THE former Poundstretcher site in Taunton could be turned into a car park.

The owners have applied for permission to complete the demolition of the premises in Bridge Street.

Part of the building has already been bulldozed, so the application submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council is for the retention of the part works already undertaken.

The site of the store beside the River Tone, along with the service yard reached via Wood Street has been identified for retail/leisure use together with residential.

Since the premises was vacated by Poundstretcher in August last year, it has been "subject to continued trespass, vandalilsm and rough sleeping", according top the planning application.

It adds: "The applicants have held discussions with the planning authority (SWT) about possible residential, but have still not got any firm plans.

"Accordingly, at the moment they want to demolish the building and use the site as a car park in the interim period until they firm up some redevelopment proposals.

"As part of these redevelopment proposals they would be able to provide a path alongside the river."

The car park, which would be accessed via Wood Street, would provide 48 parking spaces and two disabled parking bays, while there would also be a motorcycle parking area for six bikes.

There would by 'pay on foot' provision, allowing users to complete the payment for the time spent in the car park before reaching the exit point.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras would be installed on the site.

READ MORE: Demolition of former Poundstretcher store begins.