Castle Cary is a tiny market community as well as civil church in south Somerset, England, 5 miles (8 km) north west of Wincanton and 8 miles (12.9 km) south of Shepton Mallet, at the foot of Lodge Hill as well as on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett. The Town Council has responsibility for regional issues, consisting of setting an annual principle (regional price) to cover the council's operating expense and also producing yearly represent public scrutiny. The Town Council reviews local planning applications as well as works with the regional cops, area council officers, and also neighbourhood watch teams on matters of criminal activity, protection, and traffic. The Town Council's role also consists of starting projects for the repair and maintenance of town centers, as well as speaking with the area council on the upkeep, repair, and enhancement of freeways, drain, footpaths, public transport, and road cleaning. Conservation matters (consisting of trees as well as listed structures) and environmental concerns are the obligation of the area council. The town drops within the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, which was based on 1 April 1974 under the City Government Act 1972, having formerly become part of Wincanton Rural District. The area council is responsible for neighborhood planning as well as building control, neighborhood roadways, council housing, ecological wellness, markets and also fairs, decline collection and also recycling, burial grounds and also crematoria, recreation solutions, parks, and also tourist. Somerset County Council is accountable for running the largest and also most expensive regional services such as education and learning, social solutions, collections, highways, public transportation, policing and fire solutions, trading requirements, waste disposal and strategic preparation. The town remains in the Cary electoral ward. This stretches southern to the North Cadbury church, and south west to Babcary. The population of the ward at the 2011 census was 5,502.