West of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West of England
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Combined authority region
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Counties | Bristol Gloucestershire Somerset |
| Administrative HQ | Bristol (3 Rivergate, Temple Quay) |
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Unitary authorities
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| Government | |
| • Type | Combined authority Local enterprise partnership |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
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The West of England is an area in South West England located around the River Avon. This region has a special type of local government called a combined authority. This authority includes the areas of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. The combined authority is led by the Mayor of the West of England, who is currently Dan Norris. Bristol is the biggest city in this area. Before 1996, this region was part of a larger area called the County of Avon.
Understanding the West of England Region
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The name "West of England" has been used for a long time, even since the 1700s, to describe the area around Bristol and Bath. For example, the Royal Bath and West of England Society was created in 1790. The Royal West of England Academy also uses this name.
More recently, the term has been used by groups like the West of England Partnership. These groups often use "West of England" to mean the same area that was once the County of Avon (from 1974 to 1996). Some plans for local transport, like Travelwest, also cover this area.
What is a Combined Authority?
The West of England Combined Authority is a special group of local councils that work together. It was first planned to include Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset. However, North Somerset decided not to join.
This combined authority is led by a Mayor. The first mayor was elected in May 2017. The government hopes this combined authority will create a "Western Powerhouse." This idea is similar to the "Northern Powerhouse" in the north of England. It is believed that this plan could bring almost £1 billion (about 1.2 billion US dollars) of new money and projects to the region.
Other Uses of the Name
The name "West of England" is also used by other organizations. For example, the University of the West of England and the Royal West of England Academy are both located in or near Bristol. Many local clubs and volunteer groups, like the West of England Bridge Club, also use this name.
