Avon

Former administrative county of England File links The following pages link to this file: Avon (county) Weston-Super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency) Bath (UK Parliament constituency) Bristol West Bristol North West Bristol South Kingswood (UK Parliament constituency) Northavon (constituency) Wansdyke (UK Parliament constituency) Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency) Bristol East Categories... Image File history File links Avon_1974_Numbered. ... Northavon Bristol Kingswood Woodspring Wansdyke Bath
Administration
Status:	Non-metropolitan county
HQ:	Bristol
History
Created:	1974
Abolished:	1996
Succeeded by:	Bristol South Gloucestershire North Somerset Bath and North East Somerset

The County of Avon was a short-lived non-metropolitan county and ceremonial county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. In 1996 it was split into Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire unitary authorities. The area is still used for some administrative, non-administrative and statistical purposes, and today has a population of approximately one million people. Categories: Stub | South Gloucestershire | Avon ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... Kingswood is a town in South Gloucestershire, England; it is on the eastern outskirts of Bristol (see below). ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... Wansdyke is a dark ages defensive linear earthwork in the West Country of England. ... For other uses, see Bath (disambiguation). ... A shire county or non-metropolitan county in England, is an administrative county which is not a metropolitan county. ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... South Gloucestershire is a local government area in South West England. ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. ... A shire county or non-metropolitan county in England, is an administrative county which is not a metropolitan county. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... The Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge The River Avon is a river in the south west of England. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... South Gloucestershire is a local government area in South West England. ... A unitary authority is a term used in a two-tier local government system to describe a unit of local government that operates as a single tier. ...

Creation

Avon was formed under the Local Government Act 1972, on April 1, 1974. It took in the areas of the former county boroughs of Bristol and Bath, and areas from the administrative counties of Gloucestershire (Kingswood, Mangotsfield, and the rural districts of Warmley, Sodbury (most) and Thornbury (most)), and Somerset (Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Keynsham, Norton-Radstock, Portishead, and the rural districts of Bathavon, Long Ashton, Axbridge (much), and Clutton (much). Like most of the new counties created by the Act, its boundaries were substantially trimmed from its inception, with Frome and Bradford-on-Avon removed from the proposed area. The Local Government Act 1972 (1972 c. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... For other uses, see Bath (disambiguation). ... Kingswood is a town in South Gloucestershire, England; it is on the eastern outskirts of Bristol (see below). ... Mangotsfield is a town in South Gloucestershire, England. ... Thornbury Rural District was a rural district council centred around Thornbury in the south of Gloucestershire. ... Weston-super-Mare is an English seaside resort town in North Somerset, population 65,000 (1991 estimate). ... Map sources for Clevedon at grid reference ST3971 Clevedon Village - circa 1907 Clevedon seafront is extremely windswept, as witnessed by this tree. ... Keynsham (pronounced CANE-shm), is a town between Bristol and Bath in south west England. ... Map sources for Norton Radstock at grid reference ST6854 Norton Radstock is a small conurbation with a population of around 20,000 comprised of the twin towns of Midsomer Norton and Radstock. ... Beth Gibbons, Portishead For the town, see Portishead, Somerset. ... Axbridge was a rural district in Somerset, England from 1894 to 1974. ... For the various rivers and a lake with this name, see Frome (disambiguation) Map sources for Frome at grid reference ST797538 Frome (pronounced ) is a small town in Somerset, England, near the Mendip Hills, with a population of 24,510 (2001 census). ... ...

It had six districts. Bristol and Bath were taken in directly from the former county boroughs. In the north, the Gloucestershire side, the urban districts of Kingswood and Mangotsfield formed a single borough of Kingswood, with the rest becoming Northavon. In the south, there were two districts, Woodspring, on the coast, and Wansdyke, in the interior. Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... For other uses, see Bath (disambiguation). ... Categories: UK geography stubs | South Gloucestershire | Avon | Bristol ... Categories: Stub | South Gloucestershire | Avon ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... Wansdyke is a dark ages defensive linear earthwork in the West Country of England. ...

