Look Back In Time: What was making the headlines in Bridgwater in years gone by

25 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 30, 1990: MOTORISTS in Bridgwater faced massive increases in parking fees in the coming year – and the news angered local traders.

The rises, which were proposed from April 1, were between 25 per cent and 100 per cent. Peter Schubert, president of the Bridgwater Chamber of Trade, said the increases were unjustified.

"We would have expected some rise, but not such swingeing increases at a time when trading is tight," he said.

ONE of Bridgwater's most senior union representatives warned yesterday that the town faces "substantial job losses across the board."

The warning came from Tom Searle, area secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, on a day when he was scheduled to hold talks with three local companies who are laying off a total of more than 70 workers.

Along with his opposite number from the AUEW, Mr Searle was due to hold talks with AE Piston Products at Colley Lane about the 37 workers due to finish there.

20 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 31, 1995: RESIDENTS in Kendall Road of Bridgwater were preparing to do battle with Sedgemoor District Council over who would take over the running of St George's Hall.

At a meeting held earlier in the week, representatives of groups which used the hall handed over a petition signed by more than 300 residents urging Sedgemoor not to give up financial responsibility for it.

Sedgemoor's director of development services John Conder said: "We feel the hall would be much better managed locally."

THE decision to move Bridgwater's annual flower show back to the town hall led to the resignation of some of the committee.

Eight members of the Bridgwater Flower Show Society, including the secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer, resigned from the committee in protest at the decision.

Former society secretary Mike Bennett said: "I had planned to resign anyway because work commitments but some of the others resigned because of the decision to move back to the Town hall.

Firefighter Laurence Hoare as the Welephant with Kate Horey, four, during Fire Safety Week. Photo taken in 1990

10 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 1, 2005: SEDGEMOOR was dealt a huge blow on the jobs front on this week when it was announced that the BAE Systems factory – formerly Royal Ordnance – was to close, with a loss of 130 jobs.

The Puriton explosives factory was built in 1939 to make bombs for the war effort, but its future had been shrouded in uncertainty for more than a decade as closure rumours circulated.

And the bad news was confirmed when it was revealed that a recent drop in the workload at the factory – along with a second site in Chorley, Lancashire – had made it “no longer economically viable”.

PEOPLE were being asked to pay their respects at this year’s Remembrance Day services in Sedgemoor.

For the first time, the church service at St Mary’s, Bridgwater, on Sunday, November 13, would also mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War as well as commemorating the First World War and other conflicts, and today’s heroes who serve across the globe.

Royal British Legion chairman Norman Allan said: “I would encourage all the veterans of World War Two to attend as for some this is the last opportunity for everyone to thank them for what they did."

5 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 2, 2010: STOOD in the bitter cold, armed with a homemade billboard, begging for a job – was this the bleak prospect facing Bridgwater’s unemployed youngsters?

It certainly was for 18-year-old jobseeker Claire Fear. Fed up with receiving rejection letters or no response at all, Claire took to Taunton Road and Bath Road on Thursday and Saturday.

Her cardboard sign read: “Please give me a job!” on one side, and “18, skint and bored: No job, no hope, where's the future for me? Please help me”, on the other.

ABOUT 250 people packed into a public meeting on this week to plead with Somerset County Council chiefs not to cut vital services.

The county council was planning cuts which could affect libraries, recycling centres, youth clubs, roads, school transport, arts centres and other services.

The council’s cabinet met in Taunton yesterday but as the Mercury went to press no decisions had been taken about which services would be hit.

COUNTDOWN: There were only two days to go until Bridgwater ‘s biggest night of the year – Guy Fawkes Carnival. Last year’s Kerr Cup winners Gremlins CC with their spectacular costumes. Photo published 1995