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{{Short description|Former non-metropolitan district in England}}{{About|the former district|the constituency|West Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|the town in South Africa|Somerset West}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

factoids

List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election>MPs:Ian Liddell-Grainger Conservative Party (UK)>C, Rebecca Pow C|established_title = Created|established_date = 1 April 1974|area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes =|area_total_km2 = 726.84|area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 =|area_total_sq_mi =|area_land_sq_mi =|area_water_sq_mi =|area_water_percent =|elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft =|elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft =|elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft =|population_as_of = mid-2018|population_footnotes =|population_note =|population_total = 34,900|population_density_km2 = 49|population_density_sq_mi =Greenwich Mean Time>GMT|utc_offset=0British Summer Time>BST|utc_offset_DST=+1|coor_pinpoint =|coordinates = |postal_code_type = Post CodeTA postcode area>TA - various|area_code = 01984|website =www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/|footnotes = }}{{geoGroup}}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 34,900WEB, Statistics & Census Information,www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/Council---Democracy/About-Your-Council/Statistics---Census-Information, West Somerset Council, 22 October 2017, in an area of {{convert|740|km2}};WEB, West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment,neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=277102&c=West+Somerset&d=13&e=8&g=484429&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1240523739671&enc=1, Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics, 23 April 2009, 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.NEWS, Maps chart UK’s ageing population,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8283259.stm, BBC News, 1 October 2009, 3 October 2009, 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.West Somerset Online The new district would not be a unitary authority: it would still be part of the Somerset County Council area.Your New Council 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.WEB, Somerset councils merger approved despite criticism,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-43472427, BBC, 20 March 2018, NEWS, Simmons, Alice, Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger,www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/16097965.Taunton_Deane_and_West_Somerset_vote_in_favour_of_council_merger/, 20 March 2018, Somerset County Gazette, 19 March 2018, WEB,www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/649/contents/made, The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 24 May 2018, 2018-05-28, legislation.gov.uk,

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,WEB,www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Parishchs.htm, Parish Churches, 24 October 2007, Somerset County archives, dead,www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Parishchs.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20131005191756www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Parishchs.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20131005191756www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Parishchs.htm, 5 October 2013, dmy-all, and pre-Norman in origin)WEB, Culbone church, historicengland.org.uk,historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1058037, 24 October 2007, and Tarr Steps, which some say originates in the Bronze Age, although others date them from around 1400.WEB,www.exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/53-t/958-tarr-steps.html, Tarr Steps, Everything Exmoor, 8 June 2012, dead,exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/53-t/958-tarr-steps.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20120614221905exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/53-t/958-tarr-steps.html,">web.archive.org/web/20120614221905exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/53-t/958-tarr-steps.html, 14 June 2012, 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 1739WEB,historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345656, Crowcombe Court, historicengland.org.uk, English Heritage, 17 January 2009, and the Church of St John the Baptist in Carhampton which was rebuilt in 1863.WEB,historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345731, Church of St John the Baptist, Carhampton, historicengland.org.uk, English Heritage, 17 January 2009, 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.(File:Williton, West Somerset Council offices - geograph.org.uk - 1551363.jpg|thumb|left|West Somerset Council Offices in Williton)

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.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/12/west-somerset-council-staff-redundant?INTCMP=SRCH, West Somerset council considers making most of its staff redundant, Guardian, 14 December 2012, London, Steven, Morris, 12 December 2012, It was proposed that some services may be shared with Taunton Deane council.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20702493, West Somerset Council anti-bankruptcy plan approved, BBC, 14 December 2012, 12 December 2012, 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.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20731232, Why West Somerset Council is at risk of going bust, BBC, 23 December 2012, 19 December 2012,

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

{{see also|West Somerset District Council elections}}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.WEB,www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/Council---Democracy/Councillors, Council composition 2018, West Somerset Council, 1 July 2018,

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{| class“wikitable sortable”

