**Plaid Cymru Retains Pontypridd Town Ward in RCT Council By-Election**
Plaid Cymru has successfully held onto the Pontypridd Town seat in a by-election for the Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council, following a contest prompted by the resignation of Dawn Wood, the previous councillor, for health reasons.
The by-election, held on Thursday, 17th July, attracted attention locally after former councillor Dawn Wood, a Plaid Cymru representative, stepped down due to ill health. As a result, voters in Pontypridd Town were called upon to decide her successor, resulting in Wiliam Rees securing the seat for Plaid Cymru.
Rees claimed a convincing victory, receiving 540 out of 1,047 total votes cast. The by-election saw a turnout of 44.31 per cent, reflecting a solid level of engagement from residents. Reform UK made a notable showing in second place with 253 votes, followed by Labour’s Elin Mair Brown who received 203 votes, while the Conservatives and The Green Party lagged further behind with 27 and 23 votes respectively.
Expressing gratitude for the result, Rees admitted to local reporters that his win was “still sinking in” following an energetic five-week campaign. “I am really pleased I have received so much support from my neighbours in Pontypridd Town ward,” Rees said after the votes were tallied, vowing to start working immediately to improve the area.
Rees also paid tribute to his predecessor, describing Dawn Wood as not only a “great councillor” but also a “great friend”. “This result is as much an endorsement of Dawn’s hard work over the previous few years as it is of our campaign. It’s obviously sad that circumstances led to this by-election, but I hope I have done her proud by holding the seat for Plaid Cymru and I look forward to building on her legacy,” he commented.
In outlining his vision for Pontypridd Town, Rees emphasised the importance of attending to immediate local concerns such as keeping streets tidy, maintaining clear pavements, and managing hedgerows, as well as focusing on wider issues that he claims the Labour Party has neglected—most notably school transport cuts and the lack of progress on flood inquiry proposals.
During his campaign, Rees had made it clear that his connection to the community runs deep, having lived in Graigwen with his partner and been actively involved with local neighbourhood watch and routine tidying efforts. Professionally, Rees works in education policy and has previously advocated publicly around issues such as protecting public services from funding cuts.
Rees has pledged to donate a portion of his councillor salary—more than £1,000 annually—back to local community projects, promising to maintain regular engagement with residents and local organisations. He has assured that his approach will prioritise action and attentiveness to constituents, rather than partisan interests.
“I am here to serve everyone in Pontypridd Town, not just play party politics. Residents deserve a councillor who lives here, who listens and takes action,” Rees remarked, reinforcing his commitment to community-driven representation.
The final tally at the by-election was as follows: Wiliam Jac Rees (Plaid Cymru) 540 votes, Martin William Roberts (Reform UK) 253 votes, Elin Mair Brown (Labour) 203 votes, Cerys Walker (Conservative) 27 votes, and Jeffrey Lee Baxter (Green Party) 23 votes.
With Rees now confirmed as the ward’s new councillor, many local residents will be watching keenly to see how he tackles the challenges ahead and delivers on his promise to make Pontypridd Town a cleaner, greener, and safer place for all.