A COUNCIL leader has countered criticism of lack or progress in developing a derelict site by saying he is confident major stores and a top cinema will take space there.
Cllr John Williams (Conservative), of Taunton Deane Borough Council, hit back ahead of a meeting demanding to know why Firepool has been derelict for more than ten years.
He said: “We’re increasingly confident the Firepool project will attract major investors from both retail and entertainment.
“In addition, the significant potential employment opportunity with the proposal from the Government-backed Digital and Geospatial Innovation Centre proposal is developing extremely positively.
Council leader Cllr John Williams
“This would be one of the most significant employment opportunities in Taunton in a generation and could unlock enormous benefits locally.
“The Firepool project is part of the wider plan to inject new life into Taunton for the benefit of the whole community.
“Outline planning permission is already in place and we continue to engage with numerous interested parties who share our vision for the site, which includes a major venue for conferences and events. ”
The LibDem opposition on TDBC has called a crunch meeting to demand to know why Firepool has remained vacant since Taunton Livestock Market closed in 2008.
Cllr Habib Farbahi accused the Conservatives of a “total failure to bring new economic life” to the plot.
He said the Firepool project received a recent setback when the council’s development partner, St Modwen, quit what LibDem Cllr Habib Farbahi labels a “costly and incompetent development partnership”.
He said: “It’s over two years since the LibDems urged the council to end the failed partnership after the planning committee had rejected the previous proposals for Firepool because of ‘poor design’ and a dreary lacklustre set of ‘retail park’ proposals which few businesses were interested in, threatening town centre shopping, and failing to connect effectively with the railway station or the River Tone.
“The Conservatives ignored the warnings and alternative suggestions from the LibDems.
LibDem Cllr Habib Farbahi
“The failed partnership with St Modwen lingered on for another two years, achieving nothing. In the end, St Modwen walked away and councillors only discovered this from the County Gazette.”
Mr Farbahi wants to know the full cost of the partnership and why it ended.
The council meeting to discuss Firepool is at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, on Wednesday, November 14, at 6.30pm.
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