View source for Mid Devon

{{About|the district|the constituency|Mid Devon (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} 
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{coord|50.900|-3.490|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
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| timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset              = 0
| timezone_DST            = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +1

<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->
| settlement_type         = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Non-metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_type4       = Status
| subdivision_type5       = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[England]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| government_type         = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title            = 
| leader_title1           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| established_title1      = Formed
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicity
| blank1_name             = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_name             = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]

<!-- Elements unique to this article -->
| official_name           = Mid Devon District
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Mid Devon District Council.svg
| shield_size             = 100px
| shield_alt              = Coat of arms
| shield_link             = 
| image_map               = Mid Devon UK locator map.svg
| mapsize                 = 150px
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Mid Devon shown within Devon
| subdivision_name2       = [[South West England]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Devon]]
| subdivision_name5       = [[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]]
| established_date1       = 1 April 1974
| governing_body          = Mid Devon District Council
| leader_party            = 
| leader_name             = 
| leader_name1            = [[Richard Foord]]<br/>[[Rachel Gilmour]]<br/>[[Mel Stride]]
| area_total_km2          = 912.9
| area_rank               = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000042}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_total        = {{English district population|GSS=E07000042}}
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank         = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000042}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_blank1       = 99.2% White
| blank1_info             = 18UD (ONS)<br />E07000042 (GSS)
| blank2_info             = {{gbmappingsmall|SS9523512287}} 
}}
'''Mid Devon''' is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] in [[Devon]], England. The council is based in the district's largest town of [[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]]. The district also contains the towns of [[Bampton, Devon|Bampton]], [[Bradninch]], [[Crediton]] and [[Cullompton]], along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. Part of the district lies within the [[Blackdown Hills National Landscape|Blackdown Hills]], an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]].

The neighbouring districts are [[East Devon]], [[Teignbridge]], [[West Devon]], [[Torridge District|Torridge]], [[North Devon]] and [[Somerset]].

==History==
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the area of four former districts which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
*[[Crediton Rural District]]
*[[Crediton]] [[Urban district (England and Wales)|Urban District]]
*[[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]] [[Municipal Borough]]
*[[Tiverton Rural District]]
The new district was initially named Tiverton, after its largest town.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The district was renamed Mid Devon with effect from 6 February 1978 by resolution of the district council.<ref>{{cite book |title=Alterations in status and area of local authorities for period February 1978–September 1978 |date=1978 |publisher=Department of the Environment |location=London |page=2 |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221201180357mp_/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/17527/change-bulletin-1978-feb-to-sept.pdf |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=47488 |date=14 March 1978 |page=3251 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Mid Devon shares borders with several other Devon districts as well as the county of [[Somerset]]. Neighbouring districts include [[Exeter]], [[East Devon]], [[North Devon]], [[Teignbridge]], [[West Devon]] and [[Torridge District|Torridge]]. The area of Mid Devon, according to the Office for National Statistics Census table KS101EW is 91293.48 hectares, or 912.9348 sq kilometres, or 352.5 square miles.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/KS101EW/view/1946157360?cols=measures | title=Data Viewer - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics }}</ref>

===Rivers===
The [[River Exe|Exe]], the [[River Culm|Culm]], the [[River Yeo (Lapford)|Yeo]], the [[River Dalch|Dalch]], the [[Little Dart River|Little Dart]], the [[River Taw|Taw]], the [[River Dart|Dart]], the [[Brockley River|Brockley]], the [[River Creedy|Creedy]] and the [[Spratford Stream]] flow through the district.

===Raddon Top===
[[Raddon Top]] (772&nbsp;ft.) is the highest point of the Raddon Hills. Excavations at the summit in 1994 uncovered traces of [[Early Iron Age]] settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110392/1.html |title=Devon Libraries Local Studies Shobroke Community Page, 22 February 2005 |access-date=16 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302184240/http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110392/1.html |archive-date=2 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Mid Devon District Council
| logo_pic           = Mid Devon District Council logo.svg
| logo_res           = 100px
| house_type         = Non-metropolitan district council
| foundation         = 1 April 1974
| leader1_type       = [[Chairperson|Chair]]
| leader1            = Gordon Czapiewski
| party1             = <br>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1          = 7 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 7 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=1967 |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Luke Taylor
| party2             = <br>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election2          = 24 May 2023
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Stephen Walford<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the leadership team |url=https://www.middevon.gov.uk/your-council/how-the-council-works/meet-the-leadership-team/ |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = 2016
| members            = 42 councillors
| structure1         = Mid Devon District Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res     = 280
| political_groups1 = 
;Administration (34)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (34)}}
;Other parties (7)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1)
;Vacant (1)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Casual vacancy}}|border=darkgray}} Vacant (1)
| joint_committees   = 
| voting_system1     = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| last_election1     = [[2023 Mid Devon District Council election|4 May 2023]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       = Tiverton , Phoenix House - geograph.org.uk - 2750487.jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, EX16{{nbsp}}6PP
| website            = {{URL|www.middevon.gov.uk}}
| constitution       = [https://www.middevon.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-democracy/constitution/ The Constitution of Mid Devon District Council]
| footnotes          =
}}

Mid Devon District Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Devon County Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The whole district is also covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] majority control since the [[2023 Mid Devon District Council election|2023 election]].

