Aberystwyth Town Council () is the community council that governs the ancient borough, town and community of Aberystwyth. For electoral purposes, it is divided into five electoral divisions (often known as wards).
Background The council appoints a chairman as its presiding officer who is then known as the Mayor of Aberystwyth. The Town Council is now a statutory body, but it also holds the town's Borough Charter in trust, granted by King Edward I on 28 December 1277 and confirmed by successive monarchs, resulting in the members also being charter trustees. Since the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 came into force, Aberystwyth's status as a borough has been wholly ceremonial. The Local Government Act 1972 (in force from 1 April 1974) prevents the town council being known in name as a borough council as previously, although the town councillors as charter trustees can still, for example, take part in all of the ceremonial activities (wearing civic outfits), elect mayors (who can wear the chain of office) and organise markets (according to the original royal charter).
Aberystwyth Town Council comprises five wards — Bronglais, Central, North, Penparcau and Rheidol — electing between three and five town councillors each.
Clockwise, from the north, it borders the communities of Tirymynach, Faenor, Llanbadarn Fawr and Llanfarian.
Composition as at 2023 Group affiliation Members Plaid Cymru 12 2 Labour 1 Independent 1 Total 18 out of 19
Election history Aberystwyth Town Council is made up of 19 councillors elected from the five wards. The most recent elections were held in 2022. Plaid Cymru have an overall majority. There are currently 2 vacancies for the council, in Penparcau Ward (06/06/25).
2026 by-election Following the resignation of Cllr Mair Benjamin, a by-election was held in the Rheidol ward on 19 March 2026. The by-election was won by Plaid Cymru's Felix Lorenze.
2022 election The 2022 Aberystwyth Town Council elections were held alongside the elections for Ceredigion County council on 5 May 2022. All 14 seats from the Bronglais, Central, North and Rheidol wards were up for election. There was no election in the Penparcau ward as there were only 2 candidates for the 5 seats representing the ward. The election resulted in 12 seats for Plaid Cymru, 2 for Labour, 1 for Liberal Democrats and 3 vacant seats which were filled by co-option.
Ward Party Town councillors elected 2022Bronglais Talat Chaudhri Lucy Huws Mari Turner Alun WilliamsCentral Owain Hughes Emlyn Wyn Jones Sienna Quinn LewisNorth Maldwyn Pryse Jeff Smith Mark Antony StrongPenparcau Julien Brun (co-opted) Dylan Lewis-Rowlands Carl Worrall (co-opted) Bryony Davies (co-opted) Nishant Chandolia (co-opted)Rheidol Mair Benjamin Brian Davies Kerry Elizabeth Ferguson Matthew Norman
2017 election The 2017 Aberystwyth town council elections were held alongside the elections for Ceredigion County council on 4 May 2017. All 19 seats were up for election, which resulted in the election of 11 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 6 for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and 2 Welsh Labour councillors. One seat became vacant in May 2017, reducing the number held by the Welsh Liberal Democrats to 5. This position was filled by Brendan Somers in September 2017, bringing the total number of Plaid councillors up to 12. However, Councillor Brendan Somers resigned from Plaid Cymru on 30 April 2019 and sat as an independent.
Ward Party Town councillors elected 2017Bronglais Alun Williams Susan Jane Jones-Davies Endaf Edwards Lucy HuwsCentral David Lees Emily Price (deceased 12 May 2017) Michael ChappellNorth Mark Strong Talat Chaudhri Sara HammelPenparcau Steve Davies Dylan Lewis Charlie Kingsbury Alex Mangold Brenda HainesRheidol Mair Benjamin Claudine Young Rhodri Francis Mari Turner
2012 election The 2012 Aberystwyth town council elections were held alongside the elections for Ceredigion County council on 3 May 2012. All 19 seats were up for election. The 2012 elections had previously resulted in 11 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 5 for the Welsh Lib Democrats and 3 independents. Lucy Teresa Huws (Plaid Cymru) was elected for Bronglais Ward in November 2013, replacing Christopher Griffiths. Brendan Somers (Plaid Cymru) joined for Central Ward in January 2014, replacing Carys Morgan (resigned 2013), and Dr Talat Zafar Chaudhri (Plaid Cymru) joined for Penparcau in September 2015, replacing Dylan Lewis (resigned 2015). There were subsequently 12 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 4 for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and 3 independents for the remainder of the term.
Ward Party Town councillors elected 2012Bronglais Alun Williams Susan Jane Jones-Davies Endaf Edwards Christopher GriffithsCentral Ceredig Davies Sarah Bowen Carys MorganNorth Mark Strong Aled Davies Jeff SmithPenparcau Steve Davies Dylan Lewis Mererid Jones Kevin Price Brenda HainesRheidol Wendy Morris-Twiddy Brian Davies Mair Benjamin (resigned from the Liberal Democrats on 15 May 2012Cambrian News (Aberystwyth) published Wednesday 16/05/2012) Martin Shewring
2008–2012 by-elections By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate ReasonRheidol18 September 2008 Martin Shewring Resignation of Elian Lorrae Jones-SouthgatePenparcau18 September 2008 Owain Jones Death of Owen JonesCentral25 November 2010 Ceredig Davies Resignation of Trevor ShaftoeRheidol4 August 2011 Wendy Morris-TwiddyResignation of Martin Shewring
2008 election In the 2008 elections, 9 seats were won by Plaid Cymru, 6 by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, 2 by independents, 1 by Welsh Labour and 1 by the Green Party.Ceredigion County Council , Community Council Election Results 2008.
Ward Party Town councillors elected 2008Bronglais Alun Williams Susan Jane Jones-Davies Aled Davies Ann-Marie HindeCentral Alec Dauncey Lyn Lewis Dafis Trevor Graham ShaftoeNorth Christopher Guy Borrill Simpson Mark Strong Dafydd Wyn ThomasPenparcau Rob Gorman Goronwy Edwards Steve Davies Owen Jones Richard BoudierRheidol Elian Lorrae Jones-Southgate Sam Hearne Mair Benjamin Ceri Meehan
Mayoral history Year Name Party Notes2022-23Talat Chaudhri 2021-22Alun Williams 2020-21Charlie Kingsbury 2019-20Mari Rhian Turner 2018-19Talat Zafar Chaudhri First Pakistani Punjabi and ethnic minority mayor of Aberystwyth.2017-18Steve Davies Elected as Plaid Cymru mayoral candidate and mayor-elect.2016-17Brendan Somers Lost seat at election held on 4 May 20172015-16Endaf Edwards 2014-15Brenda Haines 2013-14Wendy Morris-Twiddy 2012-13Dylan Wilson-Lewis 2011-12Richard Boudier General election candidate for Ceredigion UK parliamentary constituency2010-11Samantha Hearne 2009-10Trevor Shaftoe 2008-09Susan Jones-Davies 2007-08Lorrae Jones-Southgate Resigned June 2008.2006-07Michael Jones 2005-06Aled Davies 2004-05John T. James Independent from March 2005.2003-04John T. James 2002-03Carol Kolczak 2000-01Jaci Taylor 1999-00Siôn Jobbins 1998-99Graham T. Parry 1997-98Elin Jones 1996-97Carol Kolczak 1995-96Hywel Jones Removed from office February 1996.1994-95Bob Griffin Husband of Rose Simpson.
References
External links Aberystwyth Town Council