An analysis of recently released 2021 Census results, which has been carried out by the Bridport Local Area Partnership, creates potentially valuable evidence about the area and its needs.

Key findings for the parish and town councils within the partnership's area, when compared with Dorset and England as a whole are as follows:

• They have a high proportion of older residents who are aged 65 or over
• They have a low proportion of young adult residents who are aged 20 to 34
• They have a high proportion of working residents who work part-time
• Roughly a fifth of residents have a disability or long-term health issue which limits their day-to-day activities
• Roughly a tenth of residents are providing regular, unpaid care for someone else
• Levels of car ownership are generally high, reflecting the paucity of public transport and the journeys often required to reach jobs or services

The findings from this analysis could have real world implications for the area. For example, the economic impact from losing many young adults and their skills, the demand placed upon health and care services from an ageing population, and the isolation faced by some who don't have access to a car, especially where there is no alternative transport option.

Whilst some of these findings may come as no surprise to local people, it is hoped that having accurate and up-to-date figures will prove useful as evidence to make the case for local service improvements and to support bids for grant funding.

Census results for individual local parish and town council areas can be found in the full report, which is available at https://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/bridport-area-census-profile/ 

Analysis in further detail

Older age groups

All 14 parish and town councils in the Partnership's area have a high proportion of residents aged 65 or over. Parishes with the highest proportion are Burton Bradstock (48% of all residents), Chideock (47%) and Charmouth (46%). The comparable figure for England is 18% and for Dorset 30%.

Young adults

All parish and town councils in the partnership's area have a low proportion of residents aged 20 to 34. Parishes with the lowest proportion are Bothenhampton & Walditch, Burton Bradstock, Charmouth, Char Valley and Chideock (in each case 8% of residents). The comparable figure for England is 20% and for Dorset 13%.

Part-time working

Another notable feature is the high proportion of working residents in the partnership's area who work part-time. Parishes with the highest proportion are Chideock (46%), Bothenhampton & Walditch (45%), Symondsbury (45%), Char Valley (43%) and Allington (43%). The comparable figure for England is 30% and for Dorset is 35%.

Health and care

Parishes with the highest proportion of residents with a disability or long-term health issue which limits their day-to-day activities are Bridport (24%), Charmouth (24%) and Bradpole (22%). Proportions for this measure and for residents who provide regular, unpaid care to someone else are quite high by comparison with England as a whole.

Car ownership

Car ownership is generally high in the Partnership area. The most rural Parishes have the highest proportion of households with a car – notably Netherbury, Char Valley, Litton Cheney and Shipton Gorge. An exception is Bridport (town) where almost a quarter of households (24%) have no car.

Other topics covered by this 2021 Census analysis include home ownership and renting, employment and unemployment, qualifications held by residents and working from home.

The Bridport Local Area Partnership is a network with around 80 member organisations or groups from the public, private and voluntary sectors. They include Bridport Town Council and thirteen nearby Parish Councils. The 2021 Census shows that 21,780 people live in this area, very similar to the count ten years earlier by the 2011 Census.

A Census has usually been held every ten years, run by the Office for National Statistics, to count the population and measure its characteristics right across England and Wales. 

Analysis by the Bridport Local Area Partnership focusses on findings for the parish and town councils within its area, showing variation between them and making comparison with Census figures for the whole of Dorset and whole of England.

The following parish and town councils are members of the Partnership: Allington Parish Council, Chideock Parish Council, Bradpole Parish Council, Litton Cheney Parish Council, Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council, Loders Parish Council, Bridport Town Council, Netherbury Parish Council, Burton Bradstock Parish Council, Puncknowle and Swyre Parish Council, Charmouth Parish Council, Shipton Gorge Parish Council, Char Valley Parish Council, Symondsbury Parish Council.