YATTON WARD

The area of the Yatton Ward covers Yatton, Claverham, Cleeve, Lower Claverham, Kenn, Kingston Bridge and Kingston Seymour to the coast. The total population recorded in the 2001 census was 9176; split almost 50/50 male and female.

We are very fortunate to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty with Cadbury Hill and Yeo Moor as particularly notable examples.

The latest official statistics available are from the 2001 census (soon to be updated!) but still give a good overview of the area we live in. Our Ward has a slightly higher rate of home ownership than the rest of the UK. 94% of residents live in houses and 16% in flats. Compared to national figures a higher proportion of us travel by train than in other parts of the country; hardly surprising given that we have an excellent station with mainline links in all directions. 72% of us are economically active and unemployment is half the national average. Of those who are not economically active half are retired, 10% are studying and the remainder are busy providing a valuable service looking after homes/family or caring for someone sick or disabled.

We live in a very active social area with numerous thriving voluntary clubs and societies. Our cricket, rugby and football clubs attract large numbers of children and adults, with the clubs regularly fielding more than one team in each age group. We have village halls in all the villages providing social hubs with a constant stream of events. We have a range of well attended and welcoming places of worship. We have cubs, brownies, guides, scouts, beavers and rainbows. We have music societies, dance, drama, book clubs, a history society, horticultural society, nurseries, toddler groups, playgroups, Lions, Masons, Rotary, netball, bowls.... (if I left you out, let me know!) Not bad for a village of approx 9000 people.

Thanks to all Jill Iles' efforts, the roads are in far better shape than five years ago (potholes however continue as a national plague!) Extensive stretches of road in the area have been resurfaced, junctions improved and the recent gas main replacement was coordinated with resurfacing work; in the right order! Jill has extended our bus service with a regular service now running from Yatton to Clevedon.

If elected I would very much hope to be able to improve further the vibrant and enviable community in which we all have the privilege of living.

For more Yatton statistics see the North Somerset Council site here.

To see more photos of our villages, click here