Former non-metropolitan district in England
Non-metropolitan district in England
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
[1] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi);
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
[4] The new district would not be a unitary authority: it would still be part of the Somerset County Council area.
[5] 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.
[6]
[7]
[8]
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 .
There were 33 Grade I
listed buildings in West Somerset: the oldest are
Culbone Church (one of the smallest churches in England,
[9] and pre-
Norman in origin)
[10] and
Tarr Steps , which some say originates in the
Bronze Age , although others date them from around 1400.
[11]
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
[12] and the
Church of St John the Baptist in
Carhampton which was rebuilt in 1863.
[13] 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.
West Somerset Council Offices in Williton
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.
[14] It was proposed that some services may be shared with
Taunton Deane council.
[15] 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.
[16]
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 .
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.
[17]
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
Image
Name
Status
Population
Former local authority
Coordinates
Refs
Bicknoller
Civil parish
371
Williton Rural District
51°09′N 3°16′W / 51.15°N 3.27°W / 51.15; -3.27 (Bicknoller )
[18]
[19]
Brompton Ralph
Civil parish
287
Williton Rural District
51°05′N 3°19′W / 51.08°N 3.31°W / 51.08; -3.31 (Brompton Ralph )
[18]
[19]
Brompton Regis
Civil parish
449
Dulverton Rural District
51°04′N 3°29′W / 51.07°N 3.49°W / 51.07; -3.49 (Brompton Regis )
[18]
[20]
Brushford
Civil parish
519
Dulverton Rural District
51°01′N 3°32′W / 51.02°N 3.53°W / 51.02; -3.53 (Brushford, Somerset )
[18]
[20]
Carhampton
Civil parish
865
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°25′W / 51.17°N 3.42°W / 51.17; -3.42 (Carhampton, Somerset )
[18]
[19]
Clatworthy
Civil parish
101
Williton Rural District
51°04′N 3°21′W / 51.07°N 3.35°W / 51.07; -3.35 (Clatworthy )
[19]
Crowcombe
Civil parish
489
Williton Rural District
51°07′N 3°14′W / 51.12°N 3.23°W / 51.12; -3.23 (Crowcombe )
[18]
[19]
Cutcombe
Civil parish
361
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°32′W / 51.14°N 3.53°W / 51.14; -3.53 (Cutcombe )
[18]
[19]
Dulverton
Town
1,408
Dulverton Rural District
51°03′N 3°33′W / 51.05°N 3.55°W / 51.05; -3.55 (Dulverton )
[18]
[20]
Dunster
Civil parish
817
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°27′W / 51.18°N 3.45°W / 51.18; -3.45 (Dunster )
[18]
East Quantoxhead
Civil parish
104
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°14′W / 51.18°N 3.24°W / 51.18; -3.24 (East Quantoxhead )
[18]
Elworthy
Civil parish
103
Williton Rural District
51°07′N 3°19′W / 51.11°N 3.31°W / 51.11; -3.31 (Elworthy )
[19]
Exford
Civil parish
405
Dulverton Rural District
51°08′N 3°38′W / 51.13°N 3.64°W / 51.13; -3.64 (Exford, Somerset )
[18]
[20]
Exmoor
Civil parish
251
Dulverton Rural District
51°08′N 3°45′W / 51.14°N 3.75°W / 51.14; -3.75 (Exmoor civil parish )
[18]
[20]
Exton
Civil parish
243
Dulverton Rural District
51°05′N 3°32′W / 51.09°N 3.54°W / 51.09; -3.54 (Exton, Somerset )
[18]
[20]
Holford
Civil parish
392
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°13′W / 51.16°N 3.21°W / 51.16; -3.21 (Holford )
[18]
[19]
Huish Champflower
Civil parish
301
Dulverton Rural District
