Llansawel, Alderman David Thomas withdrew rather than face a contest.
Unopposed returns
39 members were returned unopposed, an increase of five compared with 1955.
Contested elections
20 seats were contested. Labour defeats at St Ishmaels and one of the Llanelli wards, to Independents, andat 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.
Summary of results
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.
Election of aldermen
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.
By-elections
Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.