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West Somerset
Former non-metropolitan district in England
Former non-metropolitan district in England
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | West Somerset | |
| native_name | ||
| settlement_type | Non-metropolitan district | |
| total_type | ||
| image_blank_emblem | West Somerset logo.png | |
| blank_emblem_size | 147px | |
| image_map | West Somerset UK locator map.svg | |
| mapsize | 200px | |
| map_caption | Shown within Somerset | |
| dot_x | dot_y = | |
| pushpin_map | ||
| pushpin_label_position | ||
| subdivision_type | Sovereign state | |
| subdivision_name | United Kingdom | |
| subdivision_type1 | Constituent country | |
| subdivision_name1 | England | |
| subdivision_type2 | Region | |
| subdivision_name2 | South West England | |
| subdivision_type3 | Ceremonial county | |
| subdivision_name3 | Somerset | |
| subdivision_type4 | Admin HQ | |
| subdivision_name4 | Williton | |
| parts_style | ||
| parts | ||
| p2 | ||
| government_type | Non-metropolitan district | |
| leader_title | Leader | |
| leader_name | Tim Taylor | |
| leader_title1 | Council | |
| leader_name1 | ||
| established_title1 | Created | |
| established_date1 | 1 April 1974 | |
| established_title2 | Abolished | |
| established_date2 | 1 April 2019 | |
| unit_pref | ||
| area_total_km2 | 726.84 | |
| area_land_km2 | ||
| elevation_footnotes | tags-- | |
| population_as_of | mid-2018 | |
| population_total | 34,900 | |
| population_density_km2 | 49 | |
| timezone | GMT | |
| utc_offset | 0 | |
| timezone_DST | BST | |
| utc_offset_DST | +1 | |
| coor_pinpoint | ||
| postal_code_type | Post Code | |
| postal_code | TA - various | |
| area_code | 01984 | |
| website | http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/ |
the former district
Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--
West Somerset was a local government district in the English county of Somerset from 1974 to 2019. The council covered a largely rural area, with a population of 34,900 in an area of 740 km2; it was the least populous non-unitary district in England. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics in 2009, the population of West Somerset had the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52. The largest centres of population were the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).
The council's administrative headquarters were located in the village of Williton, with an additional office in Minehead.
In September 2016, West Somerset and Taunton Deane councils agreed in principle to merge the districts into one (with one council) subject to consultation. The new district would not be a unitary authority: it would still be part of the Somerset County Council area. In March 2018 both councils voted in favour of the merger and it came into effect on 1 April 2019, with the first elections to the new council in May 2019. The new authority was known as Somerset West and Taunton Council.
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the previous urban districts of Minehead and Watchet, along with Dulverton Rural District and Williton Rural District.
Listed buildings
There were 33 Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset: the oldest are Culbone Church (one of the smallest churches in England, and pre-Norman in origin) and Tarr Steps, which some say originates in the Bronze Age, although others date them from around 1400. Dunster has the greatest concentration of Grade I listed buildings including Dunster Castle, the Yarn Market, Gallox Bridge and Priory Church of St George. Other sites include manor houses such as Nettlecombe Court and Orchard Wyndham. The most recent buildings included in the list are Crowcombe Court which was completed in 1739 and the Church of St John the Baptist in Carhampton which was rebuilt in 1863. There are numerous religious structures in Somerset, with the largest number being Anglican parish churches, dating from Norman or medieval eras. Some of the churches are included in the Somerset towers, a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless Gothic church towers.
Financial difficulties
In 2012 financial difficulties at the council, including a £1 million reduction over three years, lead to plans to outsource most of the services provided to the population and make most of the staff redundant. It was proposed that some services may be shared with Taunton Deane council. In December 2012 the grant received from central government was increased by 0.9% meaning the council had £3.8million to spend on the provision of services.
Geography
West Somerset benefits from one of the most scenic landscapes in England. Nearly two-thirds of the western land area of the district forms part of Exmoor National Park, designated in 1954, while on the eastern edge of the district are the Quantock Hills, which in 1956 became the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty created in the UK. Large areas of Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest because of their value for wildlife.
The West Somerset Railway runs through most of the district, from Bishop's Lydeard in the south east to Minehead in the north west. Operated mainly as a tourist attraction, the railway runs mostly steam and some diesel locomotives.
Governance
West Somerset District Council was elected every four years, with 28 councillors being elected at each election. From the first election to the council in 1973 to the 1995 election the council had a majority of independents. Since then the Conservative Party won a majority at the 2003 election, but independents took a majority back at the 2007 election. Following the election in 2011 the Conservatives regained a majority, which they then held until the council's abolition in 2019.
