Town Development Forum Support for Fore Street Proposals

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Town Development Forum meets to hear the latest plans for Fore Street

Thirty people attended the latest Town Development Forum meeting at Bridgwater Town Hall to hear Sedgemoors Principal Development Officer Sam Harper outline the latest phase in the plans to enhance the Town centre as part of the CIM Bid that included such innovations as the Quayside festival, now in its second year, and the much heralded Celebration mile. The meeting was chaired by Town Council Leader Cllr Brian Smedley with minutes taken by Deputy Leader Cllr Kathy Pearce.

Cllr Smedley said after the meeting “The purpose of these Development Forums is to keep the public on board with these plans that affect them and our town. People eagerly grabbed the chance to offer their views, to add ideas,expertise and extra vision where necessary and to criticise where appropriate. However, the overwhelming majority present supported the plans as they’ve been worked up and we will be reporting this to Full Council along with the other ideas that came up.” Continue reading “Town Development Forum Support for Fore Street Proposals”

Bridgwater Keeps its Place at the Top Table of Rock -Thanks to the Cobblestones

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Graham Hodgson behind the bar in the Cobblestones

From Bristol to Exeter it’s a rockless wilderness. Apart from here in Bridgwater where that music form has always found a home and a heady mix of touring bands and original homegrown groups that make this place something special. In the 196o’s it was the Town Hall and the Top Twenty club hosting Billy Fury, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, the Swinging Blue Jeans and the Who. In the 70’s and 80’s it was the Bridgwater Art Centre with it’s punk, ska,reggae and indie gigs featuring Crass, Chumbawamba, Black Roots and the Toy Dolls then in the ’90’s and into the 21st Century it was the Palace with Joe Strummer, Madness and the suppers from that eternal elixir of the cider cup, the Wurzels. These days……it’s the Cobblestones Pub in Eastover.

The Cobblestones has been run by local rock promoter Graham Hodgson for just two years but in that time him and his 3 partners have turned the place into a key rock venue on the touring circuit for name bands and eagerly backed by a growing stream of talented local rock groups who write their own music and not only keep a Bridgwater music scene going but keep their town on the rock map of the country. As their fathers did before them, and their grandfathers before them. And some grandmothers. Continue reading “Bridgwater Keeps its Place at the Top Table of Rock -Thanks to the Cobblestones”

Have You Seen the Marmite People yet?

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Carline Wilkins welcomes visitors to the Art Centre to see the Marmite people

An art exhibition by Bridgwater and Taunton College students has been launched in Bridgwater this week and will be on display until the end of March. The project is called ‘Marmite People’ and can be viewed freely at the Bridgwater Arts Centre in castle Street and at St Mary’s Church. Art and Design students have produced a thought provoking , overtly political and socially forthright display of  creativity and compassion taking on board some of the major issues in the world that faces them as they grow up in this town. Everyone should take a look.

Arts Centre Chair Caroline Wilkins said “We really welcome this exhibition, it’s got a real edge to it. There’s some real statements there and such a degree of awareness. The students have produced some fantastic thought provoking works and taken a critical look at the politics all around them. Well worth a visit!”

Marmite People

The ‘Marmite’ theme is clear. You either love it or hate it. That’s the case with many of the themes of the exhibition, whether it’s Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin -loved by many, despised in equal measure, or whether it’s heroes such as Nelson Mandela – now venerated but for decades locked up in a racist prison by people who thought that was a good thing to do. Continue reading “Have You Seen the Marmite People yet?”

Northgate School Officially Opened

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Northgate school. The dignatories cut ribbons as ‘Kieron’ the builder towers over them

Although we all know that Northgate Primary School has been up and running since September 2017, today was its formal and official opening, cake slicing, ribbon cutting and speech making. The ribbon was cut by the youngest and oldest pupil at the school (that’s rising 4 and rising 7) and the cake was cut (and eaten) by County Council Leader David Fothergill. Mayor of Bridgwater Cllr Graham Granter, County Councillor Leigh Redman and Westover Ward Councillor Brian Smedley were all there as well to (officially) wish them all well.

Northgate School has been built on the site of the former Workhouse – which, with its hexagonal shape, forms the basis of the schools logo along with compass points showing the North. People don’t just throw these logos together you know. The school was finally built after a lengthy battle between Bridgwater Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council over controversial plans by the District  to site a Tesco Extra here and which were eventually scrapped after the supermarket giant pulled out anyway. Since this time Town & District have both supported County’s plans to build a much needed school. Continue reading “Northgate School Officially Opened”

Town Forum to look at Fore Street Enhancements

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Cllr Smedley contemplating Fore street

Plans are afoot to upgrade Bridgwater’s pedestrianised Fore Street shopping centre with the help of EDF CIM money and Bridgwater Town Council are keen that the traders, residents and members of the public have their say in this project, led by Sedgemoor District Council and so are inviting anyone and everyone to attend the next Town Development Forum which will be held on Tuesday 13th March at 7pm at Bridgwater Town Hall.

Town Council Leader and Westover Ward member Cllr Brian Smedley , who chairs the Forum, has hand delivered invitations stating  “As part of a successful  CIM bid (Community Impact Mitigation money provided by EDF) Sedgemoor District Council will be embarking on a programme of enhancements to Fore street which will be taking place later this year.”

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Fore street Bridgwater

“Bridgwater Town Council has invited the Sedgemoor Officers responsible to present these plans to us before they take them any further. Naturally we want to get YOUR views and input on this and so we are inviting you to attend the next meeting of the TOWN DEVELOPMENT FORUM which will be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday 13th March 2018 at 7pm and will look solely at this issue.We hope you will be able to attend. The meeting is open to anyone and contribution and discussion is welcome.”

Sedgemoors officers leading on this topic are Sam Harper and Carla Modley. Both will be in attendance to present their plans and answer questions. The recommendations of the Forum will go forward to the next Town Council meeting.

Some images of Fore Street throught the years