Brompton Regis (formerly known as Kingsbrompton) is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England about 5 miles (8.0km) north-east of Dulverton. It is situated on the River Pulham in the Brendon Hills within the Exmoor National Park, close to Wimbleball Lake, a water supply reservoir constructed in the 1970s and completed in 1979. According to the 2011 census the village had a population of 449.[1]
The parish boundary is marked by the River Exe which is crossed by the medieval Chilly Bridge[2] and Hele Bridge.[3] The Haddeo is crossed by Bury Bridge.[4]
The parish includes the village of Withiel Florey, where the Church of St Mary Magdalene has 12th-century origins and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building,[5] and the hamlets of Bury, Gupworthy and Hartford.
The 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.
There is an electoral ward called 'Brendon Hills'. This stretches from Brompton Regis eastwards to Brompton Ralph. The total population of this ward at the 2011 census was 1,287.[12]
As Brompton Regis falls within the Exmoor National Park some functions normally administered by district or county councils have, since 1997, fallen under the Exmoor National Park Authority, which is known as a 'single purpose' authority, which aims to "conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks" and "promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public",[13] including responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment.[14]
