Walney Island - Government, Economy and Education

Government, Economy and Education

Walney has two tiers of local government. At the most local level, the island is governed as part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, being divided between two wards, Walney North and Walney South. Barrow-in-Furness also forms part of the lager county of Cumbria, for which Walney is again divided into two wards. In the 2009 elections to Cumbria County Council, Walney North voted for a Labour Party councillor, whilst Walney South voted for a Conservative Party councillor. At the 2011 elections at the Borough level, six Labour Party councillors were elected from the island, three from each ward. At a national level, Walney forms part of the Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency. The Member of Parliament is currently John Woodcock of the Labour Party. Woodcock was first elected in the 2010 general election, though Labour have held the seat since 1992.

As of the 2001 UK Census, Walney North had an unemployment rate of 7.7%, whilst it was 6.3% in Walney South Walney was historically agricultural, and a number of farms remain on the island, particularly at its southern half. Following the construction of Vickerstown, the defence manufacturer Vickers became the major employer on the island, reflecting wider trends in Barrow-in-Furness. Vickers' successor, BAE Systems, remains a major employer in Barrow and on Walney today: the island has particularly high levels of workers in skilled trades.

Walney has one secondary school, Walney School. It opened in 1952 and currently teaches 681 pupils. It has numerous primary schools but, students entering sixth form college or further education must go to schools on the mainland in Barrow.

Read more about this topic:  Walney Island

Famous quotes containing the words economy and/or education:

    The basis of political economy is non-interference. The only safe rule is found in the self-adjusting meter of demand and supply. Do not legislate. Meddle, and you snap the sinews with your sumptuary laws.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    The Supreme Court would have pleased me more if they had concerned themselves about enforcing the compulsory education provisions for Negroes in the South as is done for white children. The next ten years would be better spent in appointing truant officers and looking after conditions in the homes from which the children come. Use to the limit what we already have.
    Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)