Settlements
- Allerford, Ashbeer
- Battleton, Bickham, Bicknoller, Bilbrook, Bossington, Brandish Street, Bratton, Bridgetown, Brompton Ralph, Brompton Regis, Brushford
- Carhampton, Chapel Cleeve, Churchtown, Clatworthy, Crowcombe, Crowcombe Heathfield, Culbone, Cutcombe
- Dulverton, Dunster
- East Quantoxhead, Elworthy, Escott, Exford, Exton
- Flaxpool
- Halsway, Hawkridge, Higher Vexford, Holford, Huish Champflower
- Kilve, Kilton, Kingsbridge, Kingswood
- Lawford, Leighland Chapel, Lilstock, Lower Vellow, Lower Vexford, Lower Weacombe, Luccombe, Luxborough, Lynch, Lyncombe
- Minehead, Monksilver
- Oare, Oareford, Old Cleeve
- Pooltown, Porlock, Preston
- Roadwater
- St Audries, Sampford Brett, Selworthy, Simonsbath, Skilgate, Stoke Pero, Stogumber, Stogursey, Stringston
- Timberscombe, Tivington, Torre, Treborough, Triscombe
- Upton
- Vellow
- Washford, Watchet, Weacombe, West Quantoxhead, Williton, Winsford, Withycombe, Withypool, Woodford, Wootton Courtenay
- Yarde
Parishes
| Image | Name | Status | Population | Former local authority | Coordinates | Refs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Bicknoller church.jpg | alt=Stone building with arched windows and square tower. | 100px]] | Bicknoller | Civil parish | 371 | Williton Rural District | title=Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles | url=http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/files/Somerset%20Census%20Key%20Statistics%20-%20Summary%20Profiles.xls | publisher=Somerset Intelligence | access-date=4 January 2014 | format=Excel}} | |
| [[File:Brompton Ralph church.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower, partially obscured by trees. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Brompton Ralph | Civil parish | 287 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Brompton Regis - geograph.org.uk - 662427.jpg | alt=Several buildings including a square church tower amongst trees. | 100px]] | Brompton Regis | Civil parish | 449 | Dulverton Rural District | title=Dulverton RD | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10001547 | work=A vision of Britain Through Time | publisher=University of Portsmouth | access-date=5 January 2014}} | |
| [[File:BRUSHFORD, Somerset - geograph.org.uk - 66241.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower, partially obscured by trees. | 100px]] | Brushford | Civil parish | 519 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Carhampton, Somerset - geograph.org.uk - 66205.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones and trees. | 100px]] | Carhampton | Civil parish | 865 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Clatworthychurch.JPG | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are stone crosses, gravestones and trees. | 100px]] | Clatworthy | Civil parish | 101 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Crowcombe church and cross.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are stone crosses, gravestones and trees. | 100px]] | Crowcombe | Civil parish | 489 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Cutcombe church.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Cutcombe | Civil parish | 361 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Dulverton church.jpg | alt=Stone building with arched windows and square tower seen at the end of a narrow lane with white painted houses on the right and a wall on the left. | 100px]] | Dulverton | Town | 1,408 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Dunster.jpg | alt=Street scene with houses and shops on the left and an octagonal structure has a central stone pier which supports a heavy timber framework which carries a slate roof with central wooden lantern surmounted by a weather vane. In the distance is a castle. | 100px]] | Dunster | Civil parish | 817 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:East Quantoxhead Church from the SSW - geograph.org.uk - 22698.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower amongst trees. In the foreground are cows in a field. | 100px]] | East Quantoxhead | Civil parish | 104 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Elworthy church.jpg | alt=Stone building with tiled roof and square tower, surrounded by vegetation. | 100px]] | Elworthy | Civil parish | 103 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Exfordchurch.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. Trees are to the right and behind with gravestones in the foreground. | 100px]] | Exford | Civil parish | 405 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Fortescuecairn.jpg | alt=Mound of stones with fields in the background. | 100px]] | Exmoor | Civil parish | 251 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Exton - Bridgetown Mill - geograph.org.uk - 71109.jpg | alt=Wooden waterwheel on the side of a white painted building, partially obscured by trees. | 100px]] | Exton | Civil parish | 243 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Holford.jpg | alt=Buildings nestled in rolling hills. | 100px]] | Holford | Civil parish | 392 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Huishchampflowerchurch.jpg | alt=Square stone tower with gravestones in the foreground. | 100px]] | Huish Champflower | Civil parish | 301 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Kilvechantry.jpg | alt=Stone wall with window of ruined building. | 100px]] | Kilve | Civil parish | 305 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Luccombe church.jpg | alt=Looking down on the village with houses and stone church building with square tower. | 100px]] | Luccombe | Civil parish | 157 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:River Washford, Pooltown.jpg | alt=Stone bridge over water, surrounded by vegetation. | 100px]] | Luxborough | Civil parish | 237 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:View Over Minehead From Hill.jpg | alt=Town seen from a nearby hill with multiple houses. The sea can be seen on the left and the white tent like canopy left of centre is the Butlins centre. | 100px]] | Minehead | Town | 11,981 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| Minehead Urban District | title=Minehead UD | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025540 | work=A vision of Britain Through Time | publisher=University of Portsmouth | access-date=5 January 2014}} | |||||||
