The Demise of Warmley Rural District Council - 1st April 1974

IN WRITING this introduction to the final Guide to the Warmley Rural District Council it is inevitable that feelings of sadness and nostalgia should be foremost in our minds.

After almost a century as a rural district authority, having to a large extent control of its own affairs, Warmley now passes for better or for worse into the new District of Kingswood.

Let us hope that in moving forward to the new local government structure, the unique character of this charming area will retain all the best of the old, combined with the best of the new, to give each and everyone a greater share in the many opportunities available in the district.

There is no doubt that the Warmley District has a great deal to offer. It is an area rich in historical interest and, geographically, contains many features of outstanding beauty. As residential areas the parishes of Warmley are of a most attractive nature-shopping centres, schools, churches, facilities for sport and entertainment all being readily at hand. We are of the opinion that this district is a very desirable place in which to live, offering as it does all the advantages of town and country combined.

In conclusion, we sincerely hope that in spite of the engulfing tide of modem progress, this delightful community may long retain its individuality as a predominantly rural area. B. E. T. Jotcham & T. C. Peters (Joint Chairmen)

Obituary

Alas, this is the obituary of the Warmley rural district.

On 1st April, 1974, the Rural District Council is to join the existing Kingswood and Mangotsfield Urban District Councils to form the new Kingswood District Council.

Administratively the rural district also bids farewell to the County of Gloucester and becomes part of the new Avon County on that date.

The new Kingswood District Council will inherit from Warmley five parishes comprising an area of 8,860 acres and a population ofjust over 23,000; about 8,000 houses, of which just over 2,000 are Council owned; and a total rateable value of 2,121,946.00.

The rural district has a number of interesting and historical features as well as large areas of common land, woods and riverside beauty spots.

The Council can take some credit as it has always tried not only to maintain the district but also to improve it; for instance, in 1926 it had the energy and ingenuity to organise an electrical supply to most of the district and to do so at a much less expensive rate than any of the Councils neighbours.

In 1966 it succeeded in deflecting the route of the M4 Motorway so that it no longer came alongside the houses of many resident ratepayers and the access point to the M4/M5 Motorway is now about one mile from the northern boundary of the rural district.

At present the Council are struggling to preserve the Green Belt. But, much more important than the Council, the nicest thing said about Warmley is that people like living here. It is a nice place because of the general friendliness of most of the residents.

Though the arrival of newcomers has drastically changed the shape of the district, they have been welcomed and they, in their turn, have shown their appreciation by liking being here and forming communities and settling down.

Many people, both paid and unpaid, have devoted more time than could be asked to the district's affairs, from the late Sir Seymour Williams, Clerk to the Council who was knighted for his services to local government, to Councillor T. C. Peters and Mr. D. J. Bryant, who have organised the compilation of this Guide.

Now the time has come to say 'Goodbye' to the Warmley rural district and with this, the last Guide, send it into the new Kingswood district with all Good Wishes, saying not Farewell, but Fareforward.

HISTORIES OF BRISTOL'S SUBURBS