Town Council Leader Brian Smedley flying the flag for Bridgwater History Day
Bridgwater History Day 2019
Bridgwater Arts Centre
Saturday 23rd November 1030am-4pm
Free entry
Bridgwater History Day has become an annual tradition and features an array of local historians talking about local history at the local Arts Centre to a packed house. Of locals. This year the event will be held on Saturday 23rd November from 10am until 4pm and will feature 6 speakers covering subjects including ‘6 Bridgwater Bridges’, ‘Samuel Taylor Coleridge’, ‘Parliamentary elections’, ‘Donald Crowhurst’ and ‘British Cellophane’. The event will be free as will the lunch!
Cllr Brian Smedley says “Support Bridgwater Together”
Bridgwater Town Council Leader Cllr Brian Smedley (Westover, Labour) is urging people to attend the annual ‘Bridgwater Together’ event which will be celebrated on Saturday 12th october at the Engine Room, High street from 11am until 4pm. The event is also sponsored by Bridgwater Trades Union Council, Somerset Film, Unite the Union and the Hinkley C Community Fund. Cllr Smedley says “Bridgwater Town Council supports this important project which puts a spotlight on our town’s vibrant cultural diversity and celebrates this through music, food, story telling, dance, film and information sharing. The event is free and people can simply drop in and out during the day.”
Displays and activities on the day include a Library mobile outside Engine Room café, a Fried Egg Café under
gazebo in back yard, Diversity Voice, Avtar, Hidden Voices, Ray of Sunshine, Somerset Portuguese Association, Polish Association , Gosia Gogolin’s crafts and facepainting, Devon and Somerset Fire Brigade , Meet Your Muslim Neighbour ,a Name the Dog competition, Somerset Football Association, Somerset Film digi, plus information stalls from from Trades Unions Council, Bridgwater Town Council and the Senior Citizens’ Forum. Continue reading “Bridgwater Together Saturday 12th October”
Cllr Hilary Bruce urges environmental measures for Northgate
As new plans for the next steps at Northgate, Bridgwater for the development of a new cinema and leisure scheme on council-owned land Sedgemoor Labour councillors combined support for the much-needed facility along with raising concerns for environmental considerations. Sedgmoor District Council consider that the Northgate scheme will be an important addition to the town centre, creating vitality, vibrancy and a key leisure activities for the growing town. The scheme will comprise a 7-screen state of the art cinema operated by WTW-Scott Cinemas Ltd that will replace the existing Scott cinema nearby. Alongside the cinema, four restaurants and bars will also be built and negotiations with potential operators are currently well advanced and tenants should be announced by the end of the year. Above the restaurants, a multi-use unit will be available, that has potential for a number of different uses. However, as the project unravelled Labour Councillors were quick to point out possible missed opportunities .
Cllr Hilary Bruce (Labour, Fairfax) asked “Would Sedgemoor be incorporating measures to address the climate emergency such as ground source heat pumps, grey water recycling,, waste water heat recovery, electric car charging points, solar panels, and water fountains. This project has the potential to be a flagship development and we must not miss this opportunity.”Continue reading “‘New Northgate Development Must Be Responsive to Climate Emergency’ say Labour Councillors”
Bridgwater Town Council has allocated a budget of £10,000 per year for ‘Youth Grants’ and is now calling on Groups within the town to apply for a share of this year’s allocation.
Cllr Brian Smedley, Town Council Leader, said “The aim of the Youth Grant is to highlight youth provision in the town of Bridgwater, to add value to existing providers and to encourage new and additional initiatives. The target age range is agreed at 11-18. The amount of grant per applicant will not normally exceed £500. If your application is for a higher amount this will be considered on its merits. Funding could be available for general running expenses, specific projects, staff, resources, equipment, programmes, residential. Grants will only be payable to organisations with a recognised bank account. Applicants must have in place appropriate Health and Safety and Child protection policies. Applications promoting religious or party-political beliefs will not be considered. Applications must be developed with the involvement of the young people who will benefit from the award. Bids will be considered and evaluated by Bridgwater Youth Council who will make recommendations to the Town Clerk for decision. Applicants must spend the allocated money within the financial year and an end of funding evaluation report must be submitted within 4 weeks of the project end date.”Continue reading “Town Council Youth Grants Available”
The town is looking forward to a waterfront future..and not a watery demise….
As Bridgwater’s long promised Tidal Barrier edges its way towards reality, a major setback has been highlighted by the Inland Waterways Association who have criticised a decision by the Project Board who have refused to reserve land within the bypass channel to enable the future construction of a lock and approach channels for navigation. Bridgwater Town Council has now joined the IWA in calling for this decision to be reversed .
Town Councils portfolio holder for ‘Economy’ Cllr Mick Lerry (Victoria) said “Bridgwater Town Council, along with IWA, believed that there were no further concerns relating to this request and that the reservation of the land was fully achievable. It is very disappointing to hear that the Project Board has decided not to reserve the land needed for the future construction of a lock and approach channels as part of the Scheme. This decision will have a negative impact on our local area and goes against all our plans for future-proofing the region.”Continue reading “Town Leaders call on District Council and Environment Agency to reverse ‘short sighted’ Decision on Tidal Barrier”
