The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2026
W.S.I. 2026/125 · Made 16 October 2026
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WALES
Made 16 October 2026
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymruf1 (“the Commission”) has, under section 36(5) of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013f2 (“the 2013 Act”), submitted to the Welsh Ministers a report dated January 2026 containing its recommendations for change and the details of its review of the electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire.
The Welsh Ministers have decided to give effect to the Commission’s recommendations without modification.
Under section 37(3A) and (3B) of the 2013 Actf3, more than 6 weeks have elapsed since those recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Ministers and the Welsh Ministers have had regard to any representations made during that period.
The Welsh Ministers have published a statement setting out their decision in respect of each recommendation under section 37(6) of the 2013 Actf4.
The Welsh Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 37(1)(a) and 40(1) and (2)(a) and (b) of the 2013 Act.
Under section 37(2A) of the 2013 Actf5, the Welsh Ministers make this Order more than 6 months preceding the day of an ordinary council election under section 26 of the Local Government Act 1972f6.
Annotations to the whole text
Footnotes
- f1
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The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales was established by section 53 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (“the 1972 Act”). Section 53 and Schedule 8 were repealed by section 73(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4) (“the 2013 Act”). The 2013 Act renamed the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales (see section 2(2)). The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4) renamed the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales as the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (see section 12).
- f2
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2013 anaw 4. Section 11 of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 renamed the short title of the 2013 Act as the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013.
- f3
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Section 37(3A) and (3B) was substituted for 37(3) of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 by section 43(2) of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5).
- f4
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Section 37(6) was inserted by section 49(2)(b) of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024.
- f5
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Section 37(2A) was inserted by section 47(3) of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024.
- f6
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1972 c. 70. Section 26 was substituted by section 4(2) of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19). Section 26 was amended by S.I. 2019/1269 (W. 220) to provide that the year in which an ordinary election of councillors of local authorities must take place is 2022 instead of 2021. Section 26(1) was further amended by section 14(2) of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1) to provide that elections must take place every fifth year after 2022.
Contents
- 1Title and coming into force
- 2Interpretation
- 3Electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire
- 4The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Llanelli Rural - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
- 5The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Trimsaran - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
- 6The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Pontyberem - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
- 7The communities of Llanboidy and Whitland - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
- Signature
- Schedule NAMES AND AREAS OF ELECTORAL WARDS AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
- Explanatory note
1Title and coming into force
The title of this Order is the County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2026.
For any purpose set out in regulation 4(1) of the 1976 Regulationsf1, this Order comes into force on 6 November 2026.
For all other purposes, this Order comes into force at 23:59 hours on the day before the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027.
2Interpretation
In this Order—
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“the 1972 Act” (“Deddf 1972”) means the Local Government Act 1972;
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“the 1976 Regulations” (“Rheoliadau 1976”) means the Local Government Area Changes Regulations 1976;
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“the 2013 Act” (“Deddf 2013”) means the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013;
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“electoral ward” (“ward etholiadol”) means any area for which councillors are elected to Carmarthenshire County Council;
any reference to a map means one of the 4 maps marked “Map of the County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2026” deposited in accordance with regulation 5 of the 1976 Regulations, labelled “1” to “4”, and a reference to the numbered map is a reference to the map that bears that number;
where a boundary is shown on a map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.
Words and expressions used in this Order have the same meaning as they have in Part 3 of the 2013 Act, except so far as a contrary intention appears.
3Electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire
The electoral wards of the County of Carmarthenshire, as they exist immediately before the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027, are abolished.
The County of Carmarthenshire is divided into 47 electoral wards each bearing the English language name listed in column 1 and the Welsh language name listed in column 2 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.
Each electoral ward comprises the areas specified in relation to that electoral ward in column 3 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.
The number of members of Carmarthenshire County Council to be elected for each electoral ward is the number specified in column 4 of the Table in the Schedule to this Order.
4The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Llanelli Rural - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
The part of the community of Llanelli Rural shown shaded on Map 1 forms part of the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrnf1.
5The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Trimsaran - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
The part of the community of Trimsaran shown shaded on Map 2 forms part of the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrnf1.
6The communities of Llangyndeyrn and Pontyberem - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
The part of the community of Pontyberem shown shaded on Map 3 forms part of the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrnf1.
7The communities of Llanboidy and Whitland - consequential changes to electoral ward arrangements
The part of the community of Llanboidy shown shaded on Map 4 forms part of the community of Whitland in the electoral ward of Whitlandf1.
