“Bridgwater is changing, it’s time for you to have your say!” Wes Hinckes
Everybody’s talking about the large investments that are going to be made in Bridgwater and the local area. Hinkley Point C is already contributing to our local economy, and there’s a likelihood of a Bridgwater Tidal Lagoon, both huge construction projects, both great employers, both using high tech skills that will help us to become a world leader in new technologies.
But how will that investment money be spent? Community Activist Wes Hinckes is urging people to look at Project Blueprint and recommends Westover people turn up to the YMCA on 18th & 25th March (2-5 pm) to find out more
“Bridgwater is changing, it’s time for you to have your say!”
So I was delighted to have been put in touch with Kate Rowlands of the Real Ideas Organisation. She and her team have been commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions to find out how the people of Bridgwater, Highbridge and West Somerset want the money to be spent!
Real Ideas
RIO are experienced in economic regeneration and the development of sustainable communities. They understand that a long term future requires a different approach than what we’ve seen applied before. It isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about working with the assets already present within our community. It’s about creating long lasting solutions to local problems.
Want to see what they can do? Try taking a look at Devonport Guildhall!
Is it tumbleweed connection time for the Magistrates court?
At todays Budget set meeting of Sedgemoor District Council a Labour bid to increase spending for Bridgwater was rejected by the ruling Tory group.
The Labour group had put forward three amendments .The first amendment was for £500K to meet the funding gap for the first phase of the Celebration Mile, relating to the enhancement of Bridgwater Station. Labour leader Cllr Mick Lerry (Bridgwater Victoria) said “The Tories denied there was a funding gap, but the Consultant’s document stated that 1.5 million was needed for the Station improvements and at the moment only 800K had been provided by the LEP.”
The amendment was defeated along with another amendment to increase income generation by allowing the Council to access expertise and skills to market new ventures for the Council to generate income, over and above planning fees and parking receipts.
Cllr Lerry had submitted a further bid request 200K for the purchase of the Magistrates Court but this was again refused by the Controlling Tory Group. Cllr Mick Lerry stated: “ This was a real opportunity to use the Magistrates Court for a shared Council chamber, while leasing extra space at Bridgwater House. The accommodation on site could also be used to house residents and there were other opportunities to develop around the Courts because of the large footprint which included the parking area. However, once again the Tories refuse to invest in Bridgwater”
Westover councillor Brian Smedley said “The urgency to bring this extra bid today was because Sedgemoor were not likely to call the meeting of their Community Right to Bid panel before the Auction on Tuesday. However, this was nevertheless an ideal opportunity for very little outlay to save a valuable piece of our heritage for future generations and sadly they’ve turned it down. Now we are at the mercy of the market and the auctioneers hammer – but who’s to say a benefactor with a sense of community spirit won’t come forward at the 11th hour.”
Cllr Smedley has written to developers McCarthy and Stone, who are building residential units on the site of the adjacent former Police station, to consider investing in the Courthouse on behalf of the community.
With auction looming tommorrow and the Sedgemoor Community Assets panel unable to meet to register the Magistrates court as a community asset, an 11th hour bid by the town and district Labour Groups to save the building for public use is being attempted.
On Friday following a successful public meeting demonstrating support for the building, Cllr Brian Smedley sent a letter to SDC Chief Exec Kerry Rickards calling for Sedgemoor to bid at auction. Rickards said there was interest but he needed ‘the political will to take it forward’.
At today’s SDC budget set meeting Labour leader Cllr Mick Lerry will submit an additional £200,000 growth bid while asking for Sedgemoor to use it to bid at auction to bring back the building to public ownership.
Cllr Lerry said “There is clearly public support for the retention of this building and I am asking Sedgemoor to put up the money and to seek partnership from such bodies as the town council, EDF and the community groups who expressed an interest. This is an investment for Bridgwater’s future.
The response letter from Kerry Rickards to Cllr Smedley is below
Brian,
Thank you for the e mail and you raise some interesting views/suggestions. I took time out a few weeks back to carry out an examination of the magistrates court both internally and externally a few weeks back alongside two other officers of the Council.
