18 Jul

Town Development Forum supports Maritime Future for Bridgwater

dg050At this weeks meeting of the Bridgwater Town Development Forum, Ray Alexander from the Inland Waterways Association made a presentation urging Sedgemoor District Council and the Environment Agency to consider the future navigation options for the town by ensuring the Tidal Barrier was ‘futureproofed’ and had the potential for a lock and the penning of waters to make the river once more navigable and therefore opening up the commercial and community potentials of the docks and canal.

Cllr Brian Smedley opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and introduced guest speakers: Ray Alexander of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and Doug Bamsey of Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) also speaking on behalf of the Environment Agency (EA). Continue reading “Town Development Forum supports Maritime Future for Bridgwater”

18 Jul

Docks Gala Increases Focus on Bridgwater’s Waterways

Bridgwater's waterways - an asset in waiting.
Bridgwater’s waterways – an asset in waiting.

Last week a flotilla of 10 cabin cruisers came across the Bristol Channel and went up the Avon into Bristol harbour basin with large numbers of people on board each craft. At a  estimated spend of £250 -£300  per craft by those on board into the local economy it is easy to see how Bridgwater’s economy might benefit similarly  if our own Dock and River were able to accept such visitors regularly.

It was with this obvious regeneration opportunity in mind that this weeks ‘Town Development Forum’ meeting focused on the idea of opening up our waterways for navigation. Town Council Leader Brian Smedley (Westover) said “We have a major opportunity right now with the Parrett Barrier to futureproof our waterways for regeneration. If we get the barrier right we can ensure there are the possibilities in future to open up the river for navigation, which means opening up the docks, which means opening up the canal. Bridgwater’s hidden assets have been all around us all along.” Continue reading “Docks Gala Increases Focus on Bridgwater’s Waterways”

18 Jun

On this Day in History: June 18th 1992 Bridgwater Twins with the Czechs

June 18th 1992 Czech dancers in Bridgwater as the Town twins with Uherske Hradiste
June 18th 1992 Czech dancers in Bridgwater as the Town twins with Uherske Hradiste

On June 18 1992 Bridgwater became the first British town to twin with a town in Czechoslovakia after their Velvet Revolution. At the Medieval Sydenham Manor, then in the heart of the British Cellophane works in the east of Bridgwater, ornately costumed Slavic folk dancers in  knee length leather boots, embroidered shirts and plume feathered hats skipped and pranced across the lawns with multi skirted puff sleeved ladies with scarves so tight that you could only see  noses eyes and mouths whilst  violins, clarinets and hammer dulcimers backed a lively Moravian chorus pierced by wild East European shrieks of ‘Yi,Yi Yahoo!’. Why on earth was this happening in Bridgwater of all places?

Continue reading “On this Day in History: June 18th 1992 Bridgwater Twins with the Czechs”

12 Jun

Re-claiming Blake Gardens

Blake Gardens needs a re-vamp
Blake Gardens needs a re-vamp

Following a long list of complaints about a range of things involving Blake Gardens ward councillors called a meeting with the various agencies  including the Police, Sedgemoor ASB team and Licensing, the Fire Service, Clean Surroundings, the Town Council and the Library Service and agreed a course of action

Following works by Wessex Water there has been a lingering smell in the area. Wessex are aware of the issue and are in the process of dealing with it.

Anti-Social Behaviour is a major problem – partly due to the time of year and the good weather but also due to a  recent  concern by the public of using the place. Police numbers are down generally and that’s not very re-assuring but they agreed they would maintain cover and respond to incidents. However, we need to encourage people to report ASB when it happens so they can maintain a log otherwise they deny there’s a problem. This is a bigger issue because actually people often do report things but end up waiting on the 101 number for ages and getting nowhere so give up. But we will undertake to keep track and follow up all incidents people contact us about. If a matter needs an immediate response use 999. Email incidents to us as well westoverward@gmail.com and also contact the ASB hotline at Sedgemoor 0800 298 2009

Blake Gardens - now a priority site for tackling anti social behaviour
Blake Gardens – now a priority site for tackling anti social behaviour

There are also regular ASB Blake Garden Beat surgeries at the Library. These are held fortnightly 10am-12. The next one is Wednesday 22nd June

A Family Friendly Park

The main way to deal with this issue is by Reclaiming the Park. Accordingly  we are launching a project to try to reclaim the park from the people who abuse it – and that involves a CIM (Community Impact Mitigation)  funding bid to make it family friendly again. This includes putting back rose beds, installing working fountains, landscaping, re-turfing, getting band concerts back there, linking with the Museum and the Library and sensitively lighting the riverside. The aim will be that Blake Gardens should no longer be the shady environment for the dodgy users to carry on as before and they’ll move on.

Some of the pumping station images unpopular with residents
Some of the pumping station images unpopular with residents

The Pumping Station

The other big concern is the Wessex Pumping Station on the Old Taunton Rd side of the park. Last year we received petitions from almost everybody in Old Taunton Rd about the art project on the Wessex Pumping station. Quite rightly people are unhappy as they didn’t like the result they had to live with and actually they weren’t involved in the first place. Neither were us ward Councillors! This is why we want to solve it in an obvious way. We have made some of our Town Council ward money available and can get down an artist who’ll simply re-do it to whatever residents ask. However, we need to get it clear what that is. To this end we will have a site meeting at the Pumping Station at 7pm on  Monday 20th June and discuss the issue. If people can’t make this meeting they can write or call us in advance on westoverward@gmail.com

9 Jun

Tonight Bridgwater debates Europe: In or Out LIVE from Bridgwater’s YMCA Centre

J23This evening (Thursday 9th June) Bridgwater radio station Sedgemoor FM is  hosting a LIVE question and answer event with Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, Bridgwater Press and YMCA Somerset Coast, at the YMCA George Williams Centre, Friarn Avenue, Bridgwater.

Host Dave Engelfield says “This is your chance to ask questions and find out just what staying in, or leaving the EU means for the whole of the UK and our community. Taking place in the heart of the community it promises to be an informative and interesting evening providing an opportunity for people to ask questions and to help local people and businesses become more knowledgeable around their decision making on 23 June 2016”

The event will be a broadcast live  at 6pm tonight on 104.2 Sedgemoor FM  with questions from the audience present on the evening.

If you want to ask a question,  they must be submitted in advance by emailing events@sedgemoorfm.co.uk

If you would like to attend, register for your tickets HERE:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eu-referendum-in-or-out-tickets-25812598176

Please ensure that you register for tickets, as demand is anticipated to be high, you will not be permitted entry without a valid ticket.

SPEAKERS

THE PANEL

Steve Leahy from Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce says “We have put together an expert panel offering a wide range of experience from politics and business and includes 3 on each side.”

“Our panelists include former Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt, Labour Leader in Sedgemoor Cllr Mick Lerry and co-ordinator of the South West Green Party’s ‘Greener In’ campaign Ewan Jones on the REMAIN side plus James Tucker-owner of CEX shops throughout the South west, Chris Spencer-30 years partner of Pardoes Solicitors,now owner of Hooks ltd and finally UKIP Parliamentary candidate Steven Fitzgerald speaking for LEAVE.”