Council clarifies which areas can vote in upcoming Senedd by-election

A councillor has warned of “confusion” over constituency boundaries ahead of the Senedd by-election for Caerphilly.

Voters in the Welsh Parliament constituency will go to the polls on Thursday October 23 to choose their next Senedd member.

Cllr Kevin Etheridge, who represents Blackwood, said some electors in his ward were “confused” and had asked him why they hadn’t received any polling cards.

But the town sits outside the Caerphilly constituency and instead currently falls under Islwyn for Senedd elections – despite being part of the Caerphilly local authority area.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has issued a list of electoral wards and communities which will be able to participate in the October 23 by-election.

They are:

• Aber Valley
• Bargoed (not Aberbargoed)
• Bedwas and Trethomas
• Gilfach
• Hengoed
• Llanbradach
• Machen and Rudry
• Morgan Jones (Caerphilly)
• Nelson
• Penyrheol
• St Cattwg (Cascade, Gelligaer, Penpedairheol)
• St Martins (Caerphilly)
• Van (Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Porset Park)
• Ystrad Mynach

A list of polling stations is also available on the council website.

Caerphilly’s by-election candidates

• Welsh Liberal Democrats – Steve Aicheler
• Gwlad – Anthony Cook
• Wales Green Party – Gareth Hughes
• Welsh Conservatives – Gareth Potter
• Reform UK – Llŷr Powell
• UKIP – Roger Quilliam
• Richard Tunnicliffe – Labour
• Lindsay Whittle – Plaid Cymru