Clydesdale West (ward) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clydesdale West
South Lanarkshire
Boundary of Clydesdale West in South Lanarkshire from 2007–2017.
Population	19,350 (2021)
Electorate	15,706 (2022)
Major settlements	Carluke
Scottish Parliament constituency	Clydesdale
Scottish Parliament region	South Scotland
UK Parliament constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
Current ward
Created	2007 (2007)
Number of councillors	4
Councillor	Eileen Logan (Labour)
Councillor	Poppy Corbett (Conservative)
Councillor	David Shearer (SNP)
Councillor	Lynsey Hamilton (Labour)
Created from	Clyde Valley Carluke/Crawforddyke Carluke/Whitehill Forth Law/Carluke

Clydesdale West is a special area in South Lanarkshire Council in Scotland. It's called an "electoral ward," which means it's a specific part of the region that gets to choose its own representatives. Since 2007, people in Clydesdale West have voted for four councillors to speak for them in the local council. These councillors are chosen using a system called "single transferable vote." This system helps make sure that different groups of people in the area are represented.

The ward is home to about 19,350 people. Over the years, both the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Labour Party have been very popular here. At first, the SNP had many councillors, but since 2012, the Labour Party has often held half of the seats.

Where is Clydesdale West?

Clydesdale West was created in 2007, just before the local elections in Scotland. Before 2007, local elections used a simpler "first-past-the-post" system, where the person with the most votes won. But then, a new law changed things, and Scotland started using the "single transferable vote" system. This meant that some old wards were combined to form new ones, like Clydesdale West.

This ward includes parts of the old Clyde Valley and Forth areas. It also completely covers the former Carluke/Crawforddyke, Carluke/Whitehill, and Law/Carluke wards. Clydesdale West is located in the northern part of South Lanarkshire, right next to the border with North Lanarkshire Council. It's a mix of countryside and includes the main town of Carluke. You'll also find villages like Braidwood, Crossford, and Law within its boundaries. The boundaries of the ward have stayed the same since 2017.

Who Represents Clydesdale West?

The people who represent Clydesdale West are called councillors. They are elected by the community to make decisions about local services, like schools, roads, and parks. They work for the people living in their ward.

Here's a look at some of the councillors who have represented Clydesdale West over the years:

How Councillors Are Chosen

Elections are held regularly to choose the councillors for Clydesdale West. People in the ward get to vote for the candidates they think will best represent their interests. The "single transferable vote" system means you can rank candidates in order of your preference, not just pick one. This helps make sure that even if your first choice doesn't win, your vote can still help elect someone you like.