! class=“unsortable” | Image! Name! Status! Population! Former local authority! class=“unsortable” | Coordinates! class=“unsortable” | Refsalt=Stone building with arched windows and square tower.Bicknoller >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.27name=Bicknoller}} STATISTICS FOR WARDS, LSOAS AND PARISHES â€” SUMMARY PROFILES>URL=HTTP://WWW.SOMERSETINTELLIGENCE.ORG.UK/FILES/SOMERSET%20CENSUS%20KEY%20STATISTICS%20-%20SUMMARY%20PROFILES.XLSACCESS-DATE=4 JANUARY 2014WORK=A VISION OF BRITAIN THROUGH TIMEACCESS-DATE=5 JANUARY 2014, alt=Stone building with square tower, partially obscured by trees. In the foreground are gravestones.Brompton Ralph >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.31name=Brompton Ralph}} alt=Several buildings including a square church tower amongst trees.Brompton Regis >Dulverton Rural District {{coord-3.49name=Brompton Regis}} DULVERTON RD>URL=HTTP://WWW.VISIONOFBRITAIN.ORG.UK/UNIT/10001547PUBLISHER=UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH, 5 January 2014, alt=Stone building with square tower, partially obscured by trees.Brushford, Somerset>Brushford Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.02type:city_region:GB|alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones and trees.Carhampton, Somerset>Carhampton Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Williton Rural District >51.17type:city_region:GB|alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are stone crosses, gravestones and trees.Clatworthy >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.35name=Clatworthy}} alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are stone crosses, gravestones and trees.Crowcombe >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.23name=Crowcombe}} alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Cutcombe >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.53name=Cutcombe}} 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.Dulverton >Dulverton Rural District {{coord-3.55name=Dulverton}} 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.Dunster >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.45name=Dunster}} alt=Stone building with square tower amongst trees. In the foreground are cows in a field.East Quantoxhead >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.24name=East Quantoxhead}} alt=Stone building with tiled roof and square tower, surrounded by vegetation.Elworthy >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.31name=Elworthy}} alt=Stone building with square tower. Trees are to the right and behind with gravestones in the foreground.Exford, Somerset>Exford Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.13type:city_region:GB|alt=Mound of stones with fields in the background.Exmoor (civil parish)>Exmoor Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.14type:city_region:GB|alt=Wooden waterwheel on the side of a white painted building, partially obscured by trees.Exton, Somerset>Exton Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.09type:city_region:GB|alt=Buildings nestled in rolling hills.Holford >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.21name=Holford}} alt=Square stone tower with gravestones in the foreground.Huish Champflower >Dulverton Rural District {{coord-3.36name=Huish Champflower}} alt=Stone wall with window of ruined building.Kilve >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.22name=Kilve}} alt=Looking down on the village with houses and stone church building with square tower.Luccombe, Somerset>Luccombe Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Williton Rural District >51.19type:city_region:GB|alt=Stone bridge over water, surrounded by vegetation.Luxborough >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.46name=Luxborough}} 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.Minehead >Williton Rural DistrictMinehead >51.20type:city_region:GBWORK=A VISION OF BRITAIN THROUGH TIMEACCESS-DATE=5 JANUARY 2014, alt=Old stone building with archway.Minehead Without >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.51name=Minehead Without}} alt=Stone building with square tower.Monksilver >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.33name=Monksilver}} alt=Reddish stone buildings. The church in the foreground has a square tower.Nettlecombe, Somerset>Nettlecombe Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Williton Rural District >51.13type:city_region:GB|alt=Small stone bridge over a streamOare, Somerset>Oare Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Williton Rural District >51.20type:city_region:GB|alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Old Cleeve >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.38name=Old Cleeve}} alt=Street scene showing stone church with truncated spire, On the right is a white painted building.Porlock >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.60name=Porlock}} alt=Stone building with white painted square tower. In the foreground is a road junction.Sampford Brett >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.31name=Sampford Brett}} alt=Thatched roofs of white painted houses nestled in tree filled valley.Selworthy >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.55name=Selworthy}} alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Skilgate >Dulverton Rural District {{coord-3.45name=Skilgate}} alt=Wooden signal box next to railway platform decorated with flowers.Stogumber >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.29name=Stogumber}} alt=White painted church with square tower topped with a spire.Stogursey >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.14name=Stogursey}} alt=Stone church with red tiled roofs.Stringston >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.18name=Stringston}} alt=Reddish stone church with square tower.Timberscombe >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.54name=Timberscombe}} alt=Stone kilns built into a bank with a road in front.Treborough >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.41name=Treborough}} alt=Stone building with small bell tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Upton, Somerset>Upton Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.10type:city_region:GB|alt=View of multiple houses with sea on the left and hills in the background.Watchet >Watchet >51.18type:city_region:GBWORK=A VISION OF BRITAIN THROUGH TIMEACCESS-DATE=5 JANUARY 2014, alt=Waterfall cascading down rockface.West Quantoxhead >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.27name=West Quantoxhead}} alt=Stone building with arched doorway and windows. Two small towers.Williton >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.31name=Williton}} alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Winsford, Somerset>Winsford Civil parish style="text-align:center;” Dulverton Rural District >51.10type:city_region:GB|alt=White painted church with square tower.Withycombe >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.41name=Withycombe}} alt=Stone bridge with six arches over water.Withypool and Hawkridge >Dulverton Rural District {{coord-3.65name=Withypool and Hawkridge}} alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.Wootton Courtenay >Williton Rural District {{coord-3.52name=Wootton Courtenay}}

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

See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
• Quay West Radio

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• West Somerset District Council

{{Commons category|West Somerset District|West Somerset}}{{West Somerset}}