Sedgemoor
—  Non-metropolitan district  —
Shown within non-metropolitan Somerset
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South West England
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Admin HQ	Bridgwater
Created	1 April 1974
Government
- Type	Non-metropolitan district
- Leader	Duncan McGinty
- Council	Conservative
- MPs:	Ian Liddell-Grainger C, David Heathcoat-Amory C
Area
- Total	217.9 sq mi (564.36 km2)
Population (2008 est.)
- Total	112,800 (Ranked 189th)
Time zone	GMT (UTC0)
- Summer (DST)	BST (UTC+1)
Post Code	TA5-9
Area code(s)	01278
Website	http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk

Sedgemoor is a local government district of Somerset in England.

A low lying area of land close to sea level between the Quantock and Mendip hills, historically largely marsh (or moor) and contains the bulk of the area also known as the Somerset Levels, including the World's oldest known engineered roadway, the Sweet Track.

The district was formed on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the municipal borough of Bridgwater, the Burnham-on-Sea urban district, Bridgwater Rural District and part of Axbridge Rural District.

[edit] Place-name meaning

Sedgemoor does not mean "sedge moor", but is instead "marsh of a man called Sicga" from the Old Norse personal name Sicga and Old English mor "moor".^[1] The name was recorded as Secgamere in 1165.

[edit] Towns

• Bridgwater - the administrative centre
• Burnham-on-Sea
• North Petherton
• Highbridge
• Axbridge

