THE Government has put up cash to build an amphitheatre-type outdoor performance space in Taunton.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has been allocated almost £14million to help transform the high street into a vibrant hub.

The handout was announced yesterday (Wednesday) by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

The £13.9m windfall from the Future High Streets Fund will go on Active Travel links in the town centre, including cycle and pedestrian improvements, as well as contributing towards to the redevelopment of Coal Orchard and Firepool.

The specific allocation towards an outdoor performance space at Firepool is in addition to the multi-purpose venue proposal that is subject to ongoing feasibility studies and discussion.

The council had put forward proposals for £20.2m of funding.

SWT leader Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts said: “I am delighted that we have secured this funding which represents a real opportunity to enhance our retail environment and realise our aspirations for growth, creating a place where people want to live, work and shop.

“The award will enable the delivery of our ambitious regeneration plans, helping to protect and create jobs, and deliver opportunities and prosperity to our communities.”

The news has been welcomed by Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, who said: "I have worked hard locally with stakeholders to help secure this funding and after what has been an incredibly challenging year, this investment will help our town centres build back better and make them a more attractive place to live, work and visit as we recover from the pandemic.”

Cllr Habib Farbahi, who played a huge role in the initial application for cash from the Future High Streets Fund, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that this initiative, which came from LibDem councillors when we were in opposition back in 2018, has now been brought to fruition by our LibDem council.

"I am proud that once we had come up with the idea of a bid for Future High Streets funding, we managed to bring on board people of all parties and none including independents and councillors like Andy Sully, who decided to leave the Conservatives to join us shortly afterwards.

"I would like to thank the County Gazette for their support from the outset, the business community of Taunton and our senior officers at SWT.

"I hope future-funding streams such as £22.4billion for Research and Innovation can now be tapped into in the near future to bring the high value jobs needed in our county town."