Bridgwater businesses and communities are invited to have their say and input into exciting proposals to restore and regenerate Bridgwater Docks, as part of the government’s Levelling Up programme to transform Bridgwater Town Centre.

The first of a series of public consultations will take place on Wednesday, 13 December at the Bridgwater Sea Cadets Hall, Seaward Drive, Bridgwater, TA6 3FJ, from 3:30pm-6:30pm, and all are welcome to attend. Further consultations will be held as the project progresses; the events are free of charge and booking is not required.

Bridgwater has been selected as one of 101 towns to receive investment through the government’s Towns Fund scheme as part of its Levelling Up programme.

£23.2m of government funding has been secured to ‘level up’ this beautiful and historical part of the country, through 11 projects which form the Bridgwater Town Deal. The aim: to create a vibrant and welcoming town centre, by revitalising the social, cultural and economic offerings in town centre, as well as unlocking future growth by resolving traffic congestion, and protecting the area from tidal flooding.

Cllr Ros Wyke, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning & Assets, said:

Funded by the government’s Levelling Up programme, the regeneration of Bridgwater is an energising and welcome initiative for Somerset. £5.2m of funding will see the revival of the historic Docks quarter as well as the development of sustainable travel options – particularly in our walking and cycling routes. Together these provide an excellent opportunity to establish a new and exciting destination feature in the heart of the town, creating better facilities for residents, increased capacity for leisure activities and improved connectivity across the town and county as a whole.

Paul Moore, Chairman of the Bridgwater Town Deal Board, added:

We are delighted to announce the first of Bridgwater Town Deal’s consultations on 13 December and invite the community to feed into the proposals for the long-awaited rejuvenation of Bridgwater, its historic docks and wider improvements to the way we travel across and around the town. The session will be a great opportunity to meet the project team, engage with the proposals right from the start and offer a local community perspective to this project. I encourage as many people as possible to join and I look forward to seeing you there.

For more information about the Bridgwater Town Deal, visit www.bridgwatertowndeal.co.uk.