[edit] Villages

• Cheddar
• Puriton
• Westonzoyland
• Middlezoy

[edit] Parishes

Image	Name	Status	Population	Former local authority	Coordinates	Refs
	Ashcott	Civil Parish	1,280	Bridgwater Rural District	51°07′N 2°49′W / 51.12°N 2.81°W / 51.12; -2.81 (Ashcott)	[2][3]
	Axbridge	Town	2,024	Axbridge Rural District	51°17′N 2°49′W / 51.29°N 2.82°W / 51.29; -2.82 (Axbridge)	[4][3]
	Badgworth	Civil Parish	487	Axbridge Rural District	51°16′N 2°52′W / 51.27°N 2.87°W / 51.27; -2.87 (Badgworth)	[4][3]
	Bawdrip	Civil Parish	498	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 2°56′W / 51.15°N 2.94°W / 51.15; -2.94 (Bawdrip)	[2][3]
	Berrow	Civil Parish	1,766	Axbridge Rural District	51°16′N 3°01′W / 51.27°N 3.01°W / 51.27; -3.01 (Berrow, Somerset)	[4][3]
	Brean	Civil Parish	682	Axbridge Rural District	51°18′N 3°01′W / 51.30°N 3.01°W / 51.30; -3.01 (Brean)	[4][3]
	Brent Knoll	Civil Parish	1,264	Axbridge Rural District	51°15′N 2°57′W / 51.25°N 2.95°W / 51.25; -2.95 (Brent Knoll)	[4][3]
	Bridgwater	Town	33,698	Bridgwater Municipal Borough	51°08′N 2°59′W / 51.13°N 2.99°W / 51.13; -2.99 (Bridgwater)	[5][3]
	Bridgwater Without	Civil Parish	405	Bridgwater Rural District		[2][3]
	Broomfield	Civil Parish	224	Bridgwater Rural District	51°05′N 3°07′W / 51.08°N 3.11°W / 51.08; -3.11 (Broomfield, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Burnham on Sea and Highbridge	Town	18,922	Burnham on Sea Urban District	51°14′N 2°59′W / 51.24°N 2.99°W / 51.24; -2.99 (Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge)	[6][3]
	Burnham Without	Civil Parish	796	Axbridge Rural District	51°14′N 2°58′W / 51.23°N 2.96°W / 51.23; -2.96 (Burnham Without)	[4][3]
	Burtle	Civil Parish	462	Bridgwater Rural District	51°10′N 2°52′W / 51.17°N 2.87°W / 51.17; -2.87 (Burtle)	[2][3]
	Cannington	Civil Parish	2,466	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 3°04′W / 51.15°N 3.07°W / 51.15; -3.07 (Cannington, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Catcott	Civil Parish	517	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 2°52′W / 51.15°N 2.87°W / 51.15; -2.87 (Catcott)	[2][3]
	Chapel Allerton	Civil Parish	344	Axbridge Rural District	51°15′N 2°51′W / 51.25°N 2.85°W / 51.25; -2.85 (Chapel Allerton, Somerset)	[4][3]
	Cheddar	Civil Parish	5,274	Axbridge Rural District	51°17′N 2°47′W / 51.28°N 2.78°W / 51.28; -2.78 (Cheddar)	[4][3]
	Chedzoy	Civil Parish	427	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 2°57′W / 51.13°N 2.95°W / 51.13; -2.95 (Chedzoy)	[2][3]
	Chilton Polden	Civil Parish	678	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 2°54′W / 51.15°N 2.90°W / 51.15; -2.90 (Chilton Polden)	[2][3]
	Chilton Trinity	Civil Parish	233	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 3°01′W / 51.15°N 3.01°W / 51.15; -3.01 (Chilton Trinity)	[2][3]
	Compton Bishop	Civil Parish	609	Axbridge Rural District	51°18′N 2°52′W / 51.30°N 2.87°W / 51.30; -2.87 (Compton Bishop)	[4][3]
	Cossington	Civil Parish	578	Bridgwater Rural District	51°10′N 2°55′W / 51.16°N 2.92°W / 51.16; -2.92 (Cossington, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Durleigh	Civil Parish	609	Bridgwater Rural District	51°07′N 3°02′W / 51.12°N 3.04°W / 51.12; -3.04 (Durleigh)	[2][3]
	East Brent	Civil Parish	1,261	Axbridge Rural District	51°16′N 2°56′W / 51.26°N 2.94°W / 51.26; -2.94 (East Brent, Somerset)	[4][3]
	East Huntspill	Civil Parish	1,179	Bridgwater Rural District	51°12′N 2°59′W / 51.20°N 2.98°W / 51.20; -2.98 (Huntspill)	[2][3]
