Category: Heritage

Town Votes on role for future Mayors

At the Full Town Council meeting of 10th March 2016 Councillors considered a report by Council Leader Brian Smedley which fully investigated the role of Town Mayor by interviewing former Mayors  and making recommendations which clarified the roles and responsibilities of the office. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THE MAYOR OF BRIDGWATER TODAY? Modern […]

The Bridgwater Mayoralty Review 2016

Bridgwater has had a Mayor since 1468 and during those years the functions and powers of the Mayors have changed significantly. Any one of the 16 elected Bridgwater Town Councillors can become Mayor by simple majority vote of the Town Council at the Annual Meeting. However, being Mayor means that person has to dedicate a […]

County Summit meeting accepts future of Workhouse Hospital

After deadlock over the Christmas period, the future of the Blake Hospital – the former Bridgwater workhouse infirmary, was accepted as inevitable at a summit meeting today between Somerset County Council Estates team and  representatives from Bridgwater Town Council and the Bridgwater and District Civic Society. After attempts to get Somerset County Council to incorporate […]

Northgate Workhouse Hospital – Facing demolition within the month

Somerset County Council have announced that they will begin the demolition of the old Blake Hospital, early in the New Year. The Bridgwater Town Development Forum has called on the County Council to consider if the historic building could be re-used as part of the proposed new school. Now the Bridgwater and District Civic Society […]

Victory for Hope as Planning Inspectorate throws out developers appeal

In July 2015 a bid by Land Promotions Ltd to demolish the Hope Inn and replace it with a block of 22 apartments was opposed by local residents and Westover councillors yet despite SDC officers recommending in favour, the Sedgemoor Planning Committee backed the campaigners and refused planning permission. However, the Developer refused to accept […]