Sedgemoor

Infobox Settlement
name = Sedgemoor
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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 = Bridgwater
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government_type = Non-metropolitan district
leader_title = Leader
leader_name = Duncan McGinty
leader_title1 = Council
leader_name1 = English district control|ONS=40UC
leader_title2 = MPs:
leader_name2 = Ian Liddell-Grainger C, David Heathcoat-Amory C
established_title = Created
established_date = 1 April 1974
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area_total_km2 = 564.36
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population_as_of = English statistics year‎
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postal_code_type = Post Code
postal_code = TA5-7
area_code = 01278
website = http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk
footnotes =

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.

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". [cite web|url=http://www.emmainteractive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1649&Itemid=906|title=Sedgemoor District Council|publisher=Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy|accessdate=2008-08-04] The name was recorded as "Secgamere" in 1165.

Towns

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

Villages

*Cheddar
*Puriton
*Westonzoyland
*Middlezoy

Rivers

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

Battles

*Battle of Sedgemoor

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.

Governance

edgemoor 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 14th 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.

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. [cite web | url= http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm#B | title= Alphabetical List of Constituencies and Members of Parliament | publisher= House Of Commons Information Office | accessdate= 2008-01-19]

European parliament

Residents of Sedgemoor also form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament. [ cite web | url=http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/southwest.asp | title=UK MEPs for the South West | accessdate = 2008-01-11 | format = | work = European Parliament UK Office ]

References

External links

* [http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ Sedgemoor District Council]
* [http://www.somersetbythesea.co.uk/ Somerset by the Sea (tourism website)]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset BBC Somerset]