RESIDENTS headed to Bridgwater's Town Hall yesterday to have their thoughts heard on the plans for the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier.

Experts from Sedgemoor District Council and the Environment Agency were on hand to answer questions from visitors.

In March Sedgemoor District Council and the Environment Agency announced the the preferred site and deign of the Bridgwater Barrier, however the decision contradict the views of Bridgwater Town Council.

The site chosen is between the Express Park and Chilton Trinity village, and the design proposed is for a vertical lift gate like the Hull Barrier.

During the consultation period, social media posts were viewed over 3,700 times and approximately 150 people attended the meetings and events held for the public, stakeholders and local businesses.

Bridgwater Town Council leader Cllr Brian Smedley said the barrier should be used to try and regenerate the town and boost tourism.

“This barrier will at the very minimum be a flood prevention structure and that’s virtually all that David Cameron promised when he visited us during the floods," Cllr Smedley said.

"However, it is also a great opportunity to think beyond that limited goal and do some things that could regenerate the town-like opening up the waterways for tourism.

"What we want is a tidal barrier that allows water penning, possibly provides a sea lock to allow craft through and both these combined leading to the re-opening of the barge lock into the dock and therefore bringing back into use the Bridgwater-Taunton canal.

"The least we want from the consultation is some form of ‘Futureproofing’ so that if this doesn’t happen now then it can still happen in the future.”

SDC and the Environment Agency say they have 'the greatest confidence of achieving permission for construction at the least cost' by choosing the Express Park site, and argue that it leaves the narrowest part in the rive available for any future road-crossing or northern bypass.

They argue the two gates of the Hull-style barrier give the best flexibility and reliability for operation and allows for continued navigation during maintenance.

"A vertical lift gate offers proven reliability in a silty, tidal environment, lower operation costs, has the ability to pen water and there is the potential to add a pedestrian bridge and cycle way," the report by the EA and SDC quotes.