Bridgwater Mercury

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.

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

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:23:49 +0000
A-road to close this week for 'safety defect repairs'
An A-road in Bridgwater is set to close this week for 'safety defect repairs'.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:03:14 +0000
Somerset Film call for entries for young photographers' showcase
Somerset Film invites young photographers (aged 25 and under) to enter the 2026 Showcase at Bridgwater’s The Engine Room.

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater planning applications: March 1-7, 2026
Here are the latest planning applications in and around Bridgwater.

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater planning decisions, March 1-7, 2026
Here are the latest planning decisions made in and around Bridgwater.

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Your Health, Your Choice: Why investing in your health matters
Investing in health with exercise, strength training, and good nutrition can save on future care costs in the UK. Discover tips for long-term wellbeing.

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater Town Council express frustration over train services
Bridgwater Town Council urges Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to boost rail services, citing record passenger growth and key projects like Hinkley Point C.

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater company applies for change to operating licence
Johnson Metals Ltd in Bridgwater seeks upgrade from restricted to standard national operator’s licence. Residents can submit objections by 24 March.

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Photographers 'turn their backs' in Somerset
Members of Somerset Camera Club have been taking photos of the back of things for this week's theme

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Survey launched to tackle barriers faced by disabled people
Designability launches UK-wide survey for disabled people to shape Unfair Index, highlighting everyday barriers and driving inclusive design and policy change.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Bridgwater set to welcome live K-Pop event in spring
Experience the UK’s first virtual K-Pop band live in Bridgwater, featuring hits from K-Pop Demon Hunters, BTS, Blackpink, and more. Book your tickets now!

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Collaborative Burnham-on-Sea charity event raises over £1,000
Moose and Rotary Club fundraiser in Burnham-on-Sea raises £1,063 for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and local charities, featuring live music and raffle.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:27:59 +0000
Somerset residents urged to be aware of delays in council tax processing
Somerset residents may not pay the increase in council tax this month

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:12:07 +0000
LETTER: 'The time to act is now - before the water rises further'
Lyndon Smith has lived his whole life in the West Country, and for the last twenty years at Blakeway near Wedmore. He shares his views on the River Brue.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:02:51 +0000
Dog fouling problem surfaces in one of town's main areas
Bridgwater Town Council is asking dog owners to clean up after their pets after a rise in fouling.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:04:34 +0000
Farmer who lost everything aims to lift taboo on mental health
In 2021, Pip Langford lost the livestock business she’d run for twenty-five years.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:08:00 +0000
No start date for 'small fix' to let buses access Bridgwater railway station
Buses have been unable to properly access Bridgwater railway station since Great Western Railway's £1.2m upgrade in 2020

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:22:57 +0000
Man jailed after being found guilty of raping a child
Daniel Bee, a 31-year-old man from Bridgwater, has been jailed after being found guilty of raping a child.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:11:52 +0000
Engineers get to work on second fish protection system at Hinkley Point C
Hinkley Point C's second fish deterrant system is underway.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:05:00 +0000
Almost 100 arrested after joint police crackdown across the South West
Almost 100 people were arrested across the South West last week after police forces joined together to target illegal drugs and child criminal exploitation.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:54:00 +0000
Somerset Council can't reveal where 2,333 empty homes are located
As part of National Empty Homes Week, Somerset Council is pointing home-owners towards support to bring empty homes back into use

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:40:54 +0000
Royal portraits once hung near Bridgwater set to go under the hammer
Two rare 17th-century portraits with royal connections are set to go to auction next month.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:27:24 +0000
Plans for former WHSmith shop in town centre withdrawn
Plans have been withdrawn for the former WHSmith in Bridgwater.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Man warned of 'the end of the road' after 12th driving offence, court hears
Magistrates have warned a West Huntspill man that “the end of the road is here” after he was caught by police committing his 12th disqualified driving offence.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Woman finds out she is one of nine people in the UK with rare blood type
A woman from Bridgwater has discovered she is one of just nine people in the UK with a rare blood type.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Clinton Rogers column: How will AI affect our jobs?
UK jobs face AI disruption as automation threatens roles in law, accounting, and journalism. Adaptability key as careers evolve in the age of AI.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Column: Why Somerset Council’s budget is heading in the right direction
Somerset Council moves from financial emergency to recovery, approving 2026/27 budget, cutting funding gap, and raising council tax below regional averages.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Latest Bridgwater planning applications: February 22-28, 2026
Here are the latest planning applications in and around Bridgwater.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Latest Bridgwater planning decisions, February 22-28, 2026
Here are the latest planning decisions made in and around Bridgwater.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:24:00 +0000
Somerset Council rejects calls to halt new developments after severe flooding
Somerset Council has rejected demands to stop approving new housing developments until additional flood prevention measures are put in place

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0000
Woman and child taken to minor injury unit after crash near Bridgwater pub
A woman and a child were left with minor injuries following a collision involving two cars outside the Malt Shovel pub, police said.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:11:08 +0000
Emergency services respond to two car crash outside Bridgwater pub
A two-car crash has been reported outside the Malt Shovel in Bridgwater, with emergency services at the scene.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:45:00 +0000
Green light for review of the introduction of Somerset car parking charges
A review of the introduction of car parking charges across Somerset has been given the green light by Somerset Council’s Executive this week.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:30:40 +0000
Chinese takeaway rated one out of five by Hygiene authority
A Chinese takeaway in Bridgwater has received a new food hygiene score

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:07:49 +0000
Millions of Windows 10 users warned to act now before support ends completely in 2026
Tech experts have issued a warning to millions of Brits as official support for Windows 10 will completely stop in October 2026

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:02:05 +0000
UK chocolate brand sold at Aldi, Tesco and Asda set to close as it enters liquidation
Icon Foods, which supplies products to Aldi, Tesco, Asda, and other major UK stores, is set to close after voluntarily entering liquidation.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:42:38 +0000
BBC TV Licence cost set to rise again for millions of UK households next month
From April, the cost of a TV licence will increase by £5.50 to £180

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Column: Gorton and Denton's soap opera reached its sad finale
Keir Starmer faces criticism after Labour's Gorton and Denton by-election loss amid calls for clear plans on NHS, housing, and cost of living in the UK.

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