OLD cattle market site/town centre problems.

Facts:
The market position is central to Taunton.
There is a potential flood problem.
Taunton has sufficient shops, but a more co-ordinated adjustment is necessary, businesses need to decide.
There is little public enthusiasm for art galleries, the Brewhouse site could provide this if the old swimming pool is suitably rebuilt, if necessary.
Taunton badly needs a proper, bigger, better bus station.
The railway station is adjacent to this site.

Suggestions:
Create a flood holding space at river level, the area could contain waterproof ducts for services, fuel water, sewage, phones, etc, with physical access.
Over the whole area, build on piles a new bus station with full passenger and staff facilities, including ample bus access, parking bays, information bureau, toilets, refreshment facilities, and short stay public parking for a picking up/dropping off point, including taxis.
Build a walkway/travelator (a level escalator), at high level to the railway station to provide access direct for passengers.
Build a high level walkway/travelator to follow the river to SCAT and the hospital with access stations with manned ticket offices at Goodlands Gardens, with a possible branch off to the High Street either along North Street or behind the shops.
On the first floor of the bus station provide office space relating to travel, etc for commercial use and public access. On the second floor perhaps some retirement apartments with a level roof garden.
An alternative to the travelator might be a cable car railway network which could at some time be extended to Bathpool and Creech, Bishop’s Hull, Staplegrove and Norton, even possibly Vivary and Trull. This would reduce the need for street level transport and avoid some congestion. These could be run by bus companies on a commercial basis.
The old bus station needs demolishing and the site is very valuable and could be used for upmarket apartments and perhaps a cinema, if an operator can be found to build and run it.
With regards to general traffic in the town: It would be very desirable to have a second Motorway exit for the town. But, we very much need a relief road round the town to the south, so that traffic from the A358, Creech etc, could get to the hospital and SCAT areas without going through the town centre.
Extension of Chestnut Drive suggests itself to Galmington/Trull.
The town roads are too heavily supplied with traffic lights, which holds traffic up, more roundabouts and a one-way traffic inner ring would be helpful in this way.
A proper relief road from Walford Cross to Norton is required to avoid the congestion at Creech Heathfield, Monkton Heathfield, Priorswood and Greenway.

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Finally, to this brief summary I would suggest no more housebuilding until the necessary infrastructure is added, ie medical, educational, roads and parking.

I hope these suggestions may be helpful and perhaps spark other ideas.

V J IMRIE
North Curry