West Somerset

Infobox Settlement
name = West Somerset
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settlement_type = Non-metropolitan district
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map_caption = Shown within non-metropolitan Somerset


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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
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government_type = Non-metropolitan district
leader_title = Leader
leader_name = Keith Ross
leader_title1 = Council
leader_name1 = English district control|ONS=40UF
leader_title2 = MPs:
leader_name2 = Ian Liddell-Grainger C, Jeremy Browne LD
established_title = Created
established_date = 1 April 1974
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area_total_km2 = 726.84
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population_as_of = English statistics year‎
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population_total = EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS = 40UF (Ranked EnglishDistrictRank|ONS = 40UF)
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utc_offset=0
timezone_DST=BST
utc_offset_DST=+1
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postal_code_type = Post Code
postal_code = TA4
area_code = 01984
website = http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/
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West Somerset is a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The council covers a largely rural area, with a population of 35,400 in an area of convert|726.84|km2. The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).

The council's administrative headquarters are located in the village of Williton, with an additional office in Minehead.

History

The district was formed on April 1 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.

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.

ettlements

*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

ee also

*Quay West Radio

External links

* [http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/ West Somerset District Council]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset BBC Somerset]
* [http://www.wsscouts.org.uk/ West Somerset Scouts]