THERE are fears a multi-million pound riverside development could decimate Taunton's town centre.

Building shops on the derelict Firepool could lure customers from the main shopping area and split the town, it is believed.

The claims follow a British Retail Consortium report saying 74,000 shops could close and 900,000 jobs go nationwide within ten years.

Cllr Jefferson Horsley (LibDem), Taunton Deane Borough Council's shadow economic development portfolio holder, reckons plans for shops, leisure facilities, offices and homes at Firepool should be rejigged.

He said: "The proposals for the derelict site at Firepool could lead to a swifter decline in shopping around The Parade, High Street and Market House and split the town.

"The council should be encouraging St Modwen (its development partner) to put forward plans for promoting our county town to lead on creating a centre for innovation and skills specialising in renewable energy sources.

"This would be commensurate with our aspirations to establish a University of Somerset and our ambitions to get away from the low wage, low skill economy we are currently trapped in.

"We need space for iconic and architecturally satisfying buildings to keep the Vision for Taunton alive."

Cllr Ian Morrell (Ind) fears the council is backing the Firepool scheme just as retail is declining.

He added: "This is a concern as again the proposals will be behind the curve compared to where the economy is actually at, meaning the site will remain dormant for another generation or split the town centre.

"The council needs to proactively seek out high paid employment and stop congratulating themselves when a charity shop occupies prime retail space.”

Andy Sharman, who is involved in the retail sector in Taunton, said it would be preferable to enhance the existing shopping area to ensure it remains "viable and sustainable", with "other employment opportunities" created for Firepool.
"Putting a supermarket on Firepool or building more elderly care facilities isn't going to provide Taunton with enough employment opportunities," said Mr Sharman.

St Modwen has submitted an outline application for a supermarket - possibly Waitrose - pub, restaurant, cinema, hotel, shops, offices and homes.

The company's senior development manager Pete Davies said: "The proposed Firepool development is a high quality mixed use scheme, which has a fantastic natural setting adjacent the River Tone while being adjacent to the new Northern Inner Distributor Road - being built between Staplegrove Road and Priory Avenue - mainline station and within a short level walk off the existing town centre.

"The project team has sought to ensure the scheme is designed with input from potential occupiers for the various elements to ensure the planning permission meets their requirements while securing a sustainable regeneration of this town centre site.

"The fundamentals of this high quality mixed use scheme should ensure it remains as robust as possible in the event of external market changes.”

The British Retail Consortium claims UK shops are closing because of increased online shopping and employment costs.

Chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said: "People aren't realising just how significantly the workplace is changing and I think that's dangerous - people assume that somehow things are going to carry on as they are, when that's unlikely."