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Mid Devon" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=hold>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/18ud.stm | title = Mid Devon | accessdate = 2010-02-17 | work = [[BBC News Online]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1974–1995
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} ||1995–1999
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1999–2023
|-
|{{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 2023–present 
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 2008 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Peter Hare-Scott<ref>{{cite web |title=Five former councillors become Honorary Aldermen |url=https://www.middevon.gov.uk/five-former-councillors-become-honorary-aldermen/ |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=20 December 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 2008 || align=right|29 Oct 2014
|-
| Clive Eginton<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 29 October 2014 |url=https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=156&MeetingId=252&DF=29%2f10%2f2014&Ver=2 |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Councillor Clive Eginton appointed new leader of Mid Devon District Council |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11578205.Councillor_Clive_Eginton_appointed_new_leader_of_Mid_Devon_District_Council/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |work=Somerset County Gazette |date=4 November 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|29 Oct 2014 || align=right|May 2019
|-
| Bob Deed<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 May 2019 |url=https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=1003 |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref><ref name=Heptinstall/> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|22 May 2019 || align=right|22 Feb 2023
|-
| Barry Warren<ref name=Heptinstall>{{cite news |last1=Heptinstall |first1=Ollie |title=New Mid Devon leader appointed after predecessor resigns |url=https://www.middevonadvertiser.co.uk/news/new-mid-devon-leader-appointed-after-predecessor-resigns-596978 |access-date=30 July 2023 |work=Mid Devon Advertiser |date=23 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 February 2023 |url=https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=1659 |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|22 Feb 2023 || align=right|May 2023
|-
| Luke Taylor<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2023 |url=https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=1661 |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|24 May 2023 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2023 Mid Devon District Council election|2023 election]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|work=The Guardian}}</ref> and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Mid Devon |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=mid_devon |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|34
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center|1
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Casual vacancy}}
| align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|42
|}
A by-election to fill the vacant seat is due in June 2025. Otherwise, the next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Elections===
{{see also|Mid Devon District Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 [[councillor]]s, representing 22 [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Mid Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2021|year=2021|number=889|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>

===Premises===
Since January 2004 the council has been based at a modern office building called Phoenix House on Phoenix Lane in Tiverton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact details and opening hours |url=https://www.middevon.gov.uk/your-council/customer-services/contact-details-and-opening-hours |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mid Devon District Council is on the move |url=http://www.middevon.gov.uk/ |access-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040105015913/http://www.middevon.gov.uk/ |archive-date=5 January 2004}}</ref>

==Tourism==
===Grand Western Canal===
The [[Grand Western Canal]] stretches from Canal Hill in Tiverton to just before the county boundary, near to [[Greenham, Somerset]]. It no longer operates for trade purposes, but is a popular tourist location. Visitors are able to walk along its banks or take a trip down the canal in a [[horse]] drawn [[barge]]. A static barge at the Canal Hill end of the canal offers refreshments. The site is one of two tourism spots owned by [[Devon County Council]].

===Devon Railway Centre===
The [[Devon Railway Centre]] is located at [[Bickleigh, Mid Devon|Bickleigh]] in Mid Devon, in a restored Victorian [[railway station]] on the closed [[Great Western Railway]] branch from [[Exe Valley Railway|Exeter to Dulverton]]. The centre operates a 2&nbsp;ft (610mm) gauge passenger railway and has a large collection of [[narrow gauge]] rolling stock, a [[Ridable miniature railway|miniature railway]] and a collection of [[Rail transport modelling|model railways]].

===Coldharbour Working Wool Museum===
[[Coldharbour Mill]] is a Grade II* listed Georgian mill complex in [[Uffculme]], close to junction 27 ([[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]] turnoff) of the M5. The mill has the largest working waterwheel in the south west, and steams up its stationary steam engines most Bank Holidays. It has a number of other collections, such as dolls' houses, a large tapestry showing five local parishes, and a wide range of worsted wool spinning and weaving machines.

==Towns and parishes==
{{see also|List of civil parishes in Devon}}
Mid Devon is entirely divided into [[civil parish]]es. Some of the smaller parishes have a [[parish meeting]] rather than a parish council, whilst the three parishes of [[Clayhanger, Devon|Clayhanger]], [[Hockworthy]] and [[Huntsham]] share a grouped parish council called Borden Gate Parish Council. The parish councils for Bampton, Bradninch, Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton take the style "town council".<ref>{{cite web |title=Town and parish council contact details |url=https://www.middevon.gov.uk/your-council/town-parish-councils/contact-details/ |website=Mid Devon District Council |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Grade I listed buildings in Mid Devon]]
* [[Grade II* listed buildings in Mid Devon]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{SW_England}}
{{Devon}}

[[Category:Mid Devon District| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Devon]]