Senior Councillors

Brian is the Town Councillor for the Bridgwater Westover Ward. Brian is also a unitary councillor for the Bridgwater South division, which includes the Town’s Westover Ward. Brian has been a councillor since 1990 and is the Leader of Bridgwater Town Council. Brian is a member of UNITE the Union and a member of Bridgwater Trades Union Council.

Brian has a musical history dating back to the Bridgwater punk rock scene in 1977. Starting with the band the Dangerous Brothers, for which he was the principal song writer, he went on founding the Sheep Worrying organisation, which produced an alternative magazine, of which he was the editor and ran a theatre company, for which he wrote, directed and acted in numerous plays and musicals during the 1980’s.

It was during this period that he discovered Bridgwater’s historical links with Czechoslovakia through the Vernon Bartlett election of 1938, about which he wrote a book, a play, and a web site www.vernonbartlett.co.uk.

In 1989 his daughter Cathy was born on the night of the Velvet Revolution.

In 1991 he formed the Bridgwater Czech-Slovak Friendship Society which led in 2002 to the creation of Bridgwater International.

Kathy is Deputy Leader is Deputy Leader of Bridgwater Town Council and the portfolio Holder for Climate Emergency.

Kathy was born in Bridgwater and has been a Bridgwater Town Councillor since 2011

Kathy is the Town councillor for the Westover Ward and Somerset Councillor for Bridgwater South division.

Tim Mander was elected as Town Council candidate for Westover in May 2022. Born and brought up in and around Bridgwater I attended Bridgwater College and qualified as a chartered surveyor after completing a degree at what is now Bristol UWE. I worked within the Estates and Property Services Team at Sedgemoor District Council for 36 years. I have an understanding of local government and spent 5 years as part of the project team which has delivered the Northgate Yard Leisure Development. In addition, I have an interest in the arts; active travel particularly walking and cycling and promoting Bridgwater as a tourist destination. Being a member of the Bridgwater Bus Group I am campaigning for better public transport in Bridgwater and beyond.

Liz is one of Councillors for the Victoria Ward and was elected in May 2022.

Liz has lived in Bridgwater since 2003 and is a Mum to two teenage children. Liz works at Bridgwater College Academy and volunteers at the Victoria Park Local Pantry and is a Board Member of the Victoria Park Community Centre.

Liz is passionate about our local communities, and feels they really do matter and helping to provide services, awareness, support, inclusion, and opportunities for all is the most important thing to Liz and at the heart of everything that she does.

Irena became a Labour councillor for the first time in May 2022. Irena works as a tutor of Modern languages at Bridgwater and Taunton college. Working with the team of councillors to make the town a welcoming and safe place to live for all. Irena takes a keen interest with Arts and Culture and feels that these are important parts of our lives as proven during lockdowns. Not being able to hear live music, have access to visually stimulating environments badly affected our mental health at whatever age. There are some exciting new events coming to revitalise the town through art and culture. Get in touch with me via email if you have ideas to share.

Jacqui Solomon was elected town councillor for Eastover at the local elections in May 2022. Jacqui is the current Mayor of Bridgwater.

Jacqui was educated in Bridgwater and has lived in town for over 30 years. She was a local Secondary School Geography teacher and is now a Ceremonies Officer for the Registration Service. Her two children also attended Eastover Primary school. Jacqui is especially interested in the environment and is currently the Chair for the Friends of the Meads Eco Park.

Jacqui is passionate about Eastover and is of the view that it is a vibrant place to live and we must choose to take care of the communal spaces and landscape. Eastover Park is a great example of a multi-use outdoor area and fully support Bridgwater Town Council’s vision to take on parks and open spaces. I believe this will improve the quality of life for those in the area. Eastover is Somerset’s most multicultural area; this thriving and diverse community is something we can all benefit from.

Mick is the Town Councillor for Victoria Ward. He has worked in Bridgwater since 1976 and was a district councillor for Hamp 1987 to 1995. Mick has taken a keen interest in and has ensured that the green spaces in the ward, such as Victoria Park, Crowpill Park and Linham Road Park have been regularly maintained.

As Chair of the Victoria Park Community Centre Board, Mick works with various community groups, such as, the Luncheon Club, Active Living, the Dance Class, Diversity Voice, Digital Inclusion, Youth Club, St George’s Hall and Victoria Park Bowling Club.

Mick has always been available to take on casework for residents who need support regarding housing, universal credit, planning, and problems relating to anti-social behaviour.

Carole Edmunds was elected a Town Councillor for Fairfax East (Bower) in February 2025. Carole grew up in Bridgwater and was educated at Haygrove School and Bridgwater and Taunton College (then Bridgwater College). Apart from a short time away at university in Cardiff and in her early career, Bridgwater has always been her home town.  

In 1990 Carole qualified as a Chartered Accountant and had a 34-year career, working with many Bridgwater businesses and individuals, combining this with various roles and responsibilities with charities, churches and community groups. She retired in 2022 to fully focus on her community interests.  

Carole is a committed commuter cyclist and supporter of active travel; her bicycle is her method of transport whenever possible.              

Carole believes Bridgwater is a great place to live and is investing her time and energy in its future and looking after the interests of Bower residents.