Issued: 24 June 2010
Community Profile: West Somerset, Wellington & Local Service Team (LST) areas Wiveliscombe LST area
This area profile pulls together a range of information about the West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area and the people who live there.
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The West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe Local Service Team (LST) area comprises West Somerset district and the western part of Taunton Deane. It encompasses 66 parishes in a predominantly rural and hilly landscape stretching from Exmoor in the West to the Parrott estuary in the East, and is bordered to the north by the Bristol Channel. The largest towns are Minehead and Wellington.
The population of 66,665 is widely dispersed over an area of 97,490 hectares, and the population density of 0.7 per hectare is less than half the county average. There are 27,319 households, 13% of the Somerset total.
As a whole, the area has a relatively high proportion of retired people and faces challenges arising from an ageing population, as well as a shortage of skills and relative lack of access to services and affordable housing. There are also pockets of multiple deprivation in Watchet and Williton.
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 1 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
People and Place Compared with Somerset as a whole, the West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area has higher proportions of each age group above 50. More people are in the 60-64 age group, men and women, than any other five-year group.
In particular, there is a relatively small proportion of people aged 25-39, more so than in any other LST area. However, Alcombe East's profile is skewed towards 20-somethings.
Population combined by age and sex
Source: NHS (Jan 2010)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 2 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
People and Place (continued) Three in ten people in this area are of retirement age, well above the national average. While the proportion of people not classified as White British is typical of Somerset, a relatively high proportion of this group are in the White (non-British) ethnic group.
Population profile: Gender England & Area Somerset South West Wales % % % % Males 48.03 48.84 49.03 49.19 Females 51.97 51.16 50.97 50.81 Source: NHS (Jan 2010)
Population profile: Age England & Area Somerset South West Wales % % % % Under 5 4.63 5.31 5.36 6.06 5 - 15 11.85 12.54 12.34 12.72 Working age (M 16-64, F 16-59) 53.65 57.35 59.80 61.97 M 65 - 74, F 60-74 17.05 14.59 12.98 11.41 75+ 12.82 10.21 9.51 7.84 Source: NHS (Jan 2010)
BME Population Total Area Somerset South West England Number 1,663 14,485 226,832 6,391,695 % total 2.7 2.9 4.6 13.0 Source: Census (2001)
Population Ethnicity Profile (%)
Source: Census (2001)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 3 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
People and Place (continued) Around one in four households contain dependent children, below the county, regional and national averages.
The proportion of the area's population living in one of the 20% most deprived parts of the country is also smaller than the corresponding figures for Somerset, the South West and England. However, there are problems with accessibility to services and affordable housing in the more rural parts of the area.
Overall satisfaction with where they live is very high.
Households with dependent children England & Area Somerset South West Wales Number 6,688 57,631 569,572 6,388,261 % all households 24.5 27.4 27.3 29.5 Source: Census (2001)
Households with dependent children and lone parent England & Area Somerset South West Wales Number 1,281 10,769 113,037 1,399,939 % all households 4.7 5.1 5.4 6.5 Source: Census (2001)
Priority Areas Area Somerset South West England Population weighted IMD Score 18.9 16 18 22 % people living in 20% most deprived 1.8 4.0 9.2 19.9 areas of England Source: NeSS (2007)
Overall satisfaction with where you live Area Somerset South West England % very or fairly satisfied 87 86 85 80 Source: Place Survey (2008)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 4 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
People and Place (continued) The West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area contains a high proportion relative to the national average of households classified by Mosaic as “people living in rural areas far from urbanisation”. The most prominent types include some of those also commonly found in Somerset as a whole, particularly those occupied by “smallholders and self-employed farmers living beyond the reach of urban commuters” and “low-income farmers struggling on thin soils in isolated upland locations”.
Neighbourhood Types
Source: Mosaic (2005)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 5 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Making a Positive Contribution People living in this area have a relatively strong sense of belonging to their local neighbourhood and high tendency to do unpaid work as part of a voluntary organisation. In both cases, the figures are above the county, South West and England norms. However, feelings of belonging and involvement are weaker in Williton, Watchet, Alcombe East and Bradford-on-Tone.