Signature
Siân Gwenllian
Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, one of the Welsh Ministers
16 October 2026
NAMES AND AREAS OF ELECTORAL WARDS AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Table
| Column (1) | Column (2) | Column (3) | Column (4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language name of electoral ward | Welsh language name of electoral ward | Area of electoral ward | Number of members of the council |
| Aberbythych Gors-las | Aberbythych Gors-las | The communities of Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Llangathen and Gorslas | 3 |
| Abergwili | Abergwili | The communities of Abergwili and Llanllawddog | 1 |
| Ammanford | Rhydaman | The town of Ammanford | 2 |
| Bigyn | Bigyn | The Bigyn ward of the town of Llanelli | 3 |
| Burry Port | Porth Tywyn | The Burry Port ward of the town of Pembrey and Burry Port | 2 |
| Bynea Llwynhendy | Bynea Llwynhendy | The Bynea and Pemberton wards of the community of Llanelli Rural | 3 |
| Carmarthen Town North and South | Gogledd a De Tref Caerfyrddin | The North and South wards of the town of Carmarthen | 3 |
| Carmarthen Town West | Gorllewin Tref Caerfyrddin | The West ward of the town of Carmarthen | 2 |
| Cenarth Llangeler | Cenarth Llangeler | The communities of Cenarth, Llangeler and the town of Newcastle Emlyn | 2 |
| Cil-y-cwm | Cil-y-cwm | The communities of Cilycwm, Cynwyl Gaeo, Llansadwrn, Llanwrda and Llanycrwys | 1 |
| Cwarter Bach | Cwarter Bach | The community of Quarter Bach | 1 |
| Cynwyl Elfed | Cynwyl Elfed | The communities of Bronwydd, Cynwyl Elfed and Llanpumsaint | 1 |
| Dafen Felin-foel | Dafen Felin-foel | The Dafen and Felinfoel wards of the community of Llanelli Rural | 2 |
| Elli | Elli | The Elli ward of the town of Llanelli | 1 |
| Glanaman | Glanaman | The Grenig and Tircoed wards of the town of Cwmamman | 1 |
| Glan-y-môr | Glan-y-môr | The Glanymor ward of the town of Llanelli | 2 |
| Glyn | Glyn | The Glyn ward of the community of Llanelli Rural | 1 |
| Hengoed | Hengoed | The Hengoed ward of the community of Llanelli Rural | 2 |
| Kidwelly St Ishmael | Cydweli Llanismel | The town of Kidwelly and the community of St Ishmael | 2 |
| Laugharne Township | Talacharn | The communities of Eglwyscummin, Laugharne Township, Llanddowror and Pendine | 1 |
| Llanboidy | Llanboidy | The communities of Cilymaenllwyd, Llanboidy and Llangynin | 1 |
| Llanddarog | Llanddarog | The communities of Llanarthney and Llanddarog | 1 |
| Llandeilo | Llandeilo | The community of Dyffryn Cennen and the town of Llandeilo | 1 |
| Llandovery | Llanymddyfri | The town of Llandovery and the community of Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn | 1 |
| Llandybïe Pen-y-groes | Llandybïe Pen-y-groes | The Heolddu, Llandybie and the Penygroes wards of the community Llandybie | 3 |
| Llanegwad | Llanegwad | The communities of Llanegwad, Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn and Llanfynydd | 1 |
| Llanfihangel-ar-arth | Llanfihangel-ar-arth | The communities of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth and Llanllwni | 1 |
| Llangadog | Llangadog | The communities of Llanddeusant, Llangadog and Myddfai | 1 |
| Llangennech | Llangennech | The community of Llangennech | 2 |
| Llangyndeyrn | Llangyndeyrn | The communities of Llandyfaelog and Llangyndeyrn | 2 |
| Llangynnwr | Llangynnwr | The community of Llangunnor | 1 |
| Llan-non | Llan-non | The community of Llannon | 2 |
| Llansteffan Sanclêr | Llansteffan Sanclêr | The communities of Llangain, Llangynog, Llansteffan and St Clears | 2 |
| Llanybydder | Llanybydder | The communities of Llanybydder and Pencarreg | 1 |
| Lliedi | Lliedi | The Lliedi ward of the town of Llanelli | 2 |
| Manordeilo Salem | Manordeilo Salem | The communities of Llansawel, Manordeilo and Salem, and Talley | 1 |
| Pembrey | Pen-bre | The Pembrey ward of the town of Pembrey and Burry Port | 2 |
| Pontyberem | Pontyberem | The community of Pontyberem | 1 |
| Saron | Saron | The Saron ward of the community of Llandybie | 2 |
| Swiss Valley | Dyffryn y Swistir | The Swiss Valley ward of the community of Llanelli Rural | 1 |
| Tre-lech | Tre-lech | The communities of Abernant, Llanwinio, Meidrim, Newchurch and Merthyr, and Trelech a’r Betws | 1 |
| Trimsaran | Trimsaran | The community of Trimsaran | 1 |
| Tŷ-croes Yr Hendy | Tŷ-croes Yr Hendy | The Hendy, Llanedi and Tycroes wards of the community of Llanedi | 2 |
| Tyisha | Tyisa | The Tyisha ward of the town of Llanelli | 2 |
| Whitland | Hendy-gwyn ar Daf | The community of Henllanfallteg and the town of Whitland | 1 |
| Y Betws | Y Betws | The community of Betws | 1 |
| Y Garnant | Y Garnant | The Pistillwyd and Twyn wards of the town of Cwmamman | 1 |
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order implements the recommendations of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (“the Commission”), which reported in January 2026 on its review of the electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire. The Commission’s report proposed a reduction in the number of electoral wards from 51 to 47 and a decrease in the number of councillors from 75 to 74. The Commission’s report also recommended consequential changes to electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire as a result of changes to community boundaries that have already been implemented.
This Order implements the Commission’s recommendations without modification.
Article 3 of this Order abolishes the existing electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire and introduces the Schedule, which sets out the new electoral arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire.
This Order also implements recommendations for consequential changes to electoral arrangements for some communities within the County of Carmarthenshire. Following changes made to community and community ward boundaries, the consequential changes were not implemented for the electoral wards at the same time.
Article 4 provides for the transfer of part of the community of Llanelli Rural to the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrn.
Article 5 provides for the transfer of part of the community of Trimsaran to the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrn.
Article 6 provides for the transfer of part of the community of Pontyberem to the community of Llangyndeyrn in the electoral ward of Llangyndeyrn.
Article 7 provides for the transfer of part of the community of Llanboidy to Whitland electoral ward.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.
Prints of the maps labelled “1” to “4” to which this Order relates are deposited in the office of the Welsh Government at Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ (Elections Division), and with Carmarthenshire County Council. Prints deposited with Carmarthenshire County Council are open to inspection by anyone affected by the provisions of this Order.