BRIDGWATER’S road to nowhere could soon become a road to an exciting new development for the town if ambitious plans for a retail park go ahead.

The Leggar, which runs off The Clink next to Sainsbury’s, currently ends with some fencing and boulders in a cul-de-sac.

If completed and connected to Quantock Terrace - and eventually Bristol Road - it would ease congestion at the junction of the A38 and the A39 at The Rifleman’s Arms roundabout with Monmouth Street and The Clink.

Plus the new development will see new retail outlets built providing around 80 new jobs for the town. Bridgwater Retail Park is the company behind the scheme which would develop the land to the north of The Leggar which was formerly used as a British Cellophane waste site.

The firm bought the site two years ago and say they have worked with the district council and the Chamber of Commerce in exploring the potential of the land which is currently overgrown and partly derelict.

They have also been in talks with Sainsbury’s over access to the supermarket’s car park with a view to easing potential congestion and aiding the flow of traffic at The Leggar Link.

Around additional 67,000 square feet of space will be created with new units available for what the developer describes as “leading brands”on the park. Lidl would be relocated as its current building would be demolished.

The car park at Sainsbury’s would be reconfigured to improve traffic circulation and the company says the site will be completed with landscaping in accordance with Sedgemoor District Council’s rules. The developers have pledged that the plans are not subject to any link to the Hinkley C proposal but would proceed independently from the various projects related to the power station.

An exhibition of the plans will be at Sedgemoor District Council offices starting on Monday to allow the public to give their views.

Bridgwater’s Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said the town was moving ahead with a number of major projects in hand, some related to Hinkley and some not.

He said: “The old British Cellophane site has been sold to EDF, there’s the old bomb factory by Puriton which needs to be developed, and there’s Bridgwater Gateway at Junction 24 where we have the potential of extra land there for development.”

The town ward councillor for the area was positive but cautious. Cllr Dave Loveridge said he looked forward to seeing the details of the plans but had concerns about traffic and the site itself.

He had previously worked at British Cellophane and knew of the site which contained waste and needed to be cleaned. Cllr Loveridge also said there were worries about traffic and parking for residents as the junction with Bristol Road was already congested.

Speaking for the Labour group on Sedgemoor District Council, Mick Lerry said he broadly welcomed the plans.

“It’s an important development as it’s also about releasing traffic through that area from the supermarket and other sites there.

“At one time it was going to be a skateboard park but that now exists at the YMCA and so it will clean up this brownfield site. We look forward to the consultation so we can see the proposals in full.”

Share views at newsdesk@bridgwatermercury.co.uk.