6 Jun

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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4 May

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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29 Mar

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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8 Mar

Focus on Policing in Bridgwater

Police community engagement at Bridgwater Town Hall

Policing has always been at the top of Bridgwater Town Council’s agenda. For years the Town Council has included item 1 of every meeting for a report by the Police who were open to questioning from Town Councillors. This year the Town has set up a series of Police Forum Meetings where concerns from the public can be discussed and where ward councillors can raise matters specific to their own area and the council can set priorities. Town Council Leader Brian Smedley says “We have now had 2 Police Forums involving senior Police officers along with PCSOs and the new Town Wardens, so we have a great basis for understanding and setting and reviewing ongoing priorities. On top of this our Police liaison Team – myself, Cllr Liz Marsh and Cllr Tim Mander, also attended a separate meeting this week with Avon & Somerset PCC Mark Shelford and further raised our concerns there. “

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