At tonights Bridgwater Town Council members passed a unanimous motion to step up the pressure on Somerset Council to come to a speedy resolution to the controversial Celebration Mile. Town Council Leader Cllr Brian Smedley (Labour,Westover) proposed the motion saying “In the light of yesterdays County Council meeting where Bridgwater Councillors were united in calling for a review of the traffic direction  along East Quay and Salmon Parade it is important that we now step up that pressure and get a resolution as quickly as possible. This has to involve County officers and senior  councillors meeting with us and our key partners to review the project and do what is right by the people of Bridgwater.” The motion was seconded by Deputy Conservative Leader cllr Diogo Rodrigues (Con, Fairfax East) and voted through unanimously.

The motion read as follows;-

Following consultation with our key partners on the outcome of the now completed Celebration Mile works through Eastover and the successful outcome of the Labour motion at Somerset Council, Bridgwater Town Council calls for the following

To engage with Somerset Council and our key partners on a review with the desired aims as follows

• To restore parking on Salmon Parade
• To reconsider the directional traffic flow on Salmon Parade and East Quay with the preferred outcome of restoration of 2-way traffic
• To focus on increased pedestrian safety in the boxed junction area East of Town Bridge
• To take appropriate measures to enforce parking restrictions in Eastover
• To call a meeting of the Town Development Forum involving Somerset Council key officers and transport planners alongside our own key partners to determine a lasting solution to town centre routes.
• For the above to be evidence based and carried out in the fastest possible timescale

Cllr Diogo Rodrigues seconding the motion said “Decision-makers act in good faith with the intention of improving our communities. But when a decision has such a clear and unintended negative impact, the right thing to do is to acknowledge it, say ‘this is not right, it is not fair on our residents, we got it wrong,’ and take steps to rectify it.

“This motion reflects what over 5,800 Bridgwater residents have called for in their petition, and I am pleased to give it my full support and work cross-party to deliver the outcome our residents want.”