Bridgwater Town Council Police Forum

Town Council working with Police to set priorities for the town

Bridgwater Town Council hosted the quarterly Police Forum meeting last Wednesday the 31st May 2023 and unsurprisingly a number of issues important to many local residents were raised by members present. The meeting was chaired by Cllr Brian Smedley who with Cllr Liz Marsh and Cllr Tim Mander head up the councilor Police Forum, whilst the Police were represented by Neighbourhood Sergeant Kat Forest; Team Leader of PCSO’s Lora Bray and Community Safety Manager (Somerset Area North) Rob Semple. To give the Police an opportunity to research issues questions were given in advance. Brian Smedley kicked off the session by raising the issue of anti social behavior by school aged children at the YMCA. Although quite a new issue to the Police progress had been made by identifying individuals and working with local schools whilst more work needs to be done the parties concerned were hopeful of a positive outcome.

Drink

Cllr Tim Mander and Cllr Kathy Pearce meet with Town Wardens in the town centre

Cllr Tim Mander then raised the ongoing issue of Street Drinkers who gather outside the Nationwide and adjacent Charity Shop. The problem revolves around the perception of threat. The Police response was this was tricky as quite often a crime hasn’t been committed. Whilst it can be very intimidating the wardens regularly in the area and are building relationships and being received well by the public. The only crime is if threatening people or refusing to surrender alcohol unfortunately undesirable behaviour is not enough they have to actually commit a crime for Police action to be taken. Once again crimes needed to be reported. The reality is that people causing the problems get wise to the system though and just buy one drink at a time which they either quickly finish as the Police arrive or just hand over the remains of that drink. When Police leave they go and buy one more drink from the local shop(s) and the cycle continues. The Police and Somerset Council  accepted the need to get shops on board to not sell single alcoholic drinks and they were looking at trials in other parts of the Country where licensing conditions were put in place to stop single alcoholic sales.

Drugs

Drug use in Blake Gardens was raised as a continuing problem but again must be properly reported each time with as much detail as possible.

ASB

Town Clerk David Mears with police on Hamp

Northgate Yard – once again Tim Mander raised a concern over the Polices own statistics which showed 12 reported incidents of ASB at Northgate Yard over the last three months. Clearly this is not something that wants to get out of hand although the Police said that since Allstars introduced security things had improved and Scotts also take a fairly hardline on poor behavior.

Hamp

With the Town Council’s plans to re-open Recreation a couple of members had concerns regarding Open Session held the previous week. Rob Semple advised a firm hand was a need and you had to be on top of the behaviour from the start, explaining clearly what will not be tolerated but reward considerate/good behavior. It was essential to engage with the community and it is hoped that a space for the Police could be created within the Re-Creation building

Vandalism in Bridgwater’s finest street

Everywhere

A recent break in to the former Legion Building in Castle Street was highlighted, Lora Bray explained that Police don’t go in abandoned buildings and rarely chase the young people doing it for good health and safety rasons. However they were aware of a large group of kids (20-25) that can be separated into 2 different groups and a third hanger on group. Other areas were the back of the old cinema and Docks/Bowerings site, again Police aware – talking to kids involved, wardens to patrol and are hoping situation will improve.

Town Council Leader Brian Smedley chairs the Police Forum

The Meads/St Matthews Field – Brian Smedley raised the issue of camping  and problems with human excrement. He asked Rob Semple what the protocol now for dealing with issues like this. Rob Semple explained that Somerset Council were testing a new legal process (slower than previously under SDC but will hopefully get quicker) advice and support always offered first with Homes in Sedgemoor and the Outreach Team

The issue of support to retailers was raised and Rob Semple said that his team were looking to start a ShopWatch that will work similarly to the PubWatch scheme where those shops that sign up will have a radio and can contact each other for support and awareness – radios (£25/month) will also link to the Police and the Wardens to get assistance quicker

Cllr Liz Marsh, BTC Community PFH

Finally some questions about incidents up on Bower were raised on behave of Cllr Richard Morgan related to parking adjacent to a school entrance but the questions weren’t really tackled due to there being not enough information and not being appropriate for a public forum. Lora Bray stated that PCSOs regularly go to Parkway and BCA and haven’t experienced any complaints regarding parking and hostility by local residents although parking is an issue generally at school drop off and pick up times. As Richard wasn’t at the meeting there wasn’t much more to be added other than the Police didn’t think it was gangs rather one specific person and it was being dealt with.

So a lot of points were covered and the need for dialogue was evident as was the need to encourage detailed reporting of crimes and incidents.

July 1st is Bridgwater International Twinning Day

Bridgwater has 7 twin towns in 7 countries -France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Malta, Italy, Portugal and the USA. Every year all the twinning groups get together at the Bridgwater Arts Centre and put on a show showing what they’ve done, presenting films about their partner towns and outlining their plans for the months ahead. The event is an open invite to anyone with an interest and that’s why it’s only £5 admission. The show also features live music and dance from La Tarantella, from italy. Ilaria La Tarantella will take you on a journey through the South of Italy with some upbeat Tarantella. Ilaria says “We will dance to the folkloric frenzied dance, the Pizzica, whose symbol is the Tarantula. This is a healing dance and its origins seem to date back to pagan times.” Ilaria has a passion for dance, in particular for dances that are related to the power of healing through music. She has been dancing Oriental dance for over 15 years and her love for folk dance has led her to go back to her Southern Italian roots. She studied in Italy with very knowledgeable teachers and learnt how to dance Pizzica Pizzica (from Apulia) and Tammurriata (from the Naples region). She adds “Today we will learn a little bit about the Pizzica Pizzica.” The show on Saturday 1st July, starts at 7.30, and the bar is open from 7pm.

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Goodbye to Gareth

Victoria Community Centre says ‘goodbye’ to centre manager Gareth Hughes

Popular centre manager Gareth Hughes is leaving Victoria Community Centre after some 10 years of developing the place into a  well used community resource. He will be taking a job as Town Clerk in Chard and will be succeeded at Victoria Park by Laura Fowler. Victoria ward town councillor Liz Marsh says “We were all really devastated when Gareth told us that he was leaving. Gareth has been the Centre Manager at Victoria Park Community Centre (VPCC) for over 10 years and has been instrumental in helping the Centre be the success that it is today.”

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On This Day in History-29th March 2023- Sedgemoor Holds its Last Meeting

Labour Leader Brian Smedley is ‘welcome to’ Sedgemoor  at its final meeting.

It’s quite  a rainy Wednesday afternoon at the Canalside Centre just outside of Bridgwater and Councillors are leaving the final meeting of Sedgemoor District Council. Similarly, there’s not a dry eye on the Tory side of the House as tributes abound to Leader Duncan McGinty, councillors gone but not forgotten, councillors forgotten but not gone, officers not yet made redundant and to each other generally. Sedgemoor had been abolished literally days before it’s 50th birthday and would be replaced by an all embracing, all devouring Unitary Superstate. From the Labour and Libdem side of the house there were pleasantries, toned down veiled references to why Sedgemoor might not have been the paradise of its legacy and genuine memories of when people pulled together in a common cause. But there was no point scoring, no political tirades, just friendly parting bon mots. A bit like at Westpoint before the Union and Confederate forces went their separate ways to meet again on some fractured battlefield of carnage and death. In the whispered words of one of the opposition leaders ‘You don’t crack jokes at a funeral‘….

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