Bridgwater Deserves Better: No More Excuses for Town Centre Chaos
Good manners and basic respect don't cost a penny. We were always taught to respect our neighbours and look after our area. Being hard up was never an excuse to act like a bully or ruin local life for everyone else.
That is why so many people in Bridgwater are fed up with certain groups of individuals in our town centre—and we can see on social media that everyday residents feel exactly the same way.
People are Scared and Angry
If you look at local Facebook threads, you see real fear and frustration. Shop staff talk about being shouted at and threatened at work. Parents say they are scared to bring their kids into town. Pet owners are tired of dodging broken glass left behind by street drinkers on the pavement.
Everyday people aren't making excuses. They are sharing real stories about what happens on our high street every day. But somewhere along the way, especially since the pandemic, a toxic excuse culture took root. We are constantly told to understand the complex reasons behind street drinkers and anti-social behaviour. Understanding is fine, but when it turns into complete inaction, law-abiding residents pay the price.
Time for Action, Not Excuses
Our MP, Sir Ashley Fox, has tried to raise these issues. But sitting in Opposition, he does not control the police budget or local enforcement rules.
The real operational power belongs to our Police and Crime Commissioner, Clare Moody. When I wrote to her on another but related issue, all I got back was a long list of excuses. Blaming a lack of money simply is not good enough anymore. She needs to find smart, creative ways to put more police on foot patrols, tackle street drinking, and clean up our streets.
PCC Clare Moody © Avon and Somerset Constabulary
We Demand High Standards
Working-class towns deserve safe, clean streets just as much as anywhere else. High standards belong to everyone.
We don’t want miracles. We just want visible police, tough action on anti-social behaviour, and a town centre we can walk through with our heads held high. If the PCC cannot fix this, local voters will remember it when the next election comes.
