Colourful new flags have been raised this week in the main shopping areas of Highbridge as part of a project to brighten up the streets in an ongoing effort to encourage more shoppers and visitors to support local towns.
Local artwork features on the flags, pictured here, which were installed above several shops in Market Street and Church Street on Tuesday (March 29th).
Highbridge artist Sarah Berryman from Create You in Market Street has designed some of the artwork for the flags. She says: “I submitted four designs and am delighted to see some appearing on the flags to brighten up the town centre. I intend to go flag spotting later this week!”
The flags are also being raised in Burnham-On-Sea and Bridgwater as part of the project, which is being funded by the Welcome Back Fund and being overseen by Sedgemoor District Council.
“The artwork for Burnham and Highbridge has been designed by local residents taking part in two art projects run by SEED Sedgemoor,” says a spokeswoman.
“There are a mixture of landscapes, animals and plants and some abstract images.”
“The artwork for the Bridgwater flags has been designed by a local graphic design company based on historical images and events that represent Bridgwater’s heritage.”
“Some of the images are of Robert Blake, Duke of Monmouth, John Chubb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Bowen, Jon Toogood, Vernon Bartlett and Joe Strummer along with representation of local events and buildings.”
It comes as Sedgemoor District Council has been allocated a sum of money under the Welcome Back Fund, which is funded from the European Regional Development Fund.
The purpose of the fund is to provide Local Authorities with resources to support their towns, villages and tourism attractions in overcoming the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund allows local authorities in England to put in place additional measures to create and promote a safe environment for local trade and tourism, particularly in high streets as their economies reopen.
