The setting for a popular Taunton parkrun could be turned into a "pond" as part of a £50m programme to prevent flooding in Somerset.
Somerset Council's executive committee approved a programme of 15 schemes designed to protect communities at risk of flooding, which will be funded over the next two years by central government grants.
The programme includes significant funding for flood prevention in Taunton, including £7.5m for defences on the left bank of the River Tone near the former Poundstretcher site and £6m for improvements to Firepool Weir.
The council has also committed to a study into the future of Longrun Meadow, which could see the beloved green space be forever changed to allow large quantities of water to be stored there over the winter.
Longrun Meadow lies between the town centre and the Silk Mills park and ride facility on the western edge of Taunton, with a wide network of intersecting paths providing connections to local schools, medical facilities and the adjoining French Weir Park.
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In addition to being a highly popular green space, famed for its willow cathedral and parkrun, the meadow serves as a vital flood defence for Taunton, slowing the flow of water into the River Tone and nearby streams.
As part of the £50m programme, £400,000 has been allocated for initial studies to see if the meadow can be turned into a “managed flood attenuation area” - including the possibility of building bunds so that it effectively becomes a reservoir during periods of high rainfall.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, climate change and the environment, confirmed the council's intentions for the site when the executive committee met in Frome on September 23.
Ms Smith-Roberts (who represents the Taunton East division) said: "The Taunton flood alleviation scheme incorporates several schemes to shore up defences within Taunton town centre. It also includes the Longrun Meadow site.
"The plan is to turn Longrun Meadow into a formal flood attenuation pond that will relieve flood risk further down the system into the Levels and Moors, including Morland and Fordgate."
Councillor Sarah Wakefield, portfolio holder for adults' services, housing and homelessness, asked for clarification over whether improving Longrun Meadow as a flood defence would throw the parkrun's future into doubt.
Ms Wakefield (who represents the Blackdown and Neroche division on the edge of Taunton) said: "I know a lot of people use Longrun Meadow for the parkrun.
"Is the meadow going to be out of bounds for that sort of thing? Or is it just going to be flooded occasionally when we have a big flood on the river?"
Piers Hooper, the council's strategic manager for the flood resilience programme, said that it was unlikely that the project would come to fruition without significant additional investment.
He said: "Longrun Meadow is a very technically complex and significant project, so we know that we're not going to deliver it to construction and completion within two years.
"Perhaps if we would be given £500m and five or ten years, that would be the sort of ambition that we might have.
"That said, if we could get that through planning, if we could get a detailed design agreed with the community, and if we could get it a costed full business case together for the future, I think that would be a good milestone to achieve.
"That sets the ground for the future, and more investment may then be unlocked from other sources if we can get to that point with that site.
"In specific relation to community use, that would be something that we'd have to look at very carefully through the feasibility study.
"We're obviously very conscious that there is a very active community group there and a wide variety of leisure uses - and proposals for it to become a nature reserve as well."
James Divall, the council's head of service for climate and natural environment, added: "We've got a lot of passionate people in that particular area about how Longrun Meadow is currently used, and what the future use of that is.
"We're trying to get that blended approach of making sure that it's a flood risk asset as well as a community facility and a green travel route going forward."
Somerset Council confirmed following the executive meeting that proposals for the future of Longrun Meadow were at a very early stage and stressed that the public would be extensively consulted on any changes.
A spokesperson said: "The Taunton flood alleviation strategy identified the potential for the site, along with the Firepool site and the left bank of the River Tone between Town Bridge and Frieze Hill.
"The work that was given the go-ahead is a just pre-feasibility study to consider what could be achieved within the scope of the funding.
"Residents will be consulted if plans are confirmed to carry out detailed options appraisal."
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