Our joint view was that the facilities were not what this Council was looking for and that the building will require substantial funds of both a capital and revenue nature and that sadly this lovely old building would not meet the Councils agenda moving forward.
I have prompted SHAL to look at it as they showed some interest but I do not know whether it would be fit for their purpose either.
It may be something that the Town Council could get interested in and make work, but unless I am given a specific Political Mandate, this Council will not be submitting a bid.
In a depleted room full of coughs and sneezes the Bridgwater Town Council Planning Panel met to consider local planning applications before they went to Sedgemoor for decision. Westover Councillor Brian Smedey reports from the meeting.
First up was a controversial bid for the erection of dwellings to the rear of 3-7 North street including access and parking. Residents were not happy with the proposal which seemed like backland development, including elements of overshadowing and included considerable disruption to wildlife habitat. A submission by Cllr Kathy Pearce (Westover) made the following observations. “Impact on neighbouring properties: We believe the application, as it stands would have a detrimental effect on neighbours by impacting on a legal right of way for neighbouring properties. Plus, three x three bedroom properties on this back garden site would seem to us be over-development. Environmental concerns: The ecological survey has revealed evidence of Japanese Knotweed. Account needs to be taken of how this plant will be disposed of so as not to spread into the neighbouring properties. The survey also states that there should be a precautionary account to ground works, bearing in mind the trees and hedgerows on this site and points out that it is offence to damage or destroy a nest when being built or in use (ref: Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981). It also points out there are habitats considered to have site value. We therefore believe that this site requires sensitive treatment because of the issues raised by neighbours and the Ecological Survey and that unles these matters are resolved this application, as it stands, should be refused. ” The Panel recommended rejection.
Brightening up the West Quay.
On West Quaythe new landlords at number 7 were keen to do their bit to enhance the shopfront by removing a metal grill from the shop window, repainting the shop front, installing a couple of lamps either side of the door and various other upgrades. The Heritage group had urged a relook at the colour scheme and a removal of the satellite dish – which didn’t actual work or belong to anybody anyway. Members supported the works and recommended approval.
A proposal to install an emergency back-up electricity generator in land alongside the Telephone Exchange in George street was supported after it became clear that use would be limited and noise would be negligible.
A large Wych Elm tree overhanging Homecastle House in Chandos street from land to the rear of the Lions Club on West Quay was in need of secondary growth removing. This was supported.
Clearing the land for new build at Northgate.
Similarly trees were for the chop at the former Police Station where a couple of Norway Maples needed the crowns raised and/or stumps ground out in order to facilitate the already agreed residential development by McCarthy and Stone. “It’s got to happen as they’ve got to build” said Wyndham councillor David Baker.
The Panel had 3 applications from Gibbins Richards of 17 High streetand opinion was divided. The shop front had been replaced on a listed building in a conservation area and a request to retain these changes was submitted. The Panel was not happy at the retrospective action.
Inappropriate for a listed building in a conservation area?
Cllr Pat Morley (Fairfax) said “This totally ignores the listed nature of the building and missed and opportunity to enhance the High street.”. A statement from the Heritage Group referred to it’s “unsightly appearance” and “out of keeping”. On this base refusal was recommended. However the committee clashed on a 3rd submission which simply referred to the new fascia sign. Councillors Smedley and Morley argued for consistency and urged rejection but lost the vote 2.3.
The meeting also received news of 2 previous decisions being over turned by Sedgemoor planners. We had urged rejection of the illuminated signage around the Nat West bank – but SDC had supported this, and worse, the Town’s position of opposing the Paddy Power bookies on the Cornhill had been ignored by SDC and planning permission approved. A slight victory only had been achieved by the insistence of a compromise colour of ‘heritage green’ instead of the proposed yellow.
I’ll name that bridge in one…..
