Riverside footpath in Taunton town centre could soon be reopened

Daniel Mumby

25 June 2024 at 8:27 am·2-min read

Proposed site of car park on the former Poundstretcher site on the A3807 Wood Street in Taunton town centre — -Credit: (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Taunton Town Council is taking action to ensure that a key footpath along the River Tone through the town centre can soon be reopened. The footpath running between the river and the A3807 Tangier Way once provided a direct link from the Riverain Lodge retirement complex to both Goodland Gardens (via the footbridge) and the town centre via the A3027 Bridge Street.

The footpath has been out of action in recent years following the demolition of Taunton's Poundstretcher store and the subsequent repairs to the Taunton Town Bridge. With the removal of the Goodland Gardens footbridge, residents living on the north bank of the Tone facing a longer walk to other bridges to access the town's green spaces or main shopping streets.

Taunton Town Council is now aiming to get the footpath added to Somerset Council's definitive rights of way map, meaning it has to be opened (or have an official diversion advertised until this is feasible). The town council is asking for local residents to provide evidence that this path - which runs all the way to French Weir Park - is in regular use, ahead of any public inquiry.

In a statement published on its official Facebook page on Sunday (June 23), the town council said: "An application is being made to add the riverside path, connecting Bridge Street to the path leading to French Weir along the River Tone, to the definitive map. Evidence is required to confirm that it has been in continuous use as a public right of way.

"We are supporting this application." L & C Investments Ltd. put forward plans to reopen the path in April 2023, as part of wider plans to turn the former Poundstretcher site into a car park - but to date no decision on these proposals has been taken.

Reopening the footpath will help to restore an unbroken link along the north bank of the Tone from Longrun Meadow to the Hankridge Nature Reserve, via the soon-to-be upgraded Morrisons footbridge near the Coal Orchard development, the Firepool regeneration site and the southern terminus of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

To add your support to the town council's efforts, email info@taunton-tc.gov.uk to request a form.

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