IN response to your latest articles and as a resident of Taunton, I think the borough council needs to stop thinking in a rural manner. 

Taunton is not a village, it is the County Town of Somerset and should stand out in the county, equal to Exeter and Gloucester. 

Central government has designated the area as a ‘Garden City’, surely it would be wiser, money spent now and for future generations to admire, to have a new Town Hall reflecting the new builds now in progress? 

READ MORE: Coal Orchard plans get the go-ahead

I propose Firepool to have this new Town Hall beside the river, plus a super store/multi-storey car park and larger cinema/theatre building alongside Canal Road and Priory Bridge Road; A central garden square called Queens Gardens with these buildings and the Tone riverside creating this square; Pedestrianised boulevards linking a walk to the canal and Coal Orchard area; Coal Orchard, Brewhouse Theatre to keep its size to the front, but modernise this smaller theatre and arts centre with gardens and riverside seating; Widen the river to cope with boat moorings and introduce steps down to the moorings; Ground level car park with apartments above, which replace old swimming pool site; Small number of select boutique shops, but not the tall large new buildings presently proposed alongside the new steps.

Note, this area kept as a large green space/possibly Astroturf; A possible use for outside entertainment to compliment activities at the Summer Fest in Castle Green and Goodlands Gardens.

How good it was to walk freely in Lower St James Street for last Friday’s cricket match. 

Please close this road for pedestrian use immediately and please no more waiting for the next public consultation on Coal Orchard and Firepool. 

The wait is costing more money – act today councillors!

The old Lidl site is central to town and would be ideal for a large medical centre to improve future GP requirements.

ANONYMOUS
Coal Orchard
Taunton