The panel were also informed of some TRO’s (road traffic orders) which included some overnight works on the ‘Chandos Bridge’ for resurfacing. The Panel seemed ok with that as it would be unobtrusively done through the night, yet a major disagreement broke out over the name of the bridge. “I’ve always known it as the Sainsbury’s bridge because they paid for it” said Cllr Smedley – who was backed up by Cllr Baker, however, Town Clerk Alan Hurford insisted that on maps it was known as Chandos bridge but conceded “This may in fact refer to the nearby railway bridge….”
Around 40 people attended a private viewing of the former Bridgwater Magistrates Court building on Northgate, arranged by Westover councillor Brian Smedley as Chairman of the Town Council Community Assets Working Party. Bridgwater and District Civic Society President Derek Gibson started the tour with a brief account of the history of the building,which goes back to Edwardian times, and reminding everyone of the need to preserve this building as a heritage and community resource if at all possible.
The building, which has been on the market for almost 2 years, with no interest shown by commercial bidders probably because the listed status of parts of the building and contents would restrict it’s use and application, is now up for auction on Tuesday 24th February and at a knock down price of £185,000 there’s a real chance that it could be snapped up.
An application for the building to be listed as a Community Asset has been lodged with Sedgemoor District Council however, the Panel is unlikely to be convened before the auction.
Possible Future Uses
A trip down memory lane for some….
After the tour, there was general discussion about the possible future uses of the building with considerable enthusiasm from the general public with a variety of proposals made including the use by the carnival committee, a living history museum, commercial letting of offices, residential use of former accommodation section, conference facilities, centre for voluntary organisations, a Senior Sports Centre, involvement by the arts centre and the Guild of Craftsmen, Somerset Wildlife exhibition, small business social enterprise training and numerous others.
Once the outcome of the Community Assets List application is known, a further meeting will be called.
Cllr Smedley said after the meeting “The imminence of the Auction is a crucial factor in what happens next. I understand that there are interested parties and of course a sale could bring the building back into community use, however to achieve some of the ideas raised by the members of the public it would be better for the property to be brought into public ownership and with this in mind I have written to SDC Chief Exec Kerry Rickards to make a last minute intervention.”
Local people clearly want the building saved for public use.
Letter from Cllr Brian Smedley to Kerry Rickards & Duncan McGinty (Sedgemoor District Council) 20.02.2015
Dear Kerry
I am writing to you with some urgency to ask you to consider the opportunity next week to add the Bridgwater Magistrates Court to your list of premises.
The court building is up for auction on Tuesday at a very good starting price of £180,000 and of course would be a valuable asset to Sedgemoor bearing in mind the current capacity use of Bridgwater House since the office sharing with County, Police, Homes in Sedgemoor etc,
The building has a ready made court room/council chamber of an attractive historic nature which could also be used for community use.
There are additional features such as accommodation units and ante rooms which could be used to generate income for the building.
Below is a list of suggested uses by the Community from our well attended visit today which was arranged by the Town Council and the Civic Society and clearly demonstrated a desire by the townspeople to retain this building for community use and as a well loved feature of our disappearing heritage. • · The Carnival Committee might be interested in using/investing in the building. • · The former solicitors’ offices at the back could be let to commercial/professional tenants • · The existing flat could be let commercially • · Voluntary organisations could hire meeting/lecture/conference facilities to enable financial sustainability • · A voluntary working party could provide essential maintenance at low cost • · McCarthy & Stone, who are building retirement flats next door, could set up a Senior Sports Centre, with activities for older people • · Features of main court should be maintained if possible (panelling & benches) • · Expanding space provision for Blake Museum • · Arts Centre could be involved • · Permanent exhibition on the history of law, tour of cells and court • · Somerset Guild of Craftsmen are looking for a new home • · Somerset County Museum should be involved • · Permanent exhibition on Somerset Wildlife • · Combination of museum and education centre • · Provision of small business/social enterprise training Could I ask that you urgently consider an intervention in the auction process with a view to buying this property and bringing it back into the public domain?
