I HEARTILY concur with the sentiments voiced in last week’s County Gazette: “We desperately need a fit-for purpose flexible space for live music and the arts, one that is capable of staging a wider range of events than has been possible in Taunton for 40 years” (Postbag, March 29).

It is this lack that is holding back life in Taunton and has led to the fragmentation, particularly of musical activity.

The reality is that such a space needs to be tied in with the Brewhouse (I and many others have reservations about increasing the fixed seating). 

The obvious site is the current St James Pool footprint including the current road between them (alternative access possible via St James Street – think outside the box please!).

It may involve taking a two to three foot wide strip from the car park. This would, however, leave more than enough public space in the current plans.

Interesting I spent yesterday afternoon at a workshop by “CREATEStreets” who ran an event on behalf of ArtsTaunton.

They helped us tease out what helped us like and enjoy a place. We had great fun sticking red dots on the monstrosities, green dots on likes, and yellow dots on sites for improvement.

The outcome was that the right mix depended on a maximum building height of four-six storeys, preserving the views, random materials and styles, quirky facades (i.e. an eclectic mix in scale with what is here already give or take a few exceptions). 

The residential example with which we identified was the traditional dense terrace/square with the greenery in the private gardens and public streets. Squares had to be well overlooked to work well.

High-rise with flat space around and terraces/squares both produce around the same number of homes c.70 per hectare. Why build the former when they are more expensive to maintain?

As to trees and greenery, these will provide an extra interest if Taunton heads for a mix of and range of cultivars to enhance the streets and parks and semi public spaces.

They will tie in nicely with our current assets. They will also add to the offer of the new combined council which will have tremendous potential as a tourist venue with its glorious countryside, coastal strip, two AONBS and the treasury of gardens and arboreta in the South West (the changing nature of local government – quality not quantity!).

D BRADLEY
Kingston St Mary