Bridgwater docks will still be regenerated by 2026 despite council pressures

The Northgate Docks in Bridgwater will still be regenerated by the spring of 2026 despite the financial and logistical pressures facing Somerset Council. The docks. which form the northern terminus of the historic Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, were earmarked for a £5.2m regeneration as part of the £23.2m Bridgwater town deal.

Bridgwater Town Council raised concerns in August about a lack of progress being made on this project, after months of silence following a public drop-in event held near the docks in December 2023. After months of pressures from the town council, the Canal and River Trust (CRT - which manages the canal) finally began work in late-October to reopen the towpath between the Albert Street and West Street bridges, which has been closed since December 2021 due to public safety fears.

The council has now reaffirmed its commitment to revamping the docks, stating that "additional support" was being allocated within its existing staff to ensure that there could be "significant regeneration of the area" before the funding has to be completely spent in March 2026. Of the £5.2m allocated towards the docks within the Bridgwater town deal, £4.2m will be spent directly on the grade two listed docks and the remaining £1m on walking and cycling improvements in the immediate vicinity.

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A spokesman for the town deal said: "Imagine a future where the Bridgwater Docks area is a vibrant hub of activity, seamlessly blending its rich, old-world maritime heritage with attractive modern-day charm. The revival of this heritage asset will establish Bridgwater Docks as a destination feature in the heart of the town - making it not only an attractive place to live, work and play but also enhancing its appeal to people across Bridgwater, Somerset and beyond.

"Dockside residents who have been relocated to temporary moorings will be able to return to an improved dock, boasting 40 residential mooring spaces in addition to 26 moorings reserved for leisure. Residents and visitors alike will benefit from the improved facilities and increased capacity for leisure amenities and activities.

"These could include enjoying charming waterfront cafés or participating in pursuits such as paddle-boarding and canoeing, as well as benefiting from community spaces that inspire connection. A new shared bridge over the canal will provide easy access to the town centre and the adjacent Northgate Yard.

"This will lead to employment growth and easier access to job opportunities for locals, helping to alleviate the economic pressure of the past few years. The aspiration is that all members of the community will have an opportunity to thrive thanks to the area’s improved investment and growth potential.

"This multi-million-pound transformation will restore historic buildings and infrastructure to preserve our rich heritage, while reconnecting and re-energising the town, creating a vibrant community space where the people of Bridgwater can come together and thrive." The new active travel links being planned around the docks will link up with both the canal towpath and an improved cycle link to the A39 Western Way via Linham Road, which will be completed by Friday (November 8).

The docks recently played host to the Fallen Moon art installation, with Bridgwater becoming the first place to host Luke Jerram's latest creation - though its stay was cut short as a result of adverse weather conditions. Somerset Council said it remained committed to regenerating the docks and was confident it could deliver the majority of improvements by the town deal funding deadline.

A spokesman said: "The Bridgwater docks scheme remains one of the key projects within the wider Bridgwater Town Deal, and work has been continuing looking at some of the technical issues and developing options, particularly around the Newtown Lock area [the site of the existing swing-bridge].

"Additional support is being provided for the docks project and it is still the intention that significant regeneration of the area will be delivered by the March 2026 deadline. There will be further public engagement and consultation, and currently we are working on a revised project delivery programme that will include opportunities for local people and key stakeholders to provide their comments and input."

The Albert Street section of the towpath was closed due to concerns over the safety of the wooden beams which straddle the canal at that point, which date back to the 1970s and had "begun deteriorating to the point that they are at risk of falling".

The CRT's contractors have now removed all the beams (which will be re-purposed as raised flower beds in the local area) and is working on reinforcing the canal walls and clearing vegetation from the towpath.

Once this section has reopened, it will be much easier for residents to use the full canal towpath for both commuting and leisure, using the new Celebration Mile link from the docks to reach the town centre.

The council said it was confident that the CRT works and the ongoing delivery of the Celebration Mile in other parts of the town centre would help to drive the docks project to a successful conclusion.

A spokesman said: "The active travel route that will extend from the River Parrett across the north side of the docks and across the canal is a key part of the scheme, and will also link to the canal towpath. Completing the active travel links in this area is a key objective, and when the towpath is re-opened it will result in further momentum to progress this exciting project."

For information on all the Bridgwater Town Deal projects, visit www.bridgwatertowndeal.co.uk/projects.