Debate sparked as council project called "a waste"

A former councillor has criticised efforts to regenerate a town centre.

David Preece who served on Sedgemoor District Council from 2003 to 2011 has disapproved of Somerset Council's Celebration Mile in Bridgwater.

He said it was "a total waste of money".

The council responded saying the regeneration plans have been through a thorough consultation process.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Celebration Mile is planned to provide safer walking and cycling routes from the railway station to the Northgate Docks.

Mr Preece said the deal was "dividing Bridgwater rather than diversifying it".

He believed the annual budget meeting, held on 20 February, was "democracy at its worst".

Councillor Ros Wyke said the aspirations of the Celebration Mile date back to Mr Preece's time in the council.

"Sedgemoor District Council identified the Celebration Mile as a transformational project in the Bridgwater Vision, which underwent consultation and was subsequently agreed and adopted by the council in 2009," she said.

“The vision was subsequently included in the Sedgemoor Local Plan, which specifically developed further the policies to amplify and explain the transformational projects, specifically in this case the Celebration Mile."

The delivery of the Celebration Mile will be overseen by Taylor Woodrow SWH Contracting, which is based in Watford.