16 Jun

New Bridgwater Town Council Line Up 2017-18

Municipal socialism in the red Borough of Bridgwater

At last nights Bridgwater Town Council meeting the ruling Labour group elected its committees, Forum chairs and representatives on outside bodies for the forthcoming year 2017-18. The Town Council is composed of 16 councillors, 14 of who are Labour, 1 Lib Dem and 1 Conservative.

Town Council Leader, Brian Smedley (Labour,Westover) introducing the changes, said “This will be the third year where a more inclusive and open system of community engagement through the Forum system has been used as the basis of a wider democracy, and we believe it has been successful. We would ask those members of the public keen to engage and get involved to get in touch with their areas of interest so that we can all work together for the benefit of our town.”

The next two key forum meetings will be Thursday 29th June when PCC Sue Mountstevens will address the Town Development Forum (7.30,Town Hall) and Tuesday 4th July when the Town Transport Forum will look at the transport agenda in Bridgwater for the coming year (4pm Town Hall Meeting room)

Continue reading “New Bridgwater Town Council Line Up 2017-18”

16 Jun

Town Council Launches Forward Plan for 2017-18

Promoting what’s best about Bridgwater

Bridgwater Town Council has presented its ‘Forward Plan’ for 2017-18 with an increased focus on promoting our town.

Town Council Leader Brian Smedley (Westover) said “This year we are concentrating on what’s best about Bridgwater, and that’s our location as a jumping off point for  nearby tourist destinations, and we want to retain some of that footfall, which is why we’re seeing new hotels in the town. We want to promote what we’re good at -and that’s our tradition of artistic creativity, community spirit and entertainment through our Cultural Partnership  and focus on opportunities for the future, which means our young people, through our Youth Forum .”  Continue reading “Town Council Launches Forward Plan for 2017-18”

15 Jun

Bridgwater Town Council Starts New Civic Year and looks back on Old

Town Council Leader Councillor Brian Smedley looks back on the year gone by

On Friday May 12th 2017  Cllr Graham Granter took over from Cllr Alec Glassford to become the latest Mayor of Bridgwater thus launching the 2017-18 Civic Year for the town.

At the first Town Council meeting of the new year, on Thursday 16th June, Town Council Leader Brian Smedley summed up the year gone by and laid out the Town’s Forward plan which would see a focus on Youth, Community and the Arts and would include an emphasis on Tourism , Policing and Transport. Once again, councillors would be encouraged to take leading roles in the community by fronting specialist areas while the doors of the Town Hall would remain wide open to the public through an increased system of Forum based activities. Continue reading “Bridgwater Town Council Starts New Civic Year and looks back on Old”

15 Jun

Bridgwater’s Quayside Festival set for Saturday July 29th

The Quayside Festival is Bridgwater’s new free outdoor summer festival with an array of live music, arts and entertainment across eight locations in the centre of the town. The festival ,set for Saturday 29th July 2017, will celebrate Bridgwater’s and Sedgemoor’s diverse and creative culture and showcase both local talent and national artists. Festival locations will include Blake Gardens, West Quay, Fore Street, Angel Place, King Square, Bridgwater Arts Centre, Engine Room and Bridgwater Library.

The organisers, Fuse Performance, are working with the Bridgwater Cultural Partnership and local artists, creating an exciting programme of live music, street theatre, dance, performances, circus and acrobatics, aerial trapeze, puppetry and children’s activities. There will be free shows and interactive workshops with something for everyone. Continue reading “Bridgwater’s Quayside Festival set for Saturday July 29th”

15 Jun

Calls for ‘Re-assurance’ in Wake of London Tower Block Disaster

Hi Rise concerns following London disaster

Westover ward councillors have called on Sedgemoor District Council and Homes in Sedgemoor to immediately put out a statement of re-assurance to tenants living in hi-rise blocks who are naturally concerned about safety following the tragic events in London at the Grenfell Flats where numerous people have lost their lives.

Bridgwater Town Council Leader Brian Smedley contacted the Chief Executive and the Leader of Sedgemoor District Council along with the Director of Homes in Sedgemoor on the morning of the disaster urging them to reassure residents and they subsequently put out the following statement. Continue reading “Calls for ‘Re-assurance’ in Wake of London Tower Block Disaster”