Solution for Bridgwater Dock’s Boating Community in Sight

Bridgwater Docks- a solution is in sight

For over a year now the future of Bridgwater’s famous Docks has been in doubt as its owner Somerset County Council and Canal and River Trust, who operate the Docks, have discussed termination of the lease. Caught in the middle are the boating community who live there and trying to bring all sides together to find a solution is Bridgwater Town Council. Finally, as the end of April deadline set by Somerset County Council for boaters to leave the Docks approaches, Bridgwater Town Council managed to get all sides around a table to agree a way forward and things are looking up again. How we got here is reported below.

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Almost Back to ‘Normal for Bridgwater’

Mayor and Pub landlady meet up for the first time in a while as Bridgwater re-opens

It’s Monday 12th April 2021 and the biggest step yet in a post covid return to normality is being taken across the High streets of the UK. Some pubs have been trading since just after midnight and some traders opened their doors as early as 6am. Here in Bridgwater it’s no different and the streets have been filling up nicely with cafes doing a roaring trade, with gazebos and beer gardens aplenty while hairdressers have seen queues since early morning often down the street and around the block  . Although in no particular need of a haircut himself, Mayor of Bridgwater Leigh Redman has been out and about seeing what’s open and talking to traders and shoppers .

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Bridgwater Sends Solidarity to Flood Stricken People of East Timor

Floods hit East Timor

Devastating floods and landslides have hit Timor-Leste (East Timor)  this Easter starting in the early morning of Easter Sunday, 4 April 2021. Some 34 people have been reported to have died, mainly in the countries capital Dili. The sizeable East Timor Community in Bridgwater has already raised over £5,000 from personal donations. Their spokesman in Bridgwater Januario Gusmao, says “This figure could be higher. Many are missing. Over 7,000 people have been left homeless, without food, medical supplies, shelter, clothing and are extremely vulnerable. Religious organisations, Government buildings, schools are being used to house them. This disaster is unprecedented, worst flooding in memory.”

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“Give them a yard…..”

Northgate Yard…SDC impose a name

Sedgemoor District Council’s prestige Northgate Project was hit by a wave of criticism at Full Council today as Labour councillors expressed anger at the unilateral naming of the project ‘Northgate Yard’ without any consultation with ward members or the people of Bridgwater. Leader of the Labour Group, Westover Councillor Brian Smedley, said “This is a project that we have supported and which we welcome but to be suddenly told of this name ‘Northgate Yard’ and not be asked seems to fly in the face of genuine consultation. There is absolutely no historical precedent for this title. The site was originally Blacklands-a Medieval term relating to evidence of historic settlement, then Northgate-as in the Brewery that stood opposite the North gate of the walled town and more recently Splash -which Sedgemoor famously closed down and demolished in the face of public opinion back in 2008. To call this a ‘yard’ is gibberish and has clearly been dreamed up by some marketing agency. What would it have taken for Sedgemoor to have simply asked us rather than telling us!”

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Major Climate Award for Bridgwater Town Council

Cllr Kathy Pearce is the new Climate Change PFH

At last weeks meeting of Bridgwater Town Council Westover Councillor Kathy Pearce was reassigned to the role of Climate Change Portfolio Holder and  Fairfax Councillor Graham Granter brought in as Community PFH. This change of roles tops off an excellent year for outgoing PFH Cllr Li Gibson (Westover) which saw a major award heading Town’s way.  Bridgwater Town Council, in its quest to become Carbon Neutral, applied to Somerset County Council’s Climate Emergency Fund and has now been informed that the application has been successful. The successful application was for the maximum amount of £75,000.

Town Clerk David Mears said “Bridgwater Town Council is looking to replace the current heating system at the Town Hall from an aging gas fired system with 72 panel heaters that will be LOT20 compliant, powered by electricity – electricity that will be generated by solar PVs installed onto the roof of the Town Hall. As part of this project, all sash windows will be fully refurbished, all roof voids insulated and secondary glazing being considered where single glazed metal frames are present.” Continue reading “Major Climate Award for Bridgwater Town Council”