A COUNCILLOR has called for action after new figures show Ceredigion has the joint second-lowest percentage of female councillors in Wales.

Research by gender equality charity Chwarae Teg and Wales’ leading pro-democracy organisation, ERS Cymru, shows that following this month’s local elections, only five — 11.9 per cent — of Ceredigion County Council’s councillors are female.

Only Anglesey — at 10 per cent — has a lower percentage, with Ceredigion on the same figure and percentage as Blaenau Gwent.

Across Wales as a total, the figure is still low at 27 per cent.

Cllr Elizabeth Evans, who was re-elected to represent Aberaeron ward on 4 May, told the Cambrian News this week she found the figures “disappointing”, but said the problem could be “more acute” in rural areas because of poor childcare.

Cllr Evans said: “It is of course disappointing that again, we only have five female councillors on Ceredigion County Council, although I’m personally delighted that for the first time in nine years, I will have a female Liberal Democrat colleague on our council group.

“There are many reasons why women do not seek election onto county councils, I would imagine it is more acute in rural parts of Wales where childcare is a huge problem.

“It’s worth noting that the female councillors on Ceredigion have sought election onto the council in later life although many have been on community councils for years. It’s making the leap which seems to be the challenge.

“I know that the Liberal Democrats fielded more female candidates in this year’s local elections than we’ve done previously and we must build on that.”

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