John Penrose

The Weston constituency is located south of Bristol and stretches from the banks of the Severn Estuary in the west to the Mendip hills in the east. The constituency centres on the town of Weston-super-Mare and includes the surrounding villages.

Weston Grand Pier (Copyright Somerset Tourism)

Although predominately rural the constituency also has a light engineering base, the town of Weston-super-Mare is a tourist attraction famed for its beach.

Weston Beach and Pier

Weston-super-Mare is a mixture of old charm and modern technology. The sea front is almost without modern high-rise buildings and tourism is one of the main industries. The town was one of the first in the country to advertise its allure on the internet.

Grove Park

Inevitably tourism is a key factor in the town's economy. Weston-super-Mare is full of small businesses geared towards it. The town is filled with hotels, guest houses and a great variety of shops, but there are also many small and privately owned manufacturing companies, distributors, and information technology and engineering firms based here as well.

Seaquarium

The M5 splits the constituency in half and has helped attract distribution businesses as well as office developments moving out of Bristol City centre.

Kewstoke

Outside the town of Weston-super-Mare, the constituency extends into beautiful Somerset countryside scattered with villages. One village, Bleadon, not untypical, was famously described by AA Milne:

Between the woods in folded hands
An accidental village stands,
Untidily, and with an air
Of wondering who left it there.
Four square upon a litle hill
The Norman church is Norman still;
And on the winding road below
The ageing houses come and go,
Grey faced and wrinkled, in a long indented row.

Bleadon

Bleadon Mayfayre

The constituency stretches across North Somerset, up to the Mendip Hills, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Agriculture, based mainly on milk, cattle and its support services, is still a major factor in local employment. There are 15 rural parishes within the constituency.

St Andrews Congresbury

These include many quiet villages and rural and some commuter communities - mainly travelling to employment in Bristol. Many retain a uniquely individual identity.