A COUNCIL gaffe has led to its own planning application for a new bridge over the River Tone in Taunton being temporarily aborted.

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) last month submitted the proposals to its own planning team for the structure.

It wants to build the pedestrian and cycle bridge across the river between the Morrisons bandstand and the Coal Orchard.

But there was a glitch in the application, which has been removed while the issue is "resolved".

A spokesperson for SWT said: “There was an issue related to a certificate submitted with planning application 38/22/0347 for a proposed pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the River Tone which meant the application was invalid and the information was therefore removed from the website.

"The issue is currently being resolved and once the application is valid it will be relisted giving a full opportunity for people to make representations in the usual way.

"People will not lose the opportunity to make their views known before a decision is made.”

The spokesperson did not say how the error occurred.

The proposed scheme would join the National Cycle Network Route 3, adjacent to the northern bank of the River Tone to the existing footway adjacent to the southern bank.

A statement with the original application from SWT's agent Stantec said: "(It) will improve accessibility to jobs, services and community facilities, and mitigate and adapt to climate change by improving accessibility by cycling and walking to and within Taunton town centre.

"It will facilitate active travel movements and contribute to a high quality, comprehensive cycle and pedestrian network within Taunton.

"Currently, the only bridge in this location is pedestrian only and cyclists are forced to either dismount...or cycle along Goodlands Lane in the opposite direction then back up Bridge Street in order to access key areas of the town centre."

Martin Pakes, who lives nearby and is opposed to the bridge, brought the situation to the council's notice after he tried to access the application online, only to be met with the message: "Sorry, no application could be found matching your search criteria.”

He said: "In other words the application is not 'valid' and it cannot be processed until that information is provided."

READ MORE: Plans unveiled for new bridge over the River Tone, in Taunton.