County Councillor Leigh Redman with residents and workers on the newly finished Brownes Pond footpath
Back in June 2013 when The Bridgwater Way (TBW) had set up camp in Rhode Lane, local people were consulted about the problem areas in Hamp in respect of the streets and urban environment. One of the areas that was highlighted as desperate for improvement was the path that runs adjacent to Browne’s Pond. This path was identified as a major route for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooterists to get from Hamp to Morrisons, the YMCA, and via Broadway to the town centre.
Users of the path were reporting issues ranging from cyclists whizzing at speed and pushing or skirting dangerously close to pedestrians, of children tripping into the rhyne (and some jumping across in a form of extreme sport) and mobility scooters toppling over when descending from the bridge. All in all, the shared use of the path by these multiple user groups, was proving problematic and often dangerous. The increasing population of Hamp meant that the squash of bodies navigating the narrow path was going to worsen. TBW was encouraging people to walk and cycle more and use their cars less, so it made good sense to address the problem of pedestrian and cyclist congestion sooner rather than later. Continue reading “Browne’s Pond Footpath Finally Finished”
Crosses at Kings Square from Italy, Canada and the Czech Republic
Visitors from Bridgwater’s Czech and Italian Twin Towns were here to watch carnival but when it came to Remembrance day they had a plane to catch. Nevertheless they wanted to pay their own tribute to the people who had fallen in the many wars that have scarred humanity and so made a brief appearance at the Kings Square cenotaph before catching their flight.
Along with visitors from Canada they placed their own tributes .
Canadians Shawna Cooper and Liam Clarke-Cooper were from the Ontario town of Guelph -coincidentally the home town of First World War poet John McCrea author of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ which had been the inspiration for the whole poppy idea in the first place and so we couldn’t let the occasion go by without inviting the rich North American tones of 16 year old Liam to recite the poem at the King’s Square memorial as the guests planted their crosses bedecked in their national colours.
Liam Clarke-Cooper recites ‘In Flanders Field’
Stanislav Blaha, Mayor of Uherske Hradiste, planted the Czech Cross, Luigi Teodonio, from the Bridgwater-Priverno link, planted the Italian cross while Shawna Cooper planted the Canadian cross bearing the words ‘Peace in our time’.
It was of course a joke made at the last council meeting by Town Council Leader Brian Smedley that the arrival of 2 Policemen from Bridgwater’s Czech twin town Uherske Hradiste would double the Police presence. Sadly it wasn’t far off the truth.
At the October Town Council meeting the members heard from a visiting officer that Police cuts and re-organisation had left the town in a sorry state. Next day it was plastered all over the Bridgwater Mercury. Maybe it should also have been noted that the Town Council voted to strongly support the need to fight for more Police resources in general, to invite the Police Commissioner to an urgent meeting and to explore possibilities of tapping into the EDF fund for ways to boost police numbers.
Meanwhile into town popped the reinforcements.
Vlastimil Paurik and Radek Pavelka are officers from the Czech force and were on an exchange programme with Bridgwater Police organised by Bridgwater International.
Their towering presence, excellent command of English and friendly disposition made them many friends in the town and not only boosted police numbers but added a touch of glamour to the occaision.
The long awaited proposals for the Northgate site will be unveiled to the public this weekend at an initial consultation exercise in Bridgwater’s Angel Place Shopping Centre (16th/17th October) with the plans then being taken widely into the Community for comment. On November 26th the Bridgwater Town Development Forum will receive a presentation along with a business case from Somerset County Council regarding the proposed new school.
Corporate Director Doug Bamsey introduced the initial report at the Executive saying that he had listened to key stakeholders-prominently including the Town Development Forum, and 3 options had been drawn up thus far which would be put into the public domain.
Northgate 1 – Leisure led, enhanced green space, retail.
