29 Oct

Bridgwater History Day 2025 set for Saturday 8th November

The popular Bridgwater History Day will take place at the Bridgwater Arts Centre on Saturday 8th November with doors opening from 10am The event will finish at 4pm will feature 8 local historians, a live band and free historical food. Topics this year will include The Monmouth Rebellion, Bridgwater carnival, John Pym, Romani history, World War 2 memories, the towns first waterworks and how to spell Bridg-e-water. Historians include Tom Mayberry, Chris Hocking, Dave Chapple Miles Kerr Peterson, Phil Shepherd, Maggie Smith Bendell, Tony Woolrich and Liz Leavy. Compere will be Brian Smedley, and the event will be opened by Mayor of Bridgwater Kathy Pearce.

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22 Aug

Step back in time in Blake Gardens

On Saturday 23 August, history will leap from the past into the present as visitors are invited to enjoy a spectacular day of living history in Blake Gardens.

The Ermine Street Guard, one of the UK’s leading Roman re-enactment groups, will bring the world of Roman Britain to life. Through authentic displays and vivid demonstrations, audiences can discover the discipline, armour, and daily routines of the Roman soldier.

The excitement continues with the Somerset Barons, who will deliver adrenaline-fuelled, full-contact combat displays. The clang of steel and clash of shields will ring out as medieval knights battle before your eyes in a breathtaking showcase of martial skill. Continue reading “Step back in time in Blake Gardens”

9 Jun

Bridgwater Town Council Transport Forum Key Updates

If only Bridgwater still looked like this…

Bridgwater Town Council Transport Forum is a platform for discussing and addressing various transport-related issues in the Bridgwater area. The forum typically covers topics such as traffic congestion, public transport and sustainable transport solutions. The forum provides an opportunity for residents to ask questions, raise concerns, and contribute to discussions on how to improve transport in the town A meeting of the Transport Forum was held on Tuesday 3 June where there was some positive news regarding the action being taken to ensure that buses could access the train station and passengers make use of the bus shelter provided when the station surrounds were subject to a £ 1 million makeover nearly 10 years ago.

The Somerset Council representative was optimistic that outstanding issues should be resolved within the next 3 to 4 months and preliminary discussions with the bus operators had already commenced.

The cycle and footpath link from Bridgwater Railway Station to Bridgwater and Taunton Campus site is another project that Somerset Council are working to deliver.

New Bus Timetables

A representative from the Somerset Bus Partnership outlined the improvements to the Bridgwater Bus Services (B1, 21 and 21A Routes ) and the ongoing work to promote their use.

New bus timetables were distributed at the recent Bridgwater Food Festival whilst copies of the timetable are now available at the Library and Town Hall reception.

Discussion were held about re-launching a Bridgwater Bus Users Group, which should be independent from both the bus companies and Council.

Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign gave an update on the positive moves to promote active travel. Work is ongoing with the Local Community Networks to develop a county wide active travel plan which will highlight the cross county active travel routes.

Cllr Tim Mander asks Celebration Mile workers to widen pavement space for shoppers

Safe Corridors

Somerset Activities and Sports Partnership (SASP) are working with local primary schools and On Your Bike to develop safe corridors and make bikes available for years 5 and 6.

Cllr Tim Mander who chaired the meeting commented: “This was an excellent meeting with some positive news coming out of it. It really demonstrates what can be achieved when you get the right interested parties in one room or in this case online!”

The next meeting of the Transport Forum is 6.00pm on Tuesday 2 September. Anyone wishing to attend should register their interest at least a week in advance by e-mailing enquiries@bridgwater-tc.gov.uk

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9 Jun

Brewery Field Residents Agree to keep Fence Path

Scott Mason and Dave Moreno from BTC on Brewery field today

Following a site meeting and household consultation with residents, councillors and Town Council officers, residents voted 12.4 to keep the 4 feet mown strip alongside Anson Way fences allowing them easier access. Other residents had made the case for a wilding area right up to the fences but it was agreed that an area of wilding away from the fences whilst retaining the strip was acceptable. Cllr Brian Smedley (Westover) said “32 properties were leafletted and we had 16 responses but these gave a clear indication of what the majority of residents wanted.At a site visit all ward councillors attended along with Director of Bridgwater Town Councils Amenities Department which has now taken over the responsibilities for parks and gardens. At the meeting Scott Mason confirmed that he would ensure a 4 weekly cut of the area and reassured some residents that he didn’t believe there was a fire risk. An option was considered to keep some areas wilded and others clear but it was felt more practical to treat the whole area the same.”

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23 May

Twinning Weekend 2025 set for 6-7th June

Every year Bridgwater’s international twinning enthusiasts hold a series of events to showcase the towns friendship activities with other countries. Bridgwater is twinned with 6 towns across Europe – La Ciotat in France, Homberg in Germany, Uherske Hradiste in the Czech Republic, Marsa in Malta, Priverno in Italy and Camacha in Portugal. That’s not to mention the 13 Bridg(e)waters in the USA! On 6th June from 1130 to 3pm the Twinning groups will be holding a Petanque tournament on Victoria park (Petanque was invented in our French twin town la Ciotat) and  then on the evening of Saturday 7th June there will be a gala evening of all the twinning groups and anyone who would like to join them at the Purplespoon cafe, on the canal banks at the YMCA, where each of the groups will show films and talk about their activities during the past year, promote their twin towns and there’ll be a special guest singer from Portugal,  Nuno Custodio. The Purplespoon event starts at 7pm, theres a bar and a restaurant open and everyone is welcome to attend.

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