Holton, Somerset
Holton is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on the A303 road south west of Wincanton. The village has a population of 238.
History
The parish of Holton was part of the Whitley Hundred.The route of the A303 has been changed a couple of times. The oldest route passes through the centre of the village past the Old Inn, and is a narrow lane. The village was bypassed by a new route a hundred yards to the north, and has since been bypassed again by the creation of a dual carriageway a few yards further north. To reach Holton it is necessary to leave the modern A303 at Wincanton or, if arriving from the west, leave at Blackford, then join the older route.
Governance
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept 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, 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 and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of South Somerset. It was part of Wincanton Rural District before 1974.
It is also part of the Glastonbury and Somerton county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.