DOG fouling, litter and speeding are the top priorities for Pontypool’s newest councillor.
Reform UK’s Bob Blacker was elected to Pontypool Community Council in a by-election for the New Inn Upper ward on Thursday, July 16.
He credited his success to the local branch “putting in a lot of work and going out listening to local voters.”
The former housing officer, who has also served in the Army Reserve, said his priority will be to address issues raised during the election campaign including parking and litter.
He said: “I will be picking up concerns from the doorstep and addressing them. It is all very local, dog fouling was mentioned a lot and I’ll look if we can install more bins and also they are overflowing, it is something to look at getting something done quickly.
“Speeding was also mentioned on one of the main roads and I’ll see if any calming measures can be done.”
The by-election was called as Stephen Senior had to resign from the community council after he was elected to represent the Sir Fynwy Torfaen seat at May’s Welsh election, while Mr Blacker works as a caseworker for the Reform UK Senedd Member.
New Inn had been a stronghold for the Conservatives locally with Mr Senior elected at a by-election, in February 2025, for the party before defecting to Reform UK shortly afterwards.
However Labour finished second in Thursday’s by-election with 187 votes, which was 51 votes short of Mr Blacker’s total of 238 while the Conservatives got 112 votes.
Mr Blacker said: “There was a lot of election fatigue as there’s been quite a churn in New Inn recently and the Senedd was a high-profile campaign.
“The local branch put in a lot of work on the ground, going out listening to the local voters and possibly being the most local candidate might have had some impact as well,” said Mr Blacker, who described himself as living just a couple of 100 metres outside the New Inn Upper boundary, in Pontypool as the reasons behind his victory.
Community councils aren’t divided into formal political groups but Mr Blacker’s success means Reform maintains its three seats on the council while the Conservatives have two and Labour holds 16 of the 21 seats.
Result
- Robert Blacker Reform UK 238 (Elected)
- Dave Cornish Welsh Labour 187
- Chase Blount Welsh Conservatives 112
- Turnout: 21.84 per cent
- Spoilt: One