	Edington	Civil Parish	365	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 2°53′W / 51.15°N 2.88°W / 51.15; -2.88 (Edington, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Enmore	Civil Parish	253	Bridgwater Rural District	51°07′N 3°05′W / 51.11°N 3.09°W / 51.11; -3.09 (Enmore, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Fiddington	Civil Parish	243	Bridgwater Rural District	51°10′N 3°07′W / 51.16°N 3.12°W / 51.16; -3.12 (Fiddington)	[2][3]
	Goathurst	Civil Parish	222	Bridgwater Rural District	51°06′N 3°04′W / 51.10°N 3.06°W / 51.10; -3.06 (Goathurst)	[2][3]
	Greinton	Civil Parish	71	Bridgwater Rural District	51°07′N 2°50′W / 51.12°N 2.84°W / 51.12; -2.84 (Greinton)	[2][3]
	Lympsham	Civil Parish	872	Axbridge Rural District	51°17′N 2°57′W / 51.29°N 2.95°W / 51.29; -2.95 (Lympsham)	[4][3]
	Lyng	Civil Parish	334	Bridgwater Rural District	51°03′N 2°58′W / 51.05°N 2.96°W / 51.05; -2.96 (Lyng, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Mark	Civil Parish	1,349	Axbridge Rural District	51°14′N 2°53′W / 51.23°N 2.89°W / 51.23; -2.89 (Mark, Somerset)	[4][3]
	Middlezoy	Civil Parish	720	Bridgwater Rural District	51°05′N 2°53′W / 51.09°N 2.89°W / 51.09; -2.89 (Middlezoy)	[2][3]
	Moorlinch	Civil Parish	233	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 2°52′W / 51.13°N 2.86°W / 51.13; -2.86 (Moorlinch)	[2][3]
	Nether Stowey	Civil Parish	1,423	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 3°09′W / 51.15°N 3.15°W / 51.15; -3.15 (Nether Stowey)	[2][3]
	North Petherton	Civil Parish	5,185	Bridgwater Rural District	51°05′N 3°01′W / 51.09°N 3.01°W / 51.09; -3.01 (North Petherton)	[2][3]
	Othery	Civil Parish	567	Bridgwater Rural District	51°05′N 2°53′W / 51.08°N 2.88°W / 51.08; -2.88 (Othery)	[2][3]
	Otterhampton	Civil Parish	914	Bridgwater Rural District	51°11′N 3°05′W / 51.18°N 3.08°W / 51.18; -3.08 (Otterhampton)	[2][3]
	Over Stowey	Civil Parish	494	Bridgwater Rural District	51°09′N 3°09′W / 51.15°N 3.15°W / 51.15; -3.15 (Over Stowey)	[2][3]
	Pawlett	Civil Parish	1,020	Bridgwater Rural District	51°11′N 3°00′W / 51.18°N 3.00°W / 51.18; -3.00 (Pawlett, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Puriton	Civil Parish	2,124	Bridgwater Rural District	51°10′N 2°58′W / 51.17°N 2.97°W / 51.17; -2.97 (Puriton)	[2][3]
	Shapwick	Civil Parish	520	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 2°50′W / 51.14°N 2.83°W / 51.14; -2.83 (Shapwick, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Shipham	Civil Parish	1,136	Axbridge Rural District	51°19′N 2°48′W / 51.31°N 2.80°W / 51.31; -2.80 (Shipham)	[4][3]
	Spaxton	Civil Parish	1,014	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 3°07′W / 51.13°N 3.11°W / 51.13; -3.11 (Spaxton)	[2][3]
	Stawell	Civil Parish	365	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 2°55′W / 51.14°N 2.91°W / 51.14; -2.91 (Stawell, Somerset)	[2][3]
	Stockland Bristol	Civil Parish	172	Bridgwater Rural District	51°11′N 3°05′W / 51.19°N 3.08°W / 51.19; -3.08 (Stockland Bristol)	[2][3]
	Thurloxton	Civil Parish	163	Bridgwater Rural District	51°04′N 3°02′W / 51.07°N 3.04°W / 51.07; -3.04 (Thurloxton)	[2][3]
	Weare	Civil Parish	626	Axbridge Rural District	51°16′N 2°50′W / 51.27°N 2.84°W / 51.27; -2.84 (Weare, Somerset)	[4][3]
	Wedmore	Civil Parish	3,111	Axbridge Rural District	51°14′N 2°49′W / 51.23°N 2.81°W / 51.23; -2.81 (Wedmore)	[4][3]
	Wembdon	Civil Parish	1,887	Bridgwater Rural District	51°08′N 3°01′W / 51.13°N 3.02°W / 51.13; -3.02 (Wembdon)	[2][3]
	West Huntspill	Civil Parish	1,480	Bridgwater Rural District	51°12′N 2°59′W / 51.20°N 2.98°W / 51.20; -2.98 (Huntspill)	[2][3]
	Westonzoyland	Civil Parish	1,830	Bridgwater Rural District	51°07′N 2°55′W / 51.11°N 2.92°W / 51.11; -2.92 (Westonzoyland)	[2][3]
	Woolavington	Civil Parish	2,256	Bridgwater Rural District	51°10′N 2°56′W / 51.17°N 2.93°W / 51.17; -2.93 (Woolavington)	[2][3]

