Table of Contents

Background
See also
References

West of England

NameWest of England
TypeCombined authority region
Image CaptionTop left to bottom right: Bristol, Bath, Clifton, Kingswood and Filton
Image Map
Subdivision TypeSovereign state
Subdivision NameUnited Kingdom
Subdivision Type1Country
Subdivision Name1England
Subdivision Type2Region
Subdivision Name2South West England
Subdivision Type3Counties
Subdivision Name3Bristol
Gloucestershire
Somerset
PartsUnitary authorities
P1Bristol
P2South Gloucestershire
P3Bath and North East Somerset
Seat TypeAdministrative HQ
SeatBristol
(3 Rivergate, Temple Quay)
Government TypeCombined authority
Local enterprise partnership
Leader TitleBody
Leader NameWest of England Combined Authority
Leader Title1Mayor
Leader Name1Helen Godwin (Labour)
Unit PrefImperial
Population Density Km2auto
TimezoneGreenwich Mean Time
Utc Offset+0
Timezone DstBritish Summer Time
Utc Offset Dst+1
Websitewww.westofengland-ca.gov.uk

The West of England is an area of South West England around the River Avon. The area has a local government combined authority that consists of the unitary authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. The combined authority is led by the Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin. The city of Bristol is the region's largest population centre. Before the region, from 1974 until 1996, the area was under the County of Avon with North Somerset.

Background

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The term has been used in the Bristol and Bath area since at least the 18th century. The Royal Bath and West of England Society was named the Bath and West of England Society in 1790. The Royal West of England Academy received its present title in 1913. More recently the term has been used by organisations such as the West of England Partnership, Connexions West of England, and the West of England Sport Trust, as a synonym for the former Avon area, which existed as a local government unit between 1974 and 1996. Some aspects of transport planning and policy are coordinated using the Travelwest logo.

The West of England Combined Authority is a combined authority for the area, originally intended to comprise the local authorities of the former county of Avon, including Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset, but North Somerset declined to participate. The combined authority is led by a Mayor, following the first election in May 2017. The government's stated vision is to create a "Western Powerhouse" analogous to the government's Northern Powerhouse concept. It is said that the proposal could bring nearly £1 billion of investment to the region.

The term is also used by the University of the West of England, the Royal West of England Academy, and by voluntary groups and clubs such as the West of England Bridge Club, all of which are based in or near Bristol.

See also


References


Category:West Country
Category:Avon (county)
Category:Regions of England
Category:Politics of Bristol
Category:Politics of Bath and North East Somerset
Category:Politics of South Gloucestershire District