Somerset town could merge with neighbouring village by 2027
Castle Cary could merge with its immediate neighbour by the next local elections if residents back proposals
A growing Somerset town could merge with its immediate neighbour by the next local elections if residents back proposals.
Castle Cary has expanded rapidly over the last decade, with significant number of new homes being delivered in both the town and the neighbouring parish of Ansford (which includes Castle Cary railway station).
This level of housing growth has rendered the existing parish boundaries out of date – with part of the boundary going through the centre of a residential property.
Following petitions by both Ansford Parish Council and Castle Cary Town Council in late-July, a governance review will be carried out and the public consulted on a possible merger – which, if agreed, will take effect at the local elections planned for May 2027.
Castle Cary currently has 1,883 people on the electoral register, compared to 1,174 in Ansford.
If the two parishes were to merge, the new ‘Ansford and Castle Cary Parish Council’ would have 11 parish councillors (with the final name being agreed as part of the formal consultation).
Steven Lake, the council’s electoral services manager, addressed the issue when the council’s constitution and governance committee met in Taunton on Thursday morning (September 11).
He told the committee: “The one boundary between the two parishes which is difficult runs from 57 to 64 Churchfield Drive, Venus Cottage and Step A Side, both on Ansford Road.
“There is at least one property where the parish boundary goes through it.
“Councillor Henry Hobhouse one of the Castle Cary division members said he hates going down there canvassing, because it’s difficult to know which parish you’re in at any particular point.”
The committee voted unanimously to launch a governance review after less than ten minutes’ debate.
A formal consultation with “relevant stakeholders” (including both Castle Cary division members and local MP Sarah Dyke) will take place in the autumn, with more formal proposals expected to come back to the committee in February 2026.
A further round of consultation will be held in March and April 2026, with the final recommendations being adopted by the end of 2026 ahead of the local elections the following May.