Buckland St Mary - 01823 421232

Buckland St Mary is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated 6mi to the west of Ilminster and 8mi south of Taunton in the South Somerset district, close to the A303. The village has a population of 521. The parish is within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes the hamlet of Birchwood.HistoryNearby is Castle Neroche a Norman motte-and-bailey castle on the site of an earlier hill fort.The name of the village is thought to mean "land granted by charter" with the addition of the church's dedication.Buckland was part of the hundred of Abdick and Bulstone.The village was chosen as Village of the Year for Somerset in the Calor 2008 competition.GovernanceThe parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) 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 (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

Tags: Landmark & Historical Place