Tolland, Somerset
Tolland is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north west of Taunton, between the Brendon Hills and Quantock Hills. The parish has a population of 81.
History
The parish of Tolland was part of the Taunton Deane Hundred.Tolland County in Connecticut, USA is named after the village. The connection was Henry Wolcott who emigrated to America and founded a prominent family which included Oliver Wolcott who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
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 village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton and, before this, the district of Taunton Deane. From 1894-1974, for local government purposes, Tolland was part of Taunton Rural District.
It is also part of the Tiverton and Minehead 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.