£20 million funding for Bridgwater to improve deprived areas
Somerset Council has welcomed the investment
Bridgwater will be able to spend £20m over the next ten years on major improvements to some of its most deprived neighbourhoods.
Bridgwater was the only town within the Somerset Council area to benefit from phase two of the government’s pride in place programme, which will see 169 UK neighbourhoods boosted in a bid to “build strong, resilient and integrated communities”.
The funding can be spent on projects, backed by local residents, which are designed to increase social mobility, improve access to local services and encourage greater community spirit.
Somerset Council has welcomed the investment and said it would publish details of how decisions on the funding would be taken in due course.
The 169 neighbourhoods included in phase two were selected based upon the government’s “index of multiple deprivation” (which includes unemployment and crime rates) and its “community needs index” (which covers access to services, community infrastructure, and “civic participation”).
The Bridgwater South neighbourhood – which includes large sections of the Hamp area of the town – was the only neighbourhood selected in the Somerset Council area.
Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, welcomed the funding as “good news for Bridgwater” – and said he would continue to push the government to fund regeneration projects elsewhere in his constituency.
He said: “I have been lobbying hard for our town, so I welcome this announcement as the only town in Somerset to have secured funding.
“Bridgwater has already benefited from almost £45m through the town deal and levelling up funding from the last government.
“This additional £20m over the next ten years will build on that investment and help deliver further improvements for Bridgwater.
“I am, however, disappointed that Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge was not included, particularly as there are some acute needs in parts of those communities.
“One of my first acts as MP was to lobby for additional investment into Burnham and Highbridge, so I am sad this has not been forthcoming.
“Nevertheless, this is positive news for Bridgwater and I look forward to meeting with ministers to understand how we can get the best out of this programme for local residents.”
Councillor Leigh Redman, leader of the Labour opposition group on Somerset Council, took to social media following the announcement to urge local residents to have their say on how the funding could be spent.
Mr Redman – who represents the Bridgwater North and Central division – said: “Bridgwater is going to benefit with another £20m investment – that’s £2m per year for the next ten years.
“That’s fantastic news – and the best part is that it’s going to be up to us, local people to decide how the money is spent.
“Bridgwater is a great place – I’ve lived here all my life. I still live in the town, and I’ve taken on the opportunity to fight for our town.
“Bridgwater can be so much better, and this money will be a good start.
“Over the next months, as plans develop as to how you can get involved, I want to hear from you.
“Together, we can make Bridgwater and our community better.”
Numerous regeneration projects in Bridgwater have been subject to significant delays in their delivery, with the town fund-backed Celebration Mile roadworks dragging on for more than a year and improvements to the Northgate Docks being pushed back to 2026.
Somerset Council has not confirmed how soon the money could begin being spent, or how decisions on which projects would be funded would be taken.
Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, said: “We welcome this investment.
“It is fantastic for Bridgwater, which is already benefiting from significant funding and a number of major initiatives during the last couple of years.
“We are very much looking forward to working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to understand the specific details and how this funding can be used most effectively to support Bridgwater’s continued revitalisation.”