West Somerset | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Shown within Somerset | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Ceremonial county | Somerset |
| Admin HQ | Williton |
| Created | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district |
| • Leader | Tim Taylor |
| • Council | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 280.63 sq mi (726.84 km2) |
| Population (mid-2018) | |
| • Total | 34,900 |
| • Density | 130/sq mi (49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| Post Code | |
| Area code | 01984 |
| Website | http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/ |
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]
- ^ "Statistics & Census Information". West Somerset Council. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "Maps chart UK's ageing population". BBC News. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ West Somerset Online
- ^ Your New Council
- ^ "Somerset councils merger approved despite criticism". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ Simmons, Alice (19 March 2018). "Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (24 May 2018). "The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2018.