11 Mar

Town Council Launches 20MPH For Schools Campaign

Eastover residents have had enough

Bridgwater Town Council has launched a campaign to have 20 MPH speed limits outside every school in Bridgwater and has challenged Somerset County Council to end it’s piecemeal approach to the subject and simply introduce 20 zones to the lot. This follows a frustrating campaign by Polden street residents to get the zoning introduced in the streets around Eastover school whilst at the same time fighting an increasing number of large lorries using the route as part of a rat run around the town, exacerbated by the never-ending EDF roadworks.

Eastover’s County Councillor Dave Loveridge has responded to a 2 year campaign by residents with petitions and lobbying of County portfolio holder David Fothergill , facilitating the introduction of Speed Indicator Tests and has now asked the Town Council for support in upping the stakes by making the case for all schools. Dave says “Residents have made the case tirelessly over the years  that there is a school in close proximity to these roads, there have been several near misses with children and there are elderly people trying to cross what are  quite narrow streets.” Continue reading “Town Council Launches 20MPH For Schools Campaign”

3 Mar

Labour County Election Campaign kicks off in Westover

Cllr Leigh Redman (Bridgwater South) kicks off Labour County election campaign in Westover

Westovers County Councillor Leigh Redman led his troops out onto the streets of Bridgwater today with the new edition of the Bridgwater Rose appearing through a letterbox near you in the near future.

The County Council election will be on Thursday May 4th and Leigh is leading the fight not just to keep Bridgwater RED but to extend Labour influence across the district.

Westover and Hamp form Leighs County division of Bridgwater South,but there are 3 other divisions across Bridgwater. Bridgwater North and Central is a Labour seat (Sydenham and Eastover) and held by Cllr Dave Loveridge, but Bridgwater West and East have been labour seats in the past but are currently held by the Tories – largely due to a rise in the UKIP vote letting the Tories in. The Lib Dems have long ago been wiped out in Bridgwater. Continue reading “Labour County Election Campaign kicks off in Westover”

1 Mar

I, Daniel Blake to be screened at the Engine Room

There will be a special screening of the film I, Daniel Blake at the Engine Room in Bridgwater on Thursday March 30th to coincide with Unite Community’s Day of Action on benefit sanctions.

Andy Mitchell of UNITE Community says “Places can be booked through the Somerset film website. There are 2 ticket types:£3 standard ticket and £10 solidarity ticket for those who can afford a bit more. Places are limited so please book early.In Bridgwater over 6,000 people have been referred for a sanction since the Tories came into power. Ken Loach said recently that he could have filmed I, Daniel Blake in any town in the country.We will collect money for Bridgwater food bank on the night and any surplus money (after paying for the venue) raised from tickets will go to them too.”

Continue reading “I, Daniel Blake to be screened at the Engine Room”

25 Feb

Town Councillors and Chamber of Commerce put pressure on EDF over ‘Catastrophic Roadworks’

Cllr Leigh Redman “EDF need to get their cheque book out now or find a constructive way to help before we lose a business”

Bridgwater Town Council  and Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce have come together to help put pressure on EDF in the light of their most recent and most catastrophic highway ‘improvements’ along the Bristol road and organised an important  meeting for the traders affected.

Town Council’s spokesman for ‘all things nuclear’ Westover County Councillor Leigh Redman (Bridgwater South) said  “Initially the meeting looked like a possible wash out after EDF’s front man David Eccles said he would not make the meeting, leaving his hard working contractors to take the heat. Then a miracle happened and he thought better of missing the meeting and so made a late appearance. It was very frustrating listening to Mr Eccles explain that EDF do not care for Bridgwater traders or businesses. In fact it is simple, they need to put a compensation package into place before someone goes bust because of their roadworks! “ Continue reading “Town Councillors and Chamber of Commerce put pressure on EDF over ‘Catastrophic Roadworks’”

31 Jan

Tuesday 7th February is CLASH DAY (again)

 It only seems a year ago that Bridgwater formally twinned with the US city of Seattle in order to take part in International Clash Day celebrating the life and works of Joe Strummer, lead singer and songwriter of that illustrious punk band and who famously chose to move to Bridgwater, where he sadly died in 2002, but not before declaring it ‘a Clash Town’.

To keep the International link going, Somerset Film is hosting an International Clash Day event on Tuesday February 7th.From 2pm till 5pm visitors can enjoy Clash music and images in the Engine Room café in Bridgwater High Street with a live link to the KEXP radio station in Seattle.  The station will be dedicating the day to Joe Strummer and the Clash and their music.  There will be live music in the cafe from Claude Sandiford plus a video link to Prague, from where the Leader of Bridgwater Town Council Brian Smedley will be joining in together with Czech musicians and Clash fans. Continue reading “Tuesday 7th February is CLASH DAY (again)”