Minehead Without / Bratton
Minehead Without / Bratton Location within Somerset
Area	10.31 km2 (3.98 sq mi)
Population	60
• Density	6/km2 (16/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SS945461
Civil parish	Minehead Without
District	Somerset West and Taunton
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Minehead
Postcode district	TA24
Dialling code	01643
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bridgwater and West Somerset

Minehead Without is a civil parish in the English county of Somerset, and within the Exmoor National Park. As its name suggests, the parish covers a rural area to the west of, but not including, the small coastal town of Minehead. The parish's principal settlement is the hamlet of Bratton.^[1]

The parish has an area of 1,031 hectares (2,550 acres) and in the 2001 census had a population of 60 people in 25 households. There is no church within the parish.^[2][3]

The parish was created in 1894 from that part of the civil parish of Minehead which did not become Minehead Urban District.^[4]

Governance

Minehead Without shares a grouped parish council with the civil parish of Selworthy.^[5] The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

The parish falls within the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton, which was established on 1 April 2019. It was previously in the district of West Somerset, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, and part of Williton Rural District before that.^[6] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.

Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.

As Minehead Without falls within the Exmoor National Park some functions normally administered by district or county councils have, since 1997, fallen under the Exmoor National Park Authority, which is known as a ‘single purpose’ authority, which aims to "conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks" and "promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public",^[7] including responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment.^[8]

It is also part of the Bridgwater and West Somerset county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Landmarks

Bratton Court

Bratton Court is a manor house, parts of which date from the 14th century. It has been designated as a grade I listed building.^[9]

References