This week I’m working in Cornwall. I’ve just left my Czech students on St Michael’s Mount and reminded them to get back before the causeway closes at 1230. Well, it turns out it closes at 1155, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Or not. There’s a far more salient transport issue that’s preoccupying everyone back in Bridgwater and that’s the long-awaited report of the County Council (‘s consultants) into the review of the very popular (sic) Celebration Mile. Some people will be disappointed…
In a week where the Tories have been yet again all over local social media yet again purporting to be the defenders of goodliness, loveliness and slightly rewriting history ness, the facts come as a bit of a challenge.
The thing about the Celebration Mile project is that it originated as the Bridgwater Vision under Tory Sedgemoor in 2009, became the 2011 core strategy, the 2014 feasibility study, and the 2020 town deal bid. All Tory Sedgemoor projects. In 2023 the County Unitary was created and Sedgemoor was abolished, so the county Lib Dems inherited all the Sedgemoor projects. Including this one. Whether they wanted to or not. Why can’t the Tories just admit they’re green, cuddly and love cyclists? Well, probably because they know nobody would believe them.
Vision
But to be fair to the Lib Dems, they’ve tried to carry out what the (old) Tories asked them to. That’s because the vision going back to 2009 was to find ways to keep cars out of the town centre, to encourage cycling routes and to make a better ‘public realm’. The problem for the (new) Tories agitating on social media is that they no longer seem to want that. And many people writing on social media have no idea of the original terms of reference. So this is indeed a massive recipe for false hope and deep unhappiness.
The Tories got a petition together and about 5,000 people signed it. A lot of them turned up at a county council meeting and showed how angry they were. However, it took Leigh Redman (the Labour leader) to put a motion to council that was acceptable to the Lib Dems to call for a review.
On Town council we supported this because we also have a network of partners from the community who we like to get involved in these key decisions. Our Town Development Forum includes reps from businesses, the civic society, trades unions, senior citizens, carnival, education, community groups and transport users and they reflect many different views. As theree are in any community. . We had a meeting in January to which County lead Mike Rigby turned up and promised to report back. Then didn’t. We’ve pushed and we’re now finally holding our review of his review on Tuesday 2nd June, in time for the County Exec to make a decision a day later.
Disappointment
But this is where people need to expect disappointment. There are 5 options on the table and the one most likely to be agreed by County is the ‘it’s fine as it is. Mission accomplished’ one. This Ground Zero option basically proves in the report that the aim of doing the whole thing in the first place was to minimalize traffic, on street parking, and encourage more cycle routes. It’s done that. Plus, foot fall is right down. I’d say not the result people were expecting, but they’re judging it against 2009 targets. The Tories probably need to be a little more honest and admit it was all their idea in the first place and they’re holding out hope now where there is little.
There are 5 options. Op 0 is leave it as it is now. Op A is one way south-north. Op C is do that the opposite direction. Op B is bring back 2-way traffic. This is the one the Tories are pushing for and the modelling shows that for car drivers that’s clearly the best option as it lessens journey times by the most number of seconds. And yes, we are talking ‘seconds’ here. Is it all worth it for this we ask?
Anger
There’s a 4th option negotiated in by Cllr Redman. Option D sees traffic coming from Broadway onto Salmon Parade and able to use the parking re-installed there but then the route has to exit via town bridge and Binford place. In this option traffic also comes south from East Quay and crosses the bridge.
The bottom line here is that there’s a lot of anger and that anger is because time has moved on but the project hasn’t. People aren’t invovled and don’t feel included. On town council our role has always been to consult the people and make sure all the different views are heard. Our motion was cross party and our mission is to get county to accept that we speak for the people we’re closest to. Because we’re one and the same.
To read a full report of the Town Development Forum in January 2026 click here.