Butcombe

Coordinates: 51°21′01″N 2°41′45″W / 51.3504°N 2.6957°W / 51.3504; -2.6957

Butcombe is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. The village is situated just north of Blagdon Lake, in North Somerset. The parish has a population of 218 and mainly consists of family-owned farmland. It no longer has any amenities apart from a telephone kiosk and a letter box.

History

The parish was part of the hundred of Hartcliffe.

The village gave its name to the Butcombe Brewery. The microbrewery was set up in 1978 by Simon Whitmore. In 2003 the business was sold and moved to an industrial estate at Wrington, to be housed in a purpose-built brewery completed in March 2005.

Governance

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, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, 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 of interest to the council.