Feel they can influence decisions in their local area Area Somerset South West England % definitely/tend to agree 27 28 27 29 Source: Place Survey (2008)
Feel they belong to their neighbourhood Area Somerset South West England % very/fairly strongly 70 63 62 59 Source: Place Survey (2008)
Participate regularly in voluntary work Area Somerset South West Eng/Wal % at least once a month 33 30 28 23 Source: Place Survey (2008)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 6 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Living Sustainably Although members of the population are very positive about the quality of their local environment, improved affordable decent housing is also high on their list of priorities relative to other parts of Somerset and, especially, the country as a whole.
This is supported by the above-average figures on barriers to housing and services. Half the people live in one of the 20% worst areas in the country for accessibility, well above the county norm. This affects the majority of wards in the LST area.
Affordable housing needs improving Area Somerset South West England % saying this is one of the top 5 areas 39 31 29 22 needing improvement
Source: Place Survey (2008)
Satisfaction with Quality of Environment Area Somerset % very/fairly satisfied 89 84 Source: Place Survey (2008)
Barriers to Housing & Services (people living in areas of England with the greatest problems) Area Somerset South West England Population weighted Score 34.4 23.4 24.9 22.0 % 50.4 24.7 26.0 20.7 Source: NeSS (2007)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 7 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Ensuring Economic Wellbeing Household income is 16% below the national average but on a par with Somerset as a whole. Nobody lives in an area with particular problems of income deprivation affecting older people. Rates of Job Seeker’s Allowance claimants are below the South West and England averages.
Household Income West Somerset using District area Somerset South West England District Council £ per week 439.0 443.1 460.6 522.0 Source: Nomis (2009)
Income Deprivation affecting Children (children under 16 living in households reliant on means-tested benefits) Area Somerset South West England % living in 20% most deprived parts of 1.8 4.9 7.9 20.1 England Source: NeSS (2007)
Income Deprivation affecting Older People (older people living in households reliant on means-tested benefits) Area Somerset South West England % living in 20% most deprived parts of 0.0 3.2 7.6 20.1 England Source: NeSS (2007)
No Access to car or van Area Somerset South West England % 17.2 17.6 17.0 24.0 Source: Census (2001)
Claimants of Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)
Source: Nomis (Sep 2009)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 8 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Ensuring Economic Wellbeing (continued) The West Somerset area population has a lower level of educational qualification than the Somerset, South West and national averages.
However, the proportion of 16-19s not in Education, Employment or Training is also small relative to the region and England generally. The numbers of new businesses and VAT registrations per head are again well below the national norm although five-year survival rates of new businesses are in line with those elsewhere.
Qualifications and Training
using West Somerset District Council data Source: CLG (2008) / Connexions (Dec-09)
Births and Deaths of Enterprises Number per 10,000 adults West Somerset England & using District area Somerset South West District Council Wales Births of Enterprises 32.9 52.1 67.5 73.6 Deaths of Enterprises 39.5 45.0 58.2 59.8 5-Year Survival Rate of new Enterprises 47.4 48.5 49.3 46.4 % Source: ONS (2008)
VAT Registrations and Deregistrations Number per 10,000 adults West Somerset using District area Somerset South West Great Britain District Council VAT Registrations 29.7 39.1 54.6 54.7 VAT Deregistrations 29.7 31.0 40.2 39.1 NET Increase 0.00 8.10 14.40 15.60 Source: Nomis (2007)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 9 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Enjoying and Achieving Attainment in this LST area by children at the Early Years Foundation Stage is slightly higher than county, regional and national averages. However, the opposite is true at GCSE level.
A very high proportion of the population believe that older people are able to receive the support needed to maintain independent living. Indeed, West Somerset district has one of the highest figures in the country.
