'Quick wins' found for improving town's waterways

The waterways strategy aims to improve access to Taunton's waterways for residents and visitors

A town's river and canal network is to be enhanced to make it more accessible to residents and visitors.

Somerset Council said it had identified several "quick wins" for the waterways in and around Taunton, including a cycle link and conversion of a former pump-house for commercial use.

The plans covered part of the River Tone, along with numerous tributaries, and the southern end of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

A public consultation on the proposals will be held in the autumn with the final strategy being adopted by the council shortly after Christmas.

Residential waterside properties are included in the wider regeneration of the Firepool site in Taunton

The council's "waterways strategy" aims to deliver a “linear water park concept” for the town centre, showing how each section of the river and canal could be enhanced to improve access and encourage greater leisure and commercial use.

Like the emerging Somerset Local Plan and the Taunton Garden Town design guide, the longer-term purpose was to set a standard for future riverside development in Taunton.

These would include vacant brownfield sites, like the former Tangier gasworks and the major regeneration area, known as Firepool.

Longer-term development of vacant brownfield sites will be included in the council's waterways strategy

Other organisations, including the Environment Agency (EA), would help deliver joint projects designed to bring benefits to the town such as flood prevention, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Sarah Wakefield, portfolio holder for adult services, said: “To have a strategy for all the waterways in and around the town is very important.

“We have been trying to put the waterways back at the heart of the town."