THERE'S been plenty of talk over the past ten years about the former livestock market in Taunton.

The weekly sale was held for the last time on Saturday, January 19, 2008 before the operation was moved to North Petherton.

The Firepool site has remained vacant ever since and is now derelict and overgrown.

Yet the road sign at the junction of Priorswood Road, Clifton Terrace and Cheddon Road still directs drivers the half mile to the market.

Proposals have been approved for homes, shops and leisure facilities on the site, altough the final plans are yet to be given the go-ahead.

And the council is considering building a hotel at Firepool with tax payer money and leasing it to a leading hotel chain - although a decision on that was recently deferred.

But the regeneration of Firepool remains a controversial issue, with questions as to why after more than ten years there has been little movement there.