Bridgwater Mercury

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater planning decisions, March 8-14, 2026
Here are the latest planning decisions made in and around Bridgwater.

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater planning applications: March 8-14, 2026
Here are the latest planning applications in and around Bridgwater.

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Your Health, Your Choice: Could Somerset become a Blue Zone?
Older adults in Liverpool create their own 'Blue Zone' by strength training and building community, showing longevity habits can thrive in the UK.

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
New Highbridge tattoo and piercing studio opens doors
Dermoda Studio and Training opens in Highbridge, offering custom tattoos, body piercing, laser tattoo removal and CPD-accredited training courses.

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Somerset Camera Club members take photos of the 'wrong seasons'
This week, the members of Somerset Camera Club have been taking photos of the 'wrong seasons' i.e. photographs that could pass for a different season.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Public vote launched to find favourite independent shops in Bridgwater
Vote now in the Bridgwater and Burnham’s Favourite Independent Shops 2026 competition, organised by Sir Ashley Fox MP. Voting open until 5 April.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Strike action ends at South West mental health charity
Second Step mental health charity staff in South West end 27-day strike after winning improved pay, extra leave, and official UNISON union recognition.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Cycling scheme for Bridgwater children expands to even more schools
Bridgwater on the Move expands safe cycling training for year five and six pupils, promoting active travel and reducing school-run traffic.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Tax changes to impact thousands of South West sole traders
From April 2026, 83,000 South West sole traders and landlords must comply with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for income tax.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater vet appointed trustee of African wildlife foundation
Bridgwater vet Louise Ash, of Quantock Veterinary Hospital, named trustee and veterinary advisor for Gambian Wildlife Foundation, aiding African animal welfare.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:55:00 +0000
How £102m is being spent to improve 16 Somerset GP surgeries
Thousands of additional GP appointments can soon be offered across Somerset as 16 local surgeries begin to benefit from £102m of government investment

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:31:00 +0000
Woman dies after 'medical incident' on A38 Bridgwater Road
A woman has been pronounced dead after a 'medical incident' off a major road in Somerset.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:27:00 +0000
Somerset heating oil users to receive support via new crisis and resilience fund
Heating oil customers in Somerset will receive financial support through the new crisis and resilience fund, with a share of £53m being provided

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:11:14 +0000
Bridgwater man handed community ordered for filming intimate acts without consent
Josh Porter, from Bridgwater, has been handed a community order for filming intimate acts without consent.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:35:00 +0000
Man sentenced for travelling at 149mph on M5 between Taunton and Bridgwater
An uninsured driver who was recorded travelling at speeds of 149mph on the M5 between J24 and J25 in wet conditions has been disqualified from driving.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:44:35 +0000
Fire crews from multiple stations extinguish large tractor blaze near Taunton
Firefighters from four Somerset fire stations extinguished a large tractor blaze that spread to nearby crops near Taunton this week.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:46:02 +0000
Local news matters now more than ever to our communities - here's why
Local news helps me our communities stronger and better. As the UK Government published it's local media plan, we look at why.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:05:00 +0000
Spring clean events planned across Bridgwater to tidy community
Bridgwater joins The Great British Spring Clean 2026 with community litter picks on 21 March. Join Bridgwater Town Council to help keep local parks tidy.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater electrical apprentice in the running for national award
Gracie Donaghy, a Bridgwater electrical apprentice, reaches the Screwfix Trade Apprentice semi-finals, selected from 3,000 UK and Ireland applicants.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Children's charity opens new home within Bridgwater community centre
Ups and Downs Southwest opens new premises at Victoria Park Community Centre, Bridgwater, supporting children with Down syndrome. Mayor Kathy Pearce attends.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Sir Ashley Fox backs bike recycling charity in Bridgwater
Sir Ashley Fox MP backs Bridgwater charity On Your Bike, which recycles bikes, offers repairs, training and employment support, and seeks new trustees.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
NSPCC reports increase in online child abuse image offences in South West
NSPCC data shows a rise in UK online child abuse image offences, with Snapchat and Meta platforms implicated. Charity urges tougher tech and government action.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater shopping centre spreading spring cheer with events
Angel Place Shopping Centre in Bridgwater hosts spring community events, including Easter workshops, Kindness Day, and support for local independent retailers.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Clinton Rogers: Does Somerset have the infrastructure for new housing?
Somerset faces rapid population growth and new housing developments despite UK falling birth rates, raising concerns over NHS, GP and infrastructure strain.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:14:00 +0000
Somerset Council spending on agency staff hits £40m after job cuts
Somerset Council has spent more than £40m on agency staff since its creation in April 2023 as it moves forward with its transformation programme

