Editing Cheddar, Somerset (section)

== Government ==
Cheddar is recognised as a village.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.cheddarparishcouncil.org/documents/CPC%20-%20Parish%20Plan.pdf | title= Cheddar Parish Plan | publisher= Cheddar Parish Council | access-date= 30 March 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110725161412/http://www.cheddarparishcouncil.org/documents/CPC%20-%20Parish%20Plan.pdf | archive-date= 25 July 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_CheddarText.pdf |title=An archaeological assessment of Cheddar |first=Miranda |last=Richardson |work=Somerset Extensive Urban Survey |publisher=Somerset County Council |page=12 |quote=Cheddar is one of 30 of the 45 historic towns covered by this project which is not classed as a town in the County Structure Plan. |access-date=4 March 2011 |year=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915134755/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_CheddarText.pdf |archive-date=15 September 2011 }}</ref> The adjacent settlement of [[Axbridge]], although only about a third the population of Cheddar, is a town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infobritain.co.uk/Axbridge.htm|title=Axbridge, and King John's Hunting Lodge, Somerset|publisher=InfoBritain|access-date=5 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124055322/http://infobritain.co.uk/Axbridge.htm|archive-date=24 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/visitor/history.html |title=Axbridge: History |publisher=Axbridge Town Council |work=Axbridge: Information for Visitors and Residents maintained by Axbridge Town Council |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720090813/http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/visitor/history.html |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_AxbridgeText.pdf |title=An archaeological assessment of Axbridge |first=Miranda |last=Richardson |work=Somerset Extensive Urban Survey |publisher=Somerset County Council |pages=4–5 |access-date=4 March 2011 |year=2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913175648/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_AxbridgeText.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This apparently illogical situation is explained by the relative importance of the two places in historic times. While Axbridge grew in importance as a centre for cloth manufacturing in the [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor]] period and gained a charter from [[John of England|King John]], Cheddar remained a more dispersed mining and dairy-farming village. Its population grew with the arrival of the railways in the [[Victorian era]] and the advent of tourism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Axbridge Cheddar—Location Report|url=http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/locationdetail.cfm?locationid=73|publisher=NSDatabase|access-date=7 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723052541/http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/locationdetail.cfm?locationid=73|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The [[Parish councils in England|parish council]], which has 15 members who are elected for four years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parish-council.com/Cheddar/index.asp?pageid=827|title=Your Council|publisher=Cheddar Parish Council|access-date=30 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715043751/http://www.parish-council.com/cheddar/index.asp?pageid=827|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> is responsible 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 police, district council officers, and [[Neighbourhood Watch (UK)|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.parish-council.com/cheddar/index.asp?pageid=827 | title=Your Council | publisher=Cheddar Parish Council | access-date=4 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715043751/http://www.parish-council.com/cheddar/index.asp?pageid=827 | archive-date=15 July 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The village is in the 'Cheddar and Shipham' [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]]. After including [[Shipham]] the total population of the ward taken at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] is 6,842.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/cheddar-and-shipham-e05008905#sthash.NORE1ey7.dpbs|title=Cheddar and Shipham ward 2011|access-date=6 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102622/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/cheddar-and-shipham-e05008905#sthash.NORE1ey7.dpbs|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Cheddar fire station.jpg|thumb|Cheddar Fire Station has a crew of retained firefighters]]
For [[local government in England|local government]] purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] of [[Somerset Council]]. Prior to this, it was part of the [[non-metropolitan district]] of [[Sedgemoor]], which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], having previously been part of [[Axbridge Rural District]].<ref name=axbridgerd>{{cite web|title=Axbridge RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025515|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> Fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the [[Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service]], [[Avon and Somerset Constabulary]] and the [[South Western Ambulance Service]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.somersetstrategicpartnership.org.uk/about-the-ssp/ | publisher=Somerset Strategic Partnership | title=About the Somerset Strategic Partnership | access-date=5 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817010613/http://www.somersetstrategicpartnership.org.uk/about-the-ssp/ | archive-date=17 August 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

It is also part of the [[Wells and Mendip Hills (UK Parliament constituency)| Wells and Mendip Hills]] [[county constituency]] represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111006181638/http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/parliamentary_constituencies_in_the_county/10281.html Parliamentary Constituencies in the county of Somerset]}} Government News. Retrieved 14 November 2001.</ref> It elects one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election. Prior to [[Brexit]] in 2020, it was part of the [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England constituency]] of the [[European Parliament]].