[edit] Rivers

• River Parrett
• River Brue
• River Huntspill
• King's Sedgemoor Drain

[edit] Battles

• Battle of Sedgemoor 1685

[edit] Industry

Light industry now predominates, but traditional trades include peat extraction, willow crafts and cider making can still be found, in addition to livestock farming. The River Parrett provides a source of eels (anguilla anguilla) and elvers during January through to May.

However also notable is the new Isleport trading estate at Highbridge which houses many global businesses such as Geest (Isleport Foods) who make yoghurt under franchise to Ski & Muller, Brake Brothers who supply the catering trade, BFP wholesale who supply dry goods to bakeries etc, Woodbury & Haines who supply furniture globally, Polybeam Limited who supply GRP radio masts to customers such as Marconi, and also AT&T whose centre there controls all internet cable traffic to and from the US

Industry in Bridgwater has also seen major growth recently with the opening of "Express Park" which houses Gerber Foods who are a global fruit juice supplier, NHS Logistics depot and Eddie Stobart depot. Also south of Bridgwater at Huntworth is a large Somerfield depot which supplies their Somerfield and former Kwik Save stores in the south west.

[edit] Governance

[edit] Sedgemoor District Council

Sedgemoor District Council has traditionally been Conservative run since its creation in 1974 when it was merged with the old Bridgwater & Burnham-On-Sea Urban District Councils. Past voting trends have placed strong cores of Labour voters in Bridgwater Town, with Conservative support coming from the Villages such as Pawlett, Wedmore and Shipham. Liberal Democrats fared well in Burnham and Highbridge areas. In 1995, the Liberal Democrats and Labour took 26 seats together, out-numbering the Conservatives 24 seats, and they formed a coalition. This continued until 1999, when the Conservatives re-took Sedgemoor, crushing the Liberal Democrats from 12 seats, to just 2. The Liberal Democrats lost even their safe seat of Highbridge to Labour.

In 2000, a Conservative Councillor died, and a By-Election was called in his seat of Huntpsill and Pawlett. Previous Liberal Democrat Councillor Marilyn Wallace fought the seat, and re-took it with 56% of the vote, bringing the Liberal Democrats back up to 3 seats.

In 2003, the Conservatives extended their majority to 35 seats of 50, leaving the Liberal Democrats on just 1 Seat, Which was held by long term veteran Liberal Democrat, Mike Mansfield, who actually took the seat from the Conservatives in Burnham South, a previously Liberal Democrat safe seat. Labour remained on 14.

In 2007, the Conservatives held a status quo of 35 seats, however the Liberal Democrats gained 3 up to 4 total, all of which were in their traditional safe seat of Highbridge. This included the election of their youngest Councillor in the South west, Councillor Joe Leach, who was aged just 19 years. Mike Mansfield was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, until the untimely death of his wife. Newly elected Councillor Danny Titcombe then was elected leader of the Group. on April 14 2008, Cllr. Danny Titcombe announced his defection to the Conservative Party, effectively boosting their majority to 36 seats. Despite calls of resignation from all sides, Cllr. Titcombe continued in his role. At 20 Years old, Cllr Joe Leach became the youngest group Leader in the Country, and still continues to lead his party on the Council at 21. The Labour Party dropped to 11 seats, losing 2 in highbridge to the Liberal Democrats, and 1 in Bridgwater Bower to the Conservatives. The Conservatives lost 1 in Highbridge to the Liberal Democrats (before defection).

The Conservative Leader is Cllr. Duncan McGinty, who is also leader of council. He succeeded Cllr. John Lang in 2006. The Labour Group Leader is Cllr. Roger Lavers, who succeeded Cllr. John Turner in 1999.

[edit] Members of UK parliament

The area is falls within the Bridgwater and Wells county constituencies which are represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system of election. Following its review of parliamentary representation in Somerset, the Boundary Commission for England has finalised the proposals which expands the existing Bridgwater seat into a new Bridgwater and West Somerset division. The current MP for Bridgewater is Ian Liddell-Grainger, and for Wells is David Heathcoat-Amory, both are members of the Conservatives.^[7]

[edit] European parliament

Residents of Sedgemoor also form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament.^[8]

[edit] Education

Schools (those which are not independent) in Sedgemoor are operated the Children & Young People's Directorate of Somerset County Council, although some such as The Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar have distanced themselves from the county council by opting for foundation status.

[edit] See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in Sedgemoor

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sedgemoor District Council
• Somerset by the Sea (tourism website)

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