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:57:03 +0000
New Snap Fitness gym set to open this Summer
A major gym brand is set to open a new branch in Somerset before the end of Summer.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:52:00 +0000
Bridgwater nightclub to reopen months after closing
A nightclub in Somerset is set to reopen months after an announcement confirmed it would be closing.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Column: How we made contact with Canada to celebrate a Bridgwater first
Bridgwater marks 100 years since receiving the first transatlantic short-wave radio broadcast from Drummondville, Canada, at its Marconi station.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Popular South West beer wins gold at International Brewing Awards
Butcombe Brewing Co’s Butcombe Original wins gold at International Brewing Awards, named South West’s top cask ale, beating Doom Bar and Tribute.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:48:52 +0000
Bridgwater Town Clerk announces resignation
The Bridgwater Town Clerk has announced his resignation.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:38:20 +0000
Construction underway on manufacturing plant in Somerset
Construction is underway on a new manufacturing facility in Bridgwater.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:22:40 +0000
Primary school raises more than £1k to send school bags to children in need
A school near Bridgwater has raised over £1000 and packed 48 school bags for charity.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:36:00 +0000
Unions protest major changes to Somerset council housing
Major changes to how Somerset's council housing stock is managed have cleared the first hurdle - despite trade union warning that it could harm tenants.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:13:37 +0000
Public events planned to discuss future of nuclear site
The future of Hinkley Point A is up for public discussion.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:03:14 +0000
Bridgwater launches bid to be UK Town of Culture
Bridgwater has entered the race to become the UK's town of culture.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:29:59 +0000
Tesco expands in-store feature to more UK shops under new trial
Tesco has begun installing more Evri-branded lockers in some UK locations under a new trial

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:16:19 +0000
Dragons Den star steps in to rescue homeware company with 93 UK stores
Theo Paphitis featured on Dragons Den from the show's inception in 2005 until 2013 when he left to focus on his business empire

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000
UKHSA warns meningitis cases are rising amid 'explosive' outbreak
The chairman of the National Pharmacy Association said there was currently no stock of meningitis B vaccines for people to pay for privately.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:13:14 +0000
Blippi announces new Be Like Blippi UK tour as dates revealed
Audience members are encouraged to wear orange Blippi glasses and join in the fun as the cast invites everyone to "be like Blippi."

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Picturesque four-bedroom home for sale in Nether Stowey for £475k
Four-bedroom 1950s semi-detached house for sale in Nether Stowey, Somerset, £475,000. Refurbished, stunning gardens, near village amenities and schools.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Four-bed home overlooking country park in Bridgwater for sale for £350k
Four-bedroom detached house for sale in Wilstock village, Bridgwater, £350,000. Features private parking, garage, EPC C, near M5 and local amenities.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Sunny skies forecast by Met Office for Bridgwater this week
Met Office forecasts a sunny week for Bridgwater, with temperatures peaking at 17C. Expect mild winds and medium UV levels.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Two bands heading to Bridgwater Arts Centre later this year
Legendary musicians Jim Cregan and Robbie McIntosh bring their acclaimed bands to Bridgwater Arts Centre for live rock and acoustic concerts.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:43:32 +0000
More than £1m investment into luxury lodges and spa in time for busiest period
More than £1 million has been invested into family-owned Windmill Retreat Lodges, Spa, and Estate, in time for its busiest period of the year.

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:22:00 +0000
New jobs coming to Bridgwater as industrial units near M5 approved
New industrial units will be created in the next 12 months after Somerset Council approved plans to expand the Peninsula 23 Business Park

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:52:00 +0000
Bridgwater MP urges Somerset Council to block new solar farm near M5
Sir Ashley Fox has urged Somerset Council to refuse plans for a new solar farm near North Newton Cricket Club, citing concerns over traffic and flooding

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Five-day road closure planned in Spaxton for underground work
Barford Road in Spaxton, Somerset, will close daily 8am–4pm from 23–27 March 2026 for National Grid underground substation works. Diversion in place.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:33:00 +0000
Man in his 50s dies after incident on A39 road
A person has been pronounced dead after an early morning crash near Bridgwater this morning.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:43:26 +0000
Plan to add 24 plinths along canal mapping Halley's Comet journey
People walking along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal could soon be able to track the predicted path of Halley’s Comet over the next 35 years.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:58:00 +0000
Somerset Council to spend nearly £162m on road repairs by 2030
Somerset Council will be able to spend more on road repairs over the next four years following a "significant uplift" in funding from central government

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