The Bridgwater Carnival has been a linchpin of the town's cultural calendar since at least the Victoria era, with the event widely regarded as the oldest event of its kind in the UK.
The annual spectacle of colourful carnival carts winding their way through Bridgwater town centre brings not only huge numbers of visitors into the town, but also a sense of stability and dependency during periods of great social and economic upheaval.
As this year's carnival rolls into town on Saturday (November 1), there is much to suggest that this hallowed tradition is alive and well, with thousands expected to line the streets to see the carts, enjoy the music and be dazzled by the unique squibbing ceremony.
Thanks to the Bridgwater town deal, work is currently going on behind the scenes to secure the carnival's future, with £4.9m being committed towards improvements to the existing workshops off the A38 Bristol Road.
But if you take a closer look along the carnival procession route, you can get a sense of how much else is changing in Bridgwater, whether through government-funded regeneration or private investment.
Here's your guide to everything that could change on the carnival's route in the coming years:
The Hinkley Point C campus on the A39 Bath Road in Bridgwater, looking east (Image: Daniel Mumby)
At the start of the carnival's procession route lies this brownfield site, which once formed part of the town's cellophane factory complex until it closed in 2005.
NNB Generation (HPC) Ltd. applied in late-July 2024 to use this site for up for four years to store around 200 shipping containers, which will hold materials associated with the Hinkley Point C construction programme.
Somerset Council granted permission for the proposal in late-August 2024 - with the caveat that a new row of willow, alder and birch trees had to be planted along the northern border of the site, to offset the impact on the neighbouring Sydenham Manor.
Entrance to Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Football Club on College Way in Bridgwater (Image: Google Maps)
The construction workforce at Somerset's new nuclear power station is expected to reach its peak over the next 18 months, with up to 15,000 people expected to be working on the build between 2026 and 2028.
To prevent Bridgwater's road network from being overwhelmed by this additional traffic, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd. applied in late-March to deliver additional car parking spaces near Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Football Club on College Way, which is within walking distance of one of the Hinkley park and ride facilities.
Somerset Council's planning committee north (which handles major applications within the former Sedgemoor area) unanimously gave the plans its backing on July 8 - with a total of 164 car parking spaces and 16 motorcycle spaces being allocated for use by Hinkley Point C workers for a period of up to five years.
The existing pedestrian and cycle bridge over the railway line on the A39 Bath Road in Bridgwater (Image: Daniel Mumby)
Pupils currently wishing to access Bridgwater and Taunton College from the west have to rely on an old metal footbridge over the railway line.
Somerset Council announced in August 2024 that it would be exploring the delivery of a new pedestrian and cycling bridge on the northern side of the A39 Bath Road, providing a safer link between the college and the Cross Rifles roundabout.
These proposals would include an upgrade to the existing pedestrian crossing, which also provides a route to the McMillan Theatre and the town's football and rugby clubs.
No time-scale has been set for the delivery of this new bridge, though the council said that funding for the initial design work could be taken from local housing developments.
The Cross Rifles roundabout in Bridgwater (Image: Daniel Mumby)
The Cross Rifles roundabout (also known as Cannon Cross Rifles) was originally due to be upgraded as part of a £10m scheme to improve Bridgwater's 'northern corridor', using money from the government's levelling up fund.
While work on the Dunball roundabout (near junction 23 of the M5) will be completed shortly after this year's carnival, the Cross Rifles element has been delayed and downgraded due to rising costs - with the council announcing in January 2024 that money for the Cross Rifles scheme would be diverted to the Dunball site.
Under the revised proposals, the existing pedestrian crossings on the A38 Bristol Road and the A39 Bath Road will become signal-controlled crossings, providing a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists approaching the Leggar business park from the east.
New crossings will also be installed at the junction of The Clink and The Leggar (allowing people to cross from Church Street and the recently completed housing development) and on the roundabout within the business park, near the town's McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru.
These latter elements will help to deliver the southern end of the 'purple route' within the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which will eventually run all the way to the Gravity enterprise zone via the River Parrett, the Dunball roundabout and the existing Puriton footbridge.
The Pollards Yard development on the A38 Monmouth Street in Bridgwater (Image: Daniel Mumby)
This brownfield site lies on the eastern side of the A38, just north of the junction with the A372 St. John's Street and Eastover.
Henry W. Pollard & Sons Ltd., which was founded in 1860, ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation on July 8, 2021 at a cost of around 40 jobs.
Pollards Yard Ltd. published detailed plans for 39 homes on the site in March 2024 of which only one will be affordable - and secured planning permission from the council's planning committee north in December 2024.
The Taunton-based developer is now delivering the new homes within the site, after finalising its legal agreements with the council in late-June this year.
The Celebration Mile on Eastover in Bridgwater town centre, looking east (Image: Daniel Mumby)
After more than a year of roadworks and disruption to local businesses, Eastover recently reopened to traffic after the conclusion of its part of the Celebration Mile roadworks.
The Celebration Mile will eventually run from Bridgwater railway station to the Northgate Docks, providing an attractive and safe walking and cycling route for both current residents and visitors to the town.
A total of £9m was allocated within the Bridgwater town deal to deliver three key sections of the route, each of which secured planning permission from Sedgemoor District Council in mid-2022.
The council announced on Tuesday (October 28) that it would be carrying out a review of the Eastover, East Quay and Salmon Parade elements of the Celebration Mile following negative feedback from local residents.
Bridgwater's historic Cornhill building will be sold (Image: Seth Dellow)
As part of a wider sale of assets to balance its budget, Somerset Council announced in August 2024 its intention to auction off the Cornhill complex in the centre of Bridgwater, which is currently home to the town's Prezzo restaurant and an indoor market.
The building, which is grade one listed, dates back to 1834 and was originally used as the Bridgwater corn exchange.
The building was in the ownership of Sedgemoor District Council and passed to Somerset Council when the new unitary authority assumed control in April 2023.
Since the asset sale was proposed, Bridgwater Town Council had offered to buy the building from Somerset Council for £1, fix its broken roof and provide security to the local tenants - an offer which the Bridgwater and District Civic Society claims has been rejected by officers.
The Celebration Mile on Clare Street in Bridgwater town centre (Image: Daniel Mumby)
Clare Street is the second section of the Celebration Mile to be delivered under the town deal funding, with work expected to finish just before the carnival.
Councillor Ros Wyke, the now-former portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, stated in July 2024: "This is a fantastic project for Bridgwater.
"It's a key part of the town deal regeneration vision for the town and we are hoping that by providing a single, safe and thriving active travel route from the railway station to the docks, it will transform the way people get around, easing congestion, improving air quality and bringing more people into Bridgwater to visit and shop."
Bridgwater Town Hall (Image: Archive)
Bridgwater Town Council has been working to upgrade the town hall's facilities, with up to £5.4m being invested in the venue (of which £900,000 comes from the town deal).
Following upgrades to the balcony seating, new tiered rostra and seating for the stalls have been installed, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience for those attending the theatre.
An 18-month refurbishment of the theatre space will begin in the coming months - meaning next year's carnival concerts will have to be held elsewhere.
The Celebration Mile on Angel Crescent in Bridgwater Centre, looking south (Image: Daniel Mumby)
Replacing the existing paving around the Angel Place shopping centre forms the third and final section of the Celebration Mile upgrades funded through the town deal.
The improvements have been carried out in several phases since November 2024, with work expected to finish before the carnival.