Work on the Celebration Mile project in Bridgwater has been delayed several times. Picture: Somerset Council

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Bridgwater Celebration Mile work “simply not good enough”, says county chief

Paul JonesSeptember 26, 20250 Comment0

BRIDGWATER’S Celebration Mile project could be completed in the next three weeks – as a county leader revealed frustration over delays to the work.

The government-funded regeneration project, which aims to create a pedestrian and cycle route from Bridgwater train station to the Docks, celebrating the history of the town along the way.

However, work on the scheme has seen a host of road closures and works, with residents and businesses voicing concern over the impact on trade and traffic.

Now, Somerset Council says it is working to ensure work is completed in October.

A key focus has been the Eastover area of the town and includes Angel Place and Clare Street, with contractor Taylor Woodrow working to re-energise the areas by improving footfall and encouraging people to spend more time in the town centre.

However, the completion date on Eastover has been pushed back several times by the contractor – leading to pushback from residents and traders.

Now, Somerset Council’s lead member for economic development, planning and assets, Councillor Mike Rigby, has spoken of how he is “disappointed” at progress and the resultant disruption.

“This is an important scheme to improve the shopping experience and open up the area for street events, such as entertainment and markets,” he said.

“We have always been fully committed to the concept, but I am very disappointed at how this has been delivered.

“We understand there will be challenges with a job of this scale, but there doesn’t appear to have been sufficient contingency planning around these in terms of increasing the pace of work, and at the same time both the council and public have been informed too late of delays, road closures and programme changes.

“When you compare this with other recently completed council infrastructure projects the performance here is simply not good enough.

“We are extremely sorry for the delays and disruption caused to traders and local people – we are having discussions with the contractor about our dissatisfaction with the way this has been handled.”

Eastover in Bridgwater has been hard hit by road closures during work on the Celebration Mile. Picture: Google

As well as making Eastover one-way, wider pavements have been created to improve the public space using high-quality paving materials, the council said, along with the addition of new street furniture, lighting and planters.

These improvements are running alongside new public art funded by the Town Deal – such as the Eastover Mural at the Indoor Market and the colourful brickwork project at the junction of Broadway and St John Street.

The contractor is scheduled to complete Eastover, by early October, and the rest of the scheme by mid-October, dependent on weather and other external factors, the council added.

And council chiefs said they are “working hard to press for a clear completion date as soon as possible”.

The final section of the works will be the introduction of a one-way system in East Quay and Salmon Parade which will not involve any construction, simply lines and signage.

Resurfacing work scheduled for the section will now be done at a later date under the council’s maintenance programme.

For more information about the Bridgwater Town Deal, visit bridgwatertowndeal.co.uk, and for details of the Celebration Mile, see somerset.gov.uk/business-economy-and-licences/celebration-mile.