51°04′N 3°22′W / 51.06°N 3.36°W / 51.06; -3.36 (Huish Champflower )
[18]
[20]
Kilve
Civil parish
305
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°13′W / 51.18°N 3.22°W / 51.18; -3.22 (Kilve )
[18]
[19]
Luccombe
Civil parish
157
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°34′W / 51.19°N 3.56°W / 51.19; -3.56 (Luccombe, Somerset )
[18]
[19]
Luxborough
Civil parish
237
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°28′W / 51.13°N 3.46°W / 51.13; -3.46 (Luxborough )
[18]
[19]
Minehead
Town
11,981
Williton Rural District
Minehead Urban District
51°12′N 3°28′W / 51.20°N 3.47°W / 51.20; -3.47 (Minehead )
[18]
[19]
[21]
Minehead Without
Civil parish
60
Williton Rural District
51°12′N 3°31′W / 51.20°N 3.51°W / 51.20; -3.51 (Minehead Without )
[19]
Monksilver
Civil parish
113
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°20′W / 51.13°N 3.33°W / 51.13; -3.33 (Monksilver )
[18]
[19]
Nettlecombe
Civil parish
174
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°21′W / 51.13°N 3.35°W / 51.13; -3.35 (Nettlecombe, Somerset )
[18]
[19]
Oare
Civil parish
68
Williton Rural District
51°12′N 3°43′W / 51.20°N 3.71°W / 51.20; -3.71 (Oare, Somerset )
[19]
Old Cleeve
Civil parish
1,672
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°23′W / 51.17°N 3.38°W / 51.17; -3.38 (Old Cleeve )
[18]
[19]
Porlock
Civil parish
1,440
Williton Rural District
51°13′N 3°36′W / 51.21°N 3.60°W / 51.21; -3.60 (Porlock )
[18]
[19]
Sampford Brett
Civil parish
270
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°19′W / 51.16°N 3.31°W / 51.16; -3.31 (Sampford Brett )
[18]
[19]
Selworthy
Civil parish
477
Williton Rural District
51°13′N 3°33′W / 51.21°N 3.55°W / 51.21; -3.55 (Selworthy )
[18]
[19]
Skilgate
Civil parish
100
Dulverton Rural District
51°02′N 3°27′W / 51.04°N 3.45°W / 51.04; -3.45 (Skilgate )
[20]
Stogumber
Civil parish
702
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°17′W / 51.13°N 3.29°W / 51.13; -3.29 (Stogumber )
[18]
[19]
Stogursey
Civil parish
1,385
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°08′W / 51.18°N 3.14°W / 51.18; -3.14 (Stogursey )
[18]
[19]
Stringston
Civil parish
116
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°11′W / 51.18°N 3.18°W / 51.18; -3.18 (Stringston )
[19]
Timberscombe
Civil parish
402
Williton Rural District
51°08′N 3°32′W / 51.13°N 3.54°W / 51.13; -3.54 (Timberscombe )
[18]
[19]
Treborough
Civil parish
51
Williton Rural District
51°07′N 3°25′W / 51.12°N 3.41°W / 51.12; -3.41 (Treborough )
[19]
Upton
Civil parish
250
Dulverton Rural District
51°06′N 3°26′W / 51.10°N 3.44°W / 51.10; -3.44 (Upton, Somerset )
[18]
[20]
Watchet
Town
3,785
Watchet Urban District
51°11′N 3°20′W / 51.18°N 3.33°W / 51.18; -3.33 (Watchet )
[18]
[22]
West Quantoxhead
Civil parish
343
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°16′W / 51.17°N 3.27°W / 51.17; -3.27 (West Quantoxhead )
[18]
[19]
Williton
Civil parish
2,607
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°19′W / 51.16°N 3.31°W / 51.16; -3.31 (Williton )
[18]
[19]
Winsford
Civil parish
321
Dulverton Rural District
51°06′N 3°34′W / 51.10°N 3.57°W / 51.10; -3.57 (Winsford, Somerset )
[18]
[20]
Withycombe
Civil parish
293
Williton Rural District
51°10′N 3°25′W / 51.16°N 3.41°W / 51.16; -3.41 (Withycombe )
[18]
[19]
Withypool and Hawkridge
Civil parish
201
Dulverton Rural District
51°07′N 3°39′W / 51.11°N 3.65°W / 51.11; -3.65 (Withypool and Hawkridge )
[18]
[20]
Wootton Courtenay
Civil parish
264
Williton Rural District
51°11′N 3°31′W / 51.18°N 3.52°W / 51.18; -3.52 (Wootton Courtenay )
[18]
[19]
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