A COUNCIL risks shooting itself in the foot with proposals to lend millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash to redevelop Taunton Station, it is claimed.

A multi-million pound scheme would see improved passenger facilities, retail opportunities around a train/bus hub.

The main entrance would be re-sited from the north to the south side, linking in to the proposed Firepool project for homes, shops, bars and restaurants.

There would also be a multi-storey car park for train travellers at the station revamp, which has already attracted a Government pledge of £4.6 million funding.

Cllr Habib Farbahi, a LibDem on Conservative-run Taunton Deane Borough Council, said a "substantial amount" of council taxpayer money would be given as a loan to the project.

He added: "A high proportion will go towards the development of a multi-storey privately operated car park that will directly compete with the nearby council-owned Kilkenny Car Park."

Mr Farbahi added that the proposed loan, discussed behind closed doors by the council's scrutiny committee, is part of the authority's "unseemly rush...to spend millions of pounds of public money to be seen to have done something in their term of office".

He said that recently the Deane had approved almost £20 million for a 'Hotel California' project - it plans to build a hotel and lease it to an international chain, believed to be Hilton, although the name and exact sum are confidential, while a number of loans to the private sector are also being mooted.

A Deane House spokeswoman said: "The scrutiny committee was asked for its views on a confidential, commercial loan.

"The details of the loan remain confidential as they are commercially sensitive.

"The committee strongly supported the proposal with no votes against and one abstention. The proposal will now be further considered through the democratic process."