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 Created
in 1983, the Northavon seat is similar to the former South Gloucestershire
constituency and includes all the constituent parts of South Gloucestershire
Unitary Authority. There are also some rural areas within Northavon
such as the Severn Valley and Badminton where the horse trials are
held each year.
The seat runs
from the Severn Bridge in the west to Badminton in the east, taking
in towns like Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, Yate and Chipping Sodbury.
It also includes more than 50 other villages. The seat's position
is at a key crossover point in Britain's motorway network with direct
links to London, the West Midlands, South Wales and the West Country.
This, coupled with its proximity to the city of Bristol, has brought
extensive residential and commercial development.
A large proportion
of the electorate lives in the growing residential areas which are
dominated by modern, affordable private housing and young families.
Also based
here are computer companies, light manufacturing plants and distribution
warehouses.
This was the
scene of one of the Liberal Democrats’ most unexpected victories
in 1997, with their candidate Steven Webb winning the seat with
a 2,137 vote majority over the sitting Conservative MP Sir John
Cope.
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