17 Feb

Sedgemoor Exec votes to increase Car Parking Charges across the District

SDC moving to ticketless cashless car parking
SDC moving to ticketless cashless car parking

In a bid to gain an extra £90,000 in revenue funding Sedgemoor District Council Executive today voted through a package of measures which will raise car parking charges across the district by 10% and to standardize  the daily charges across the district to £5.

The Exec also agreed to consult with relevant disability user groups about the possibility of introducing car parking charges for disabled customers before making a final decision on blue badge charges and opted to support further development of the cashless and ticketless transaction method.

Council Leader Duncan McGinty (Con, East Polden) said “We haven’t raised charges for 4 years and compared to other Districts in Somerset we are woefully below in comparison. We’ve undertaken a consultation and whilst you’d expect raising charges to be unpopular nevertheless some people were in favour. As unpopular a measure as this may seem I am reasonably comfortable with it.” Continue reading “Sedgemoor Exec votes to increase Car Parking Charges across the District”

15 Feb

Hinkley future in doubt as protesters take to the streets

Anti nuclear protesters in King Square with EDF (they hope) behind them
Anti nuclear protesters in King Square with EDF (they hope) behind them

The future of Hinkley Point was in the public eye today in central Bridgwater as anti-nuclear protesters took to the streets to add their weight to the growing pressure on EDF to abandon their £18.6 bn C Station project.

The giant French energy company EDF is facing the decision to either cancel or delay building the power station as the board of directors of this largely French state-owned company, face up to changing economic realities around the world including the slow down of the Chinese economy (the Chinese had been expected to invest £6.2bn) alongside increased concerns about safety. Continue reading “Hinkley future in doubt as protesters take to the streets”

12 Feb

Sedgemoor Scrutiny Session on ‘Senior Officers’ pay awards set for Feb 19th

SDC CEO Kerry Rickards will be explaining the recent 'Senior Officers Pay Awards'
SDC CEO Kerry Rickards will be explaining the recent ‘Senior Officers Pay Awards’

Following revelations in the Press that Sedgemoor District Councils Chief Executive and several of his senior officers had received ‘sizeable honoraria’ as a consequence of a plan to turn around the fortunes of the  Homes in Sedgemoor ALMO, Westover Councillor Brian Smedley, in his role of Chairman of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee called for  the decision and the process and procedure that led to that controversial decision to be scrutinised in the public eye.

This meeting has now been set for 2.30 in the afternoon of Friday 19th February and will be open to the public who can also request to speak at the meeting by contacting Democratic Services at SDC.

Sedgemoor CEO in the spotlight

Chair of Scrutiny "It's important to have a fair and open investigation into the issues before the public gives their verdict"
Chair of Scrutiny “It’s important to have a fair and open investigation into the issues before the public gives its verdict”

Cllr Smedley said “This is a very difficult issue to call to account as it involves matters of ‘pay and reward’ and issues of perceived ‘value for money’ in a critical area of service delivery-public housing. However, because it’s in the public eye  Sedgemoor has to be seen to be acting according to policy, the decision makers need to be able to justify their decisions and the public needs to know what their decision makers are doing in their name.”

The meeting will be held at Bridgwater House on King Square  and the single item on the agenda will be “To scrutinise the pay awards given to Senior Officers at Sedgemoor, specifically to the Chief Executive “.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register with Democratic Services by 12 Noon on Thursday 18th February. For further information about the Meeting, please contact Democratic Services on 01278 435418 or e-mail steve.taylor@sedgemoor.gov.uk.

12 Feb

‘Clean for the Queen’ along her Right Royal Towpath

IWA volunteers at work cleaning up the docks
IWA volunteers at work cleaning up the docks and fixing the lock gates

At the age of 90 the Queen is getting a bit past being able to do the washing up, hoover the carpets and steamrinse the corgis and so a National Campaign to ‘help her out’ is being offered to her cheerfully obliging subjects. ‘Clean for The Queen’ is a general excuse to clean up the country (That’s the whole UK, no-ones suggesting we sweep English litter under Hadrians Wall and Offas Dyke..) so that on the Queen’s 90th Birthday the place will look just as it did when the Normans first imposed Feudalism here in 1066.

To find out more about the Queen and her Cleaning scheme click here.

Saturday 20th February

Fancy helping these hard working guys ?
Fancy helping these hard working guys ?

You can all do your bit- I’m assuming ..’if you want to’….but first off the mark here in Westover is the Inland Waterways Association Volunteers who are organising a major litter pick on Saturday 20th February along the Canal before rubbish get partially buried by the early spring vegetation growth along the towpath route through the town.

Spokesman Mike Slade says “We also plan to get at the rubbish floating around the Docks. Despite doing so a few times during the Winter it is beginning to build up again. On the last two Wednesday’s some our IWA Volunteers have assisted C&RT staff in replacing the rotten lock gate bridge timbers with new planks. These are the centre gates between the two dock basins. We have a similar Event in Taunton where we plan to do a litter pick in the Frenchweir area of Taunton on Sat March 5th.

Tidying the Towpath

20160203_134941“The plan is for Volunteers to meet at 10am at the IWA cabin in the car park at Bridgwater Docks (TA63EX) and to do a litter pick along the canal towpath through Bridgwater” says Mike   “We will drive Volunteers to various points on so that we cover the stretch of the canal between the Docks to Old Taunton Road and out to Crossways Swing Bridge. We will also cover the footpath on the opposite bank where accessible. Black sacks when full will be left near the various road bridges so that they can be collected easily later by vehicles.Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes and suitable for the weather also to wear sturdy boots and shoes. As usual let me know if you plan to attend please at the very latest by 6pm on Friday 19th February and please include your latest contact telephone number when replying.If would like more information please ring me, I will be very happy to help.”
Mike Slade can be contacted on Mobile07977263840 or Email mike.slade@waterways.org.uk

30 Jan

Bridgwater Remembers Joe Strummer

International Clash Day Feb 5thThis Friday, 5th February, is International Clash Day and Bridgwater will be playing it’s part with a drop in event at the Engine Room from 2pm to 7pm .

Town Council leader Brian Smedley said “When Seattle radio station KEXP asked Bridgwater Town Council if we’d like to join in with their International Clash Day we jumped at the chance. Clash Frontman Joe Strummer moved to the area after visiting Bridgwater Carnival and declaring ‘This is a Clash Town, I love this place , I want to live here’ – and we should be chuffed as anything about that’.

The Clash formed in London in 1976, establishing their unique sound combining punk with reggae, dub, funk, and ska, behind socially conscious lyrics; changed the face of modern music with 5 albums and 16 hit singles. Later Joe Strummer  moved to Bridgwater where on November 17th 2002 he played the Palace Theatre with his band the Mescaleros in order to raise money for the launch of innovative new film and media centre ‘The Engine Room’ Continue reading “Bridgwater Remembers Joe Strummer”