Paul Jones of The County Gazette

A £1.2 MILLION scheme to improve Bridgwater station is set to get underway today.
The work aims to provide better access to the station and improve the forecourt.

However, drivers will have to use a temporary car park, on the college side, while the work is carried out.
The project will be delivered by Great Western Railway and funded by Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council using money secured from the Department for Transport and the developers of the Hinkley Point scheme.

A spokesperson for Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council said: “This scheme has been in development for some time and we’re pleased GWR now has a confirmed date for delivery.
“The upgrade will not only make the station much more attractive to look at, it will also make a real difference to public transport users by improving access and connecting bus and rail travel.”

The station forecourt is currently dominated by cars which makes it uninviting for pedestrians and cyclists, the councils said, while taxis have to use an off-street parking area for pick up and drop-offs, and there are no facilities for buses and the nearest bus stop is 200m away.

The new public realm will make better use of the available space, allowing buses to access the station, creating spaces for taxis and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Car parking will continue to be catered for within a new car park layout.

The café, which is currently mobile and parked outside the station, will be rehomed within the station buildings.

The provision of the enhanced forecourt also forms part of the wider Celebration Mile project and will allow the station to act as a sustainable transport hub for the commuters, businesses and private passengers.

Work is expected to take around 20 weeks.

There will be temporary loss of parking while work is underway but a temporary car park will be in place on the college side accessed from Clarks Road.