Bridgwater Mercury

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Column: How Somerset Council will use new clean-up funding
Somerset Council approves £5m for road, pavement, and cycleway improvements. Community litter picks, council support, and clean-up efforts boost local pride.

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:33:43 +0100
Millions could lose key tax perk under new HMRC pension crackdown
Millions of UK workers risk losing a key way to cut tax and boost pensions as new rules linked to Rachel Reeves begin to bite.

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:32:27 +0100
Tesco confirms major change coming to supermarkets in UK first move
Tesco described the move as “one of the most revolutionary retailing improvements in decades”

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:31:20 +0100
UK Government draws up plans for possible food shortages amid Iran conflict
According to leaked documents, measures are being considered to address potential disruption to supplies of key goods

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
New community garden in Burnham and Highbridge seeks volunteers and sponsors
A new community garden in Burnham and Highbridge seeks volunteers and sponsors to support eco-friendly projects, accessibility, and local unity.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Towering waste mound at landfill site under scrutiny from Bridgwater MP
Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox visits Walpole Landfill after local complaints over waste mound size and odour; new capping and gas controls underway.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Events planned in West Country to mark 1926 General Strike centenary
Centenary events for the 1926 General Strike take place in the West Country, with talks, exhibitions and book launches in Bristol, Bath and Somerset.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Fresh partnership blooms at Bridgwater restaurant
Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse in Bridgwater partners with Bloom & Wild, offering diners spring menu delights and flower delivery discounts until June.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Students turn campus trees into benches in woodworking project
Somerset students are turning campus trees into handcrafted walnut benches through a practical woodworking project.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Clinton Rogers column: Are we going soft on retail crime?
Shoplifting in England and Wales hits record highs as Waitrose staff sacking sparks debate on 'hands off' policies, rising retail crime, and police response.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Bridgwater planning decisions, March 29-April 4, 2026
Here are the latest planning decisions made in and around Bridgwater.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Bridgwater planning applications: March 29-April 4, 2026
Here are the latest planning applications in and around Bridgwater.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Spring COVID-19 vaccinations available now across Somerset
Spring COVID-19 vaccine now available in Somerset and across the UK for over-75s, care home residents, and immunocompromised. Book by June 29.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:50:00 +0100
First phase of ring road around Somerset's £4bn 'gigafactory' approved
Agratas can begin building the first section of an orbital road which will link the Gravity site to Puriton, Woolavington and potentially a new M5 junction

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:38:00 +0100
Travellers' site between Bridgwater and Highbridge scrapped due to flood risk
Plans for a new travellers' site halfway between Bridgwater and Highbridge have been scrapped following an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:37:41 +0100
Post office and convenience store put on the market
A post office and convenience store in Stogursey, Somerset has gone on the market.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:49:07 +0100
Volunteers restore park damage days after deliberate fire
Damage to Mansfield Park has been temporarily restored thanks to work from the community.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:20:00 +0100
Bridgwater residents urged to submit projects for £20m pride in place funding
Bridgwater is the only part in Somerset which will receive £20m over the next ten years through the government's new pride in place fund

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Brian Smedley column: Here's why I am excited about Bridgwater's future
Labour’s £20m ‘Pride in Place’ project launches in Bridgwater South, empowering the community to lead local regeneration across Hamp and Westover wards.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:43:00 +0100
Somerset Council's new chief financial officer withdraws for "personal reasons"
Rachael Sanders was due to join Somerset Council as its new Section 151 officer - but she has now withdrawn from the job

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:06:27 +0100
Somerset business to close after 30 years following liquidation
An established business in Somerset will close after 30 years, having gone into liquidation in 2025.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:19:00 +0100
Somerset Council commits £5m for 'high-visibility' issues on roads and paths
Somerset Council will spend the money on clearing gullies in flood-prone areas, cutting back vegatation, repainting road marking and replacing signs

