Park and Ride summit called

A Park and Ride summit is being called in Taunton to try to save the County Town’s edge-of-town transport links.

Taunton Deane Borough Council is arranging urgent talks with Somerset County Council (SCC) to save the two Park and Ride (P&R) links – Silk Mills and Gateway – from possible permanent closure.

SCC has yet to make a decision on the future of the P&R but has made it clear that the authority has some difficult financial savings to make in the light of the continuing squeeze on the public purse.

Cllr John Williams, Leader of the Borough Council, said he understood SCC’s position and appreciated the budgetary pressures now and in the future. He and his Executive councillor colleagues are keen to meet SCC counterparts so
the authorities can work together to find a solution.

“The P&R network is essential to Taunton in providing drivers, commuters in particular, with an efficient and cost-effective way of getting into the town centre and to Musgrove Park Hospital. “It helps to reduce congestion and pollution and is very much part of our Garden Town ethos and ambitions. The easy and plentiful parking on the edge of town plays a key part in our local economy. We need to sit down with our colleagues and County Hall and find a solution. “I know this is an issue that is of real concern to our residents and businesses so we need to look at how a viable P&R service can be provided in the future.”