Achievement at School
Source: Somerset County Council (2008/9)
Older People living at home Area Somerset South West England
% believe that older people are able to get services/support they need to live at 42 34 33 30 home for as long as they wish
Source: Place Survey (2008)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 10 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Staying Safe The serious acquisitive crime rate per head is below the county average. People in this LST area are more likely than those elsewhere in Somerset to feel safe outdoors after dark. However, this is not true everywhere; perceptions of safety are lower in Williton, Watchet and parts of Wellington.
Serious Acquisitive Crime Area Somerset South West Eng/Wal Rate per 100,000 621.6 800.1 Source: Avon & Somerset Constabulary (Sep 2008 - Aug 2009)
Feeling Safe after dark Area Somerset South West England % feel very/fairly safe 70 59 60 51 Source: Place Survey (2008)
This area contains many rural roads, including those crossing the hills and moors which characterise the local landscape. The main routes, which become busier during the summer tourist season, are the A39 and A358, whilst the A38 and M5 also pass through the south-east corner of the patch.
Road casualty rates per head of population are slightly below the county average, but injuries tend to be more serious.
Road Casualties Area Somerset South West Great Britain Number killed, seriously or slightly injured in road traffic accidents 885.2 976 n/a 1,244.7 (rate per 100,000 people)
Source: Road Safety Partnership (2006 - 2008)
Alcohol-related Hospital Admissions Area Somerset South West Eng/Wal Number per 100,000 people 1303.0 1300.0 Source: NHS (Apr 2006 - Dec 2009)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 11 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Staying Safe (continued) Perceptions of community cohesion are positive compared with Somerset, the South West and England as a whole. This area’s population are more likely than average to agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together and less likely to perceive problems with people not treating each other with respect and consideration.
The rate of deliberate fires per population is below the county average.
Community Cohesion
Source: Place Survey (2008)
Deliberate Fires England & Area Somerset South West Wales Number per 1,000 people 0.9 1.6 2.4 3.7 Source: Devon & Somerset Fire Rescue Services (2008/9)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 12 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Being Healthy The limiting long-term illness rate amongst under-65s is better than in the country generally but broadly in line with the county and region averages.
Life Expectancy at Birth Area Somerset Males 79.3 78.8 Females 83.1 83.0 Source: NHS (2004 - 2008)
Limiting Long-term Illness England & Area Somerset South West Wales % under-65s 12.0 10.9 12.4 14.2 Source: Census (2001)
Child Obesity Area Somerset % Reception age children 8.00 8.70 % Year 6 children 17.30 16.70 Source: NHS (2008 - 2009)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 13 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Being Healthy (continued) This area is typical of Somerset in terms of mortality rates in comparison with what might be expected. However, hospital admission rates for diabetes are relatively low.
The following data are Age standardised rates per 100,000 Area Somerset All age, all cause mortality 535.5 551.4
All cause mortality, under 75 years 261.8 258.5
Mortality from all circulatory diseases, 58.3 62.5 under 75 years Mortality from all cancers, under 75 106.4 104.0 years Hospital admissions for diabetes, all 73.0 103.0 ages
Emergency hospital admissions for hip 440.0 435.0 fracture, 65 years or over
Source: NHS (varied dates - see User Guide)
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 14 - West Somerset, Wellington & Wiveliscombe LST area
Local Area Map
no map available
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Somerset County Council) (100038382) (2009)
NOTES: This report is one of eight focusing on each of Somerset’s Local Service Team (LST) areas, produced by the Partnership Intelligence Unit (PIU), based at Somerset County Council.
It brings together data from a variety of sources including the Office of National Statistics, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, NHS Somerset and the latest Somerset Place Survey. The measures featured in the report were agreed by public sector partners as collectively summarising the different areas of the county. For a more detailed description of the measures, please go to the User Guide.
All Community Profiles produced by the PIU are available from the Somerset Intelligence Network (SINe) website www.sine.org.uk.
SINe is a network of professionals working for a range of organisations across Somerset, whose aim is to gather and use information effectively to support policy-making and improve the quality of life for people living in the county. SINe is part of the South West Observatory and is hosted by the Somerset Strategic Partnership.
A separate User Guide contains a detailed description of the statistics. - 15 -