| [[File:Bratton Court.jpg | alt=Old stone building with archway. | 100px]] | Minehead Without | Civil parish | 60 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Monksilverchurch.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. | 100px]] | Monksilver | Civil parish | 113 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:NETTLECOMBE, Somerset - geograph.org.uk - 66189.jpg | alt=Reddish stone buildings. The church in the foreground has a square tower. | 100px]] | Nettlecombe | Civil parish | 174 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Robber's Bridge, Exmoor, Somerset.jpg | alt=Small stone bridge over a stream | 100px]] | Oare | Civil parish | 68 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Old Cleeve church.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Old Cleeve | Civil parish | 1,672 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Porlock church.jpg | alt=Street scene showing stone church with truncated spire, On the right is a white painted building. | 100px]] | Porlock | Civil parish | 1,440 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Sampford Breet church.jpg | alt=Stone building with white painted square tower. In the foreground is a road junction. | 100px]] | Sampford Brett | Civil parish | 270 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Selworthytevillage.jpg | alt=Thatched roofs of white painted houses nestled in tree filled valley. | 100px]] | Selworthy | Civil parish | 477 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:St John the Baptist, Skilgate - geograph.org.uk - 693728.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Skilgate | Civil parish | 100 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Crowcombe Heathfield railway station signal box.jpg | alt=Wooden signal box next to railway platform decorated with flowers. | 100px]] | Stogumber | Civil parish | 702 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Stogurseychurch.jpg | alt=White painted church with square tower topped with a spire. | 100px]] | Stogursey | Civil parish | 1,385 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stringston, Somerset.jpg | alt=Stone church with red tiled roofs. | 100px]] | Stringston | Civil parish | 116 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:St. Petrock's church, Timberscombe - geograph.org.uk - 679109.jpg | alt=Reddish stone church with square tower. | 100px]] | Timberscombe | Civil parish | 402 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Treborough Lime Kilns.jpg | alt=Stone kilns built into a bank with a road in front. | 100px]] | Treborough | Civil parish | 51 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:St James's Church, Upton, Somerset.jpg | alt=Stone building with small bell tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Upton | Civil parish | 250 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Watchet.jpg | alt=View of multiple houses with sea on the left and hills in the background. | 100px]] | Watchet | Town | 3,785 | Watchet Urban District | title=Watchet UD | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10135308 | work=A vision of Britain Through Time | publisher=University of Portsmouth | access-date=5 January 2014}} | |
| [[File:St Audries Waterfall.jpg | alt=Waterfall cascading down rockface. | 100px]] | West Quantoxhead | Civil parish | 343 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:WillitonMethodistChurch.jpg | alt=Stone building with arched doorway and windows. Two small towers. | 100px]] | Williton | Civil parish | 2,607 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Winsfordchurch.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Winsford | Civil parish | 321 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Withycombe church.jpg | alt=White painted church with square tower. | 100px]] | Withycombe | Civil parish | 293 | Williton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Withypool bridge.jpg | alt=Stone bridge with six arches over water. | 100px]] | Withypool and Hawkridge | Civil parish | 201 | Dulverton Rural District | ||||||
| [[File:Wootton Courtenay church.jpg | alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones. | 100px]] | Wootton Courtenay | Civil parish | 264 | Williton Rural District |
Education
County schools (those which are not independent) in the five non-metropolitan districts of the county were operated by Somerset County Council.
For a full list of schools see: List of schools in Somerset
References
References
- "Statistics & Census Information". West Somerset Council.
- "West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment". Office for National Statistics.
- (1 October 2009). "Maps chart UK's ageing population". [[BBC News]].
- "West Somerset Online".
- "Your New Council".
- "Somerset councils merger approved despite criticism". BBC.
- (19 March 2018). "Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger". Somerset County Gazette.
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (24 May 2018). "The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018".
- "Parish Churches". Somerset County archives.
- "Culbone church". historicengland.org.uk.
- "Tarr Steps". Everything Exmoor.
- "Crowcombe Court". English Heritage.
- "Church of St John the Baptist, Carhampton". English Heritage.
- Morris, Steven. (12 December 2012). "West Somerset council considers making most of its staff redundant". The Guardian.
- (12 December 2012). "West Somerset Council anti-bankruptcy plan approved". BBC.
- (19 December 2012). "Why West Somerset Council is at risk of going bust". BBC.
- "Council composition 2018". West Somerset Council.
- "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles". Somerset Intelligence.
- "Williton RD". University of Portsmouth.
- "Dulverton RD". University of Portsmouth.
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