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:33:03 +0100
16th-century Somerset inn and pub goes on market
A 16th-century inn and pub in Aller, Somerset has gone up for sale.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:20:35 +0100
Childcare centre receives updated Ofsted rating
Dolphins Childcare Centre in North Petherton has been praised for its safe and nurturing environment.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:01:33 +0100
Field Bakery named among the best bakeries in the UK
A bakery in Somerset has been named among the best in the UK in a new top 50 list.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:39:42 +0100
Why we must call time on legal bullies and their SLAPPs
Today media outlets across the country are joining a Day of Action to call for the UK Government to include anti-SLAPP protections in the forthcoming King’s Speech.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Bridgwater weather forecast for the week ahead from the Met Office
Bridgwater weather forecast: rain and gusty winds early week, highs of 17°C, sunny intervals later, rising pollen levels, and moderate UV from 14–18 April.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Three-bed house in Cannington with wrap-around garden for sale for £350k
Three-bedroom detached house for sale in Cannington, Somerset, with two workshops, wrap-around garden, garage, and no onward chain. £350,000 freehold.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:30:00 +0100
Somerset's "crumbling bridges" could be repaired via new £1bn government fund
Somerset is being invited to bid for a share of the new £1bn structures fund, which has been launched by the Department for Transport

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:34:07 +0100
Somerset town museum marks 100 years of sharing town history
Blake Museum is preparing to celebrate 100 years of sharing the stories of Bridgwater.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:49:41 +0100
Council responds after fire damages recently refurbished games area
Bridgwater Town Council has responded after a deliberate fire damaged a new multi-use games area (MUGA) at Mansfield Park.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:07:36 +0100
Bridgwater park damaged by fire - just months after major upgrades carried out
A fire has damaged a multi-use games area in Mansfield Park in Bridgwater.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:58:56 +0100
Microsoft to shut down Outlook app on Android devices in May - switch or be 'cut off'
Microsoft is set to fully retire Outlook Lite in May 2026 - see the exact date.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:57:53 +0100
Pharmacist's urgent warning to holidaymakers at risk of exposure to deadly infections
Research has shown that many travellers underestimate the need for protection when visiting familiar holiday hotspots in and around Europe

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:56:10 +0100
Drivers warned they face £1,000 DVLA fines and penalty points if they do not act
These are the key driving licence changes that must be reported to the DVLA

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Road in Bridgwater set to close for 26 days between April and May
Bower Lane, Bridgwater, will close from 20 April to 15 May for roadworks by JSM Group Services for Agratas. Alternative route in place. Somerset Council.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
What's on in Bridgwater and Burnham: April 14-20, 2026
Discover top events in Bridgwater and Burnham this week, including Peter Cox live, Ben Hart magic show, Creedence Clearwater Review, and a historical talk.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:45:38 +0100
See inside the new Bridgwater retailer creating 10 jobs
Ten new full-time jobs have been created as a new retailer has opened in Bridgwater Trade Park.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:19:54 +0100
Ex-Somerset BBC presenter jailed for child sexual abuse back behind bars
Former ITV West and BBC Somerset presenter Peter Rowell back behind bars

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:13:12 +0100
Work to start on Somerset dual carriageway junction
Work will start on a programme of improvement works in Bridgwater from April.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:47:00 +0100
Village pub to reopen with BBQ food event this month
A Somerset village pub near Bridgwater is reopening its doors with a BBQ food event.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:29:18 +0100
Animals are 'on the move' in Somerset as weather brightens
Selection of photographs from Somerset Camera Club showing animals on the move in the county

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:10:42 +0100
Bristol police officer who harassed woman cleared of gross misconduct
A Bristol police officer who sexually harassed a female on a drunken night out has been cleared of gross misconduct.

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Road in Woolavington to close this month for underground works
Somerset Council will close sections of Lockswell and The Causeway in Woolavington for Openreach works from 20–21 April.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Your Health, Your Choice: Why lifelong fitness matters more than fast fixes
Discover the difference between fast fitness fads and lifelong fitness. Why sustainable habits, consistency, and long-term health are key to lasting results.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
MP calling for cancer care guarantee as patients face long waits for treatment
The proposal follows analysis by the Liberal Democrats that highlights severe delays in the current system.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Bridgwater town centre gets a burst of colour in flower scheme
Bridgwater Town Centre blooms with new bee-friendly bulb displays by Lubbe Bulbs and town council, boosting biodiversity and supporting UK pollinators.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Seed Sedgemoor celebrates success as funding ends
A six-and-a-half-year creative programme has celebrated its impact after reaching thousands of people in Sedgemoor.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:06:21 +0100
Somerset student helps US college golf team to success
Megan Wilde is a student at Iowa's Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in the US state of Iowa.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Road in Cannington to close for two days for Wessex Water repairs
Southbrook, Cannington, will close 13–14 April for Wessex Water repairs, Somerset Council confirms. Diversions in place; check public notice for details.

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