Work to reopen a section of  the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, and the public footpath alongside it, is finally due to begin in August.

The section known as the Albert Street Cutting has been closed since 2021 because of safety concerns, after two large wooden beams collapsed.

The repair work is the responsibility of the Canal and Rivers Trust, and Bridgwater Town Council has been pressing the Trust to move forward with the project.

In May the leader of the council, Brian Smedley, called for a three-month completion date and ‘no more slippage’.

Cllr Smedley says he has now received an update from the Canal and Rivers Trust.

 Last week Ben Carroll, principal Project Manager for the CRT, told him: “We have now completed the review of the tenders and have chosen a preferred contractor. Provisionally we are looking to be on site in late August, with the works expected to take approximately six weeks to complete. We will be able to firm up dates in the coming weeks. We will also be looking to arrange a stakeholder engagement event on-site prior to the works starting, likely early August.”  

Cllr Smedley responded “At least this is some progress and realistically we’re looking at October for completion. But we’re getting there….”