Council to review Bridgwater one-way system as Celebration Mile work nears end Daniel Mumby.

Somerset Council has pledged to review the one-way system in Bridgwater town centre recently implemented as part of the town’s Celebration Mile.

Contractor Taylor Woodrow is putting the finishing touches to three sections of the route which will eventually run between Bridgwater railway station and the Northgate Docks, funded by £9m from the government-backed Bridgwater town deal.

The council has come under fire in recent months over the delivery of the Celebration Mile, with numerous road closures and construction delays putting pressure on local businesses.

Local MP Sir Ashley Fox and Conservative group leader Diogo Rodrigues launched a petition to reverse the one-way system introduced on East Quay and Salmon Parade as part of the project.

The design of the Celebration Mile was approved by the Conservative-led Sedgemoor District Council before its abolition in April 2023.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans has now promised that the one-way system will be reviewed by the council’s highways officers following concerns raised by “residents and councillors from across the political spectrum”.

Mr Revans (who represents the North Petherton division on the Liberal Democrat-run council) visited East Quay, Eastover and Salmon Parade on October 20 to see the project first-hand, posting about his experiences on social media.

He said: “We’ve implemented the scheme exactly what we were left behind by the Conservative-controlled Sedgemoor District Council, which was signed off by the Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council, the former Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger and the former Conservative government – but it’s our mess to sort out.

“Looking around, I can see that there are certainly problems that we need to address.

“We’ve spoken to our officers, and we’ll be listening to local residents, local traders, the town council and local division members, and we’ll see whether we can get some changes here so we can get the solution here that’s absolutely right for the future of Bridgwater.”

The design of the Celebration Mile was settled as part of the town deal funding agreements with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) – meaning any changes would have taken time to be signed off, causing further delays in its delivery.

Councillor Leigh Redman, who leads the Labour opposition group, said that communication about the Celebration Mile “has been awful” since the scheme’s inception.

He added: “The end result with East Quay and Salmon Parade will cause more traffic problems getting through Bridgwater.

“In recent weeks I have been working hard, behind the scenes, with council officers to try and find a way forward.

“All the negative points I have been trying to highlight have been confirmed in the concerns of Bridgwater people.

“I will continue to fight for a sensible solution; East Quay and Salmon parade cannot stay like this.”

The Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign (BACC) has urged the council not to rush any immediate changes to the Celebration Mile, arguing it needs time to bed in and could provide beneficial to the town in the years ahead.

Mr Revans said there was a precedent for such changes proving beneficial despite short-term obstacles – but added that it was important to take local residents’ concerns seriously.

He said: “We know that changes to road layouts take time to bed in – and history shows that some of the most successful schemes in Bridgwater were once controversial.

“When Fore Street was pedestrianised and the High Street became one-way, there were strong feelings at first, but those changes are now well-established and work well for the town.

“Even so, we’ve listened carefully to residents and local businesses, and are already taking another look.

“I’ve asked for timescales and options to come forward so that we can work with councillors of all parties and Bridgwater Town Council to make sure we get this right.

“My priority is to find a balanced and practical solution that works for the community.”

Bridgwater has seen its fair share of roadworks and traffic disruption over the last 18 months, with the upgrade to the Dunball roundabout and construction of the nearby ‘gigafactory’ on top of the Celebration Mile delivery.

With the regeneration of the docks and the delivery of the new health and social care academy on Salmon Parade due to begin in 2026, Mr Revans said he would continue to work proactively with local residents and businesses to reduce disruption and deliver meaningful change.

He said: “Local people expect us to listen, to work together, and to focus on fixing problems rather than fuelling division.

“That’s the approach we’re taking here – calm, constructive, and focused on getting things right for Bridgwater.”