Public invited to have say on Somerset docks plan

The public are invited to a series of meetings starting on December 13

Residents are being asked for their views on a planned £23.2m docks regeneration.

Bridgwater is one of 101 places in the UK receiving money from the government's town funding scheme.

The public have been invited to several drop-in events, the first of which being held on December 13 at Bridgwater Sea Cadets Hall on Seaward Drive.

Paul Moore, chairman of the Bridgwater Town Deal Board, said they were excited for "the long-awaited rejuvenation of Bridgwater [and] its historic docks".

The council plans to invest on activities for the docks

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the docks have not been used since December 2021 after the last lease held by the Canal and River Trust expired.

£5.2m will be spent on the docks.

A total of £4.2m will be used for the site itself, and a reserved £1m will fund upgrades on the current travel networks with a focus on walking and cycle routes.

The funding is ring-fenced which means the money will not be spent on day-to-day services by Somerset Council.

Louise Darch, a council planning officer said: "We’re looking at various different activities which can be provided on the docks, including canoeing, paddle-boarding and potentially swimming."

Money is being reserved to upgrade walking and cycling routes

The docks also form the western end of the Celebration Mile which runs through the town centre.

A separate town deal project will see £9m spent on upgrades to Angel Crescent, Clare Street and Eastover.