To the north it bordered Gloucestershire, to the east Wiltshire and to the south Somerset. In the west it had a coast on the Bristol Channel. Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... The location of the Bristol Channel The Severn Bridge and Bristol Channel, looking northwestward from England towards Wales The Bristol Channel coast at Ilfracombe, North Devon, looking west towards Lee Bay The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from South West...

The area of Avon was 1347km² (520mi²) and its population in 1991 was 919,800. Cities and towns in Avon included (in approximate order of population) Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Yate, Clevedon, Portishead, Midsomer Norton & Radstock, Bradley Stoke, Nailsea, Yatton, Keynsham and Thornbury. Bristol (IPA: brÄ­stÉ™l) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... For alternate meanings see Bath (disambiguation) Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in south-west England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ... Weston-super-Mare is an English seaside resort town in North Somerset, population 65,000 (1991 estimate). ... Location within the British Isles The coat of arms of Yate Yate (population 23,000, est. ... Map sources for Clevedon at grid reference ST3971 Clevedon Village - circa 1907 Clevedon seafront is extremely windswept, as witnessed by this tree. ... Map sources for Portishead, Somerset at grid reference ST4676 Portishead (IPA: ) is a coastal town in North Somerset, England. ... Midsomer Norton is a small town in Bath and North East Somerset, lying on the River Somer and the Fosseway Roman road. ... Norton Radstock, often known as Radstock, is a town in North East Somerset, England, near Midsomer Norton. ... Bradley Stoke is an extensive housing estate in South Gloucestershire, England. ... Nailsea is a town in North Somerset, England, about 13 km to the South West of Bristol and about 23 km to the North East of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. ... St Marys Church, Yatton. ... Keynsham (pronounced CANE-shm), is a town between Bristol and Bath in south west England. ... Map sources for Thornbury, South Gloucestershire at grid reference ST637900 Coat of arms of Thornbury Motto: Decus Sabrinae Vallis (Latin: You never expect the spanish inquisition) Thornbury is a historic market town in South Gloucestershire, England, approximately 11 miles (18km) north of the city of Bristol, with a population of...

Demise

It was never a well-loved institution as many Bristolians resented the removal of the "county" title from their city, and some people in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset that were now included in Avon felt they had been cut off from their traditional counties. In particular there was a long-running campaign to return Weston-super-Mare to Somerset. The county did however have a fairly strong rational basis, being largely conterminous with the Bristol 'Travel to Work Area' defined since the 50s/60s for planning purposes. In addition people in the new county, but beyond the Bristol City boundary, were brought within convenient travelling distance of their main county council offices for the first time. The British Isles are divided into the following traditional counties (also vice counties or historic counties). ...

Avon was one of the counties in the "first tranche" of reviews conducted by the Banham Commission in the 1990s. The Commission recommended that it and its districts be abolished and replaced with four unitary authorities. The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995 was debated in the Commons on February 22, 1995.[1] The structure of local government in the United Kingdom underwent large changes in the 1990s. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Order came into effect on 1 April 1996. The four authorities that replaced Avon are: April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

1. The City and County of Bristol
2. South Gloucestershire – formed from Kingswood and Northavon districts.
3. North Somerset – formed from Woodspring district.
4. Bath and North East Somerset – formed from Bath and Wansdyke districts.

For ceremonial purposes, the post of Lord Lieutenant of Avon was abolished, Bristol has regained its own Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff, while the other authorities were returned to their traditional counties. Suggestions to alter Bristol's boundaries (either by drawing new boundaries or by merely incorporating the mostly urbanised borough of Kingswood into it) were rejected. Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London at , . With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most... South Gloucestershire is a local government area in South West England. ... Kingswood is a town in South Gloucestershire, England; it is on the eastern outskirts of Bristol (see below). ... Categories: Stub | South Gloucestershire | Avon ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. ... For other uses, see Bath (disambiguation). ... Wansdyke is a dark ages defensive linear earthwork in the West Country of England. ... The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Avon from the creation of the county in 1974 to its abolition in 1996 was Colonel Sir John Vernon Wills, 4th Baronet, TD, FRICS, JP and he later became Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. ...

