New park and ride moves a step closer

6:58am Friday 16th November 2007

A PLANNING application for Taunton's second park and ride scheme went in last week.

If the project gets the go ahead, work would start this time next year on the site adjacent to Cambria Farm, at Ruishton, off the A358 and near Junction 25 of the M5.

When it is operational in October 2009, its key features would include: *secure parking for up to 1,000 cars.

*cycle parking facilities.

*long distance coach drop off and pick up point.

*sustainable construction materials and energy resources.

*public information facilities.

Access will be via a signal controlled junction with bus priority measures, while the route into town will use the short cut' bus gate on Ilminster Road.

It will complement the existing park and ride site on the other side of Taunton at Silk Mills, with buses running to and from the town centre at the same regularity and cost.

Stagecoach Cooks Coaches, who already run the Silk Mills operation, have been awarded the initial contract.

Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, Somerset County Council's portfolio holder for planning, transport and waste, said: "The proposed park and ride scheme is a key step in delivering the new vision for Taunton, not least through reducing congestion and encouraging more sustainable travel alternatives."

A county spokeswoman said there would be minor disruption to traffic during construction.

The Highways Agency announced earlier this year that it is to convert the busy A358 between Taunton and Ilminster to a dual carriageway.

*Check out this story and all the top local news in this week's Somerset County Gazette.

*For more information on the scheme, click on the link below.