The Community & Casework Context: Street drinking, anti-social behaviour, and public safety in Bridgwater town centre remain among the top concerns raised by residents. We didn’t just rely on online chatter or promises—we went straight to the top with direct casework, writing to Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody to demand clear, documented answers on how our streets are being managed.
Casework Breakdown: What We Asked & PCC Clare Moody’s Responses:
On the Missing Town Centre PSPO:
Our Question: What specific measures are being taken to address chronic street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Bridgwater town centre, and what is the timeline for establishing a dedicated Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)?
The Official Response: PCC Clare Moody’s briefing confirmed that there is currently no Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) or 'no drinking zone' in place in Bridgwater town centre, because Somerset Council has not implemented one—leaving police officers without key enforcement tools on our high street.
On Displacement into Residential Streets:
Our Question: When enforcement action moves individuals away from town centre hot-spots, what strategy is in place to prevent the issue from simply being displaced into surrounding residential areas and estate paths?
The Official Response: The police briefing candidly acknowledged that moving individuals away from central benches often results in direct displacement into nearby residential neighbourhoods, exposing a critical flaw in current dispersal tactics.
On Funding & Long-Term Support:
Our Question: How can local communities trust that anti-social behaviour is being tackled when local support services and policing teams face chronic resource stretching?
The Official Response: The briefing highlighted ongoing multi-agency working, but laid bare the stark reality of stretched public services and the absence of dedicated, long-term funding needed to shift from temporary dispersal to health-led rehabilitation and support.
The Reality of Displacement & Missing Funding: Pushing vulnerable individuals from one bench to a residential estate path doesn't fix anti-social behaviour—it just relocates it. The lack of a Town Centre PSPO combined with underfunded support services leaves both our town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods exposed. Imagine what Bridgwater could achieve if we had dedicated, long-term funding and real local control over our public spaces—investing in both outreach support and proper street safety simultaneously.
Make Your Voice Heard & Join the Campaign: I am shortly going to be actively pressing Somerset Council for a clear timeline on a Town Centre PSPO while advocating for solutions that protect our residential estates from displacement. When that time comes, please give your support to it whether that is sharing these articles or even the short social media posts and graphics that will inevitably come out of it.
👉 Have a better idea for how we fix our local spaces? Visit our Citizen Idea Bank to share your funding and safety solutions, and sign up to back our "Show Your Working" campaign so we can keep holding decision-makers accountable!