Legacy

The demise of the County of Avon was the focus of a documentary called The End of Avon by the BBC produced by Linda Orr and Michael Lund broadcast in 1996. In 2006 Adam Thomas, a BBC Somerset Sound presenter, investigated, for Inside Out West on BBC One, why Avon refuses to die and continues to be included in the databases of large corporations as part of addresses in the area and in names such as Avon Wildlife Trust, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, and Avon Fire and Rescue. Representatives from the organisations said they had no plans to change their names. However, the Royal Mail indicated that it was not necessary to include Avon as part of any address as it had abandoned the use of the former postal county in 1996. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, sometimes also known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, founded in 1922. ... Michael Lund is an award winning Australian journalist at 612 ABC Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. ... BBC Somerset Sound is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Somerset, North Somerset and North-East Somerset. ... BBC One (or BBC1 as it was formerly styled) is the oldest television station in the world. ... The Avon Wildlife Trust aims to protect and promote wildlife in the area of the former county of Avon - now Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. ... Avon & Somerset Constabulary is a police force in England covering the county of Somerset and the districts of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; these districts were the now defunct county of Avon hence the forces name. ... Royal Mails logo Royal Mail is the national postal service of the United Kingdom. ... The postal counties of the United Kingdom, now known officially as the former postal counties, were subdivisions of the UK in routine use by the Royal Mail until 1996. ...

Some bodies still cover the whole area of the former county of Avon - for example the Avon Fire Brigade, the Avon Coroner's District the West of England Strategic Partnership and Intelligence West. Additionally the whole of the area is covered by Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Though there is no longer a joint council, the four unitary authorities still cooperate on many aspects of policy, such as the Joint Local Transport Plan.^[1] Currently, the term "West of England" is used by some organisations to refer to the former Avon area. Avon & Somerset Constabulary is a police force in England covering the county of Somerset and the districts of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; these districts were the now defunct county of Avon hence the forces name. ... Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are an important part of Transportation Planning within the United Kingdom. ...

Arms of Avon County Council

The term CUBA, the "County (or Councils) that Used to Be Avon", was coined - initially as a joke by Avon County Council employee Chris Bahn ^{[citation needed]}- to refer to the Avon area post-abolition of the county. The term Severnside is sometimes used as a euphemism for 'Avon' ^{[citation needed]}, although the term can also be used to refer to the stretch of shoreline from Avonmouth north to Aust, or from Newport to Chepstow. Many computer-generated address lists still give addresses in the area as being in the county of 'Avon', as it is a former postal county (see Postal counties of the United Kingdom). Image File history File links Avonarms. ... Image File history File links Avonarms. ... Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is the third-largest city in Wales (after Cardiff and Swansea). ... Chepstow (Welsh language: Cas-gwent) is a border town straddling the Monmouthshire—Gloucestershire border, situated at the confluence of the River Wye and River Severn on the Severns west bank. ... The postal counties of the United Kingdom, now known officially as the former postal counties, were subdivisions of the UK in routine use by the Royal Mail until 1996. ...

The Forest of Avon is a community forest covering part of the area of the four local authorities. Other relics of Avon's existence include the Avon Cycleway, an 85-mile circular route, which wends its way on quiet roads and bridletracks around (or just beyond) the outer limits of the former county. Also, Avon County Council funded Sustrans' first cycleway, the Bristol and Bath railway path, which led to the creation of the National Cycle Network. Sustrans is a British engineering charity which promotes sustainable transport. ... The first section of the NCN to be built was the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, opened in 1984. ...

See also

• UK topics

This is a list of topics related to the United Kingdom. ...

External links

• Avon: the name that refuses to die
• Bristolians Against Avon (BAA) Campaign
• West of England Partnership
• Intelligence West

References

1. ^ B&NES, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Councils, 2005. "[www.greaterbristoltransportplan.org Greater Bristol Joint Local Transport Plan 2006-2011]."