The Heath government’s Local Government Act of 1972 radically overhauled local government arrangements in England and Wales.
In particular, it redrew the map of the shire counties, some of which had been in existence in some form since medieval or Saxon times.
One of the Act’s results was the creation of the County of Avon, a non-metropolitan county, which survived from its creation on 1st April 1974 until its abolition on 31st March 1996, when it was succeeded by the present unitary authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset.
Despite its abolition and its failure to engage popular support during its existence (it was widely derided at the time as a “cardboard county”. Ed.), Avon is proving harder to eradicate than a vampire. Its legacy can be found all over the West of England and the defunct county’s former administrative area.
In organisational terms, its name crops up in the following public and private bodies:
- Avon & Somerset Constabulary;
- Avon Fire & Rescue Service;
- Avon Wildlife Trust;
- Avon Scouts;
- Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
In addition to the above, there’s still an Avon Coroner’s district, the Forest of Avon community forest project and one can by an Avonrider ticket on local bus services.
Although it ceased to exist nearly two decades ago, many bodies still insist that Avon forms part of the postal address of places like Bristol in spite of the fact that the Royal Mail long since indicated that it was not necessary to include Avon as part of any address as Royal Mail itself had abandoned the use of postal counties in 1996.
The inspiration for this post came from a conversation this morning on Twitter.
Any further instances of the survival of Avon can be posted in the comments below.