A PETITION has been launched urging the council to reopen a town centre footpath.
Coal Orchard Car Park was closed and reduced to 21 spaces by Somerset West and Taunton Council earlier this week, to allow for work on a multi-million pound project to begin.
Along with the car park restrictions also came the closure of the riverside footpath, which links St James Street and The Riverside with Pegasus Court and nearby Morrisons.
The development is scheduled for completion by spring 2021.
The closure has left many shoppers confused, as some claim there was no warning from the council.
CLOSED: The blocked Riverside footpath
Resident of the Pegasus Court flats, Martin Pakes, has been collecting signatures on a petition against the closure which he hopes to present to the council.
So far he says he has received around 500 names.
He said: "People are really angry.
"It's not just that they have closed the footpath, it was because there was no warning.
"No one from the council was here to explain, it was left up to the residents to tell people where to go.
"On Tuesday afternoon people had crossed over, then when they were making their way back they couldn't get through."
DISREGARD: Some town centre visitors cutting through the gates
Mr Pakes says he fears it will further impact on trade around the St James Street and Riverside area.
He and other residents are urging the council to consider reopening the footpath which runs adjacent to the river in a bid to make the area more accessible.
"There's going to be vehicular and pedestrian conflict," he added.
"People drive down here to get to the doctors' surgery, to access the flats, and the car park. But now there are so few spaces, people drive down and when it's full up they are left with no option but to reverse back into traffic."
Mr Pakes is aiming to gather around 1,000 signatures before taking the petition to the council.
ACTION: Mr Pakes gathering signatures
A representative from SWT was present near the bridge, directing pedestrians towards St James Street, however Mr Pakes says this is the first day a council rep has appeared.
SWT has been approached for comment.
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