OPTION 1: Leisure,retail and greenery
Sees a landscaped open space and high quality public realm on the site of the exisiting Brewery Field, enhanced and developed as a ‘through route’ from Angel Crescent to the Docks with a couple of retail kiosks alongside it. It envisages losing a small section of Brewery field to the east of the path, but this being replaced elsewhere over the current carpark entrance and utilising the site of the Blake Hospital for the proposed Primary school. This proposal also sees a Leisure Complex (possibly incorporating a multiplex cinema)with ground floor retail on the site of the Splash . The option also sees a potential retail use on the corner of Anson way/Northgate-with the suggestion that this could possibly be a ‘discount supermarket’. Car parking would be reduced and would fit into a small section at the end of Blacklands-but accessible by undercroft, and a larger section on the grounds of the enterprise centre accessible from Northgate.
Northgate 2;- As above but with a Hotel.
OPTION 2: A Hotel option
Sees the enhanced Brewery field as above and the school, Leisure centre and car parks in the same locations, however it differs in area 7 (anson way/Northgate) where they suggest a Hotel pub restaurant use.
This option maintains the revised green space and the town centre linkage
OPTION 3: A Housing element
Northgate 3;- The Housing option
Sees the same proposal for enhanced Brewery field,leisure complex and car parking but moves the school to the corner of Anson Way/Northgate and offers ‘residential use’ in the form of Townhouses/Apartments alongside the path onto Anson way.
Housing is seen as a way of part funding the project and they cite the nearby Police Station development as a succesful Town centre scheme.
Town Council Leader urges ‘engagement’
Speaking in response to the presentation at the executive Town Council Leader Cllr Brian Smedley(Westover) said “Some of these proposals will be very acceptable to the people of Bridgwater. We have always argued for keeping and even enhancing the green space, maintaining a town centre public realm for instance, urging the focus on providing a leisure facility that can draw people into the town centre and that whatever is devised is compatible with the existing town centre. We are also keen to see a connection from Town Centre to Docks as envisaged in the Bridgwater Vision.”
Town Council Leader urges public to engage with the consultation.
Cllr Smedley continued “We have to however, point to areas where we might have disagreements. Firstly we have stressed that every endeavour should be made to retain or incorporate the historic buildings of Blake Hospital into whatever development results and secondly we remind you that there has been very little support for housing on this site. Also we reserve judgement on the proposed school until County delivers the business plan that it promised. This should crucially include addressing the parking issues and highway matters already flagged up. Crucially, however, we welcome the recognition of Bridgwater Town Development Forum as a key named stakeholder and would urge the public to fully engage in this consultation so that the Forum and both Councils have a clear picture of what is and isn’t wanted when we finally consider the Options for this site.”
‘Widen the consultation’
Cllr Ann Bown (Con,Wembdon & Cannington) said “I welcome the consultation but we’re not going to please everyone. However, this consultation shouldn’t just go to Bridgwater it should go out to the Parish Clusters and to the people outside of the town who will use it. I don’t agree with a pub opposite the Admirals landing as pubs are closing everywhere and I don’t agree with a discount store, it should be a multi-store”
Kerry Rickards (Chief Executive SDC) said he was concerned that it might look like SDC was giving land to SCC so they could build a school.
Doug Bamsey said it was a matter of readjusting to get what was best. “Basically we have a car park and they have a brownfield site.”
The proposals will be on view this weekend (16-17 October) in Angel Place Shopping centre between 1000 hrs and 1400 hrs..
Plans will be on show in Bridgwater House reception from Monday 19th October and presented to the Town Development Forum on November 26th. In the meantime the public is urged to express their opinions..
A Vision of Bridgwater for the ‘People, not for the Developer’? Is it possible?
The second meeting of the new Town Development Forum , chaired by Westover Councillor Brian Smedley and sponsored by Bridgwater Town Council, chose to look at the ‘Bridgwater Vision’ and had as it’s guest speaker Phil Adams from Sedgemoor District Council.
Mr Adams spoke about the ‘Bridgwater Vision’ document which had been launched in 2008 when the Bridgwater of the time identified it’s problems as a low wage low skill economy, rising unemployment, below average educational achievement and a poor road network. However, in 2008 they noted the ‘light levels of congestion’. Continue reading “Town Development Forum discuss a ‘Vision for Bridgwater’”
