Taunton bus passengers asked for views on new transport hub
It's to replace the redundant Tower Street facility.
Bus passengers are being asked to give their views on the new transport hub that will soon be delivered in Taunton town centre.
Somerset Council has received £2.7m from the Department for Transport (DfT) to replace the redundant Tower Street facility (which closed in March 2020) with a new transport hub for buses and coaches, as part of its multi-year bus service improvement plan (BSIP).
The council held an initial consultation in the summer of 2024, with construction intended to begin later this year to allow the hub to be up and running before the spring of 2026.
Taunton Town Council is now asking residents and bus patrons for their views on key elements of the scheme, including the new waiting room – with a further drop-in event being organised for June 4.
Under the current proposals, the new hub will include six bus stops, each with their own shelter, which are ‘drive in, drive out’ stops – meaning buses will not have to reverse out onto Tower Street after they have picked up passengers.
Two coach stops will also be provided along Castle Way (near the Mecca Bingo), providing an interchange for passengers between the local bus network and the nationwide coach journeys.
There will be five layover bays, where local buses can be parked when not in active service to prevent them clogging up the town centre.
The new hub will have real-time information boards for passengers, an indoor waiting room with toilets, and a changing places toilet facility with a dedicated accessible parking bay.
Outside the building will be a pedestrianised area with outdoor seating and planting, with bicycle parking and new pedestrian crossings to link the site with Goodlands Gardens and other existing active travel routes.
The town council is considering taking on one or both of the former bus station buildings (at no additional purchase cost to local taxpayers) and would like feedback on how the buildings should be used going forward.
NHS Somerset used the bus station as a vaccination centre during the coronavirus pandemic, relocating its temporary vaccination centre from within the Firepool site in March 2022.
Any specific improvements will be funded through external grants and contributions from housing developers in the first instance, rather than a drastic rise in the town council’s share of council tax bills.
Town council leader Tom Deakin said: “We know that the former bus station site is something our residents feel strongly about.
“Somerset Council’s consultation confirmed this and we are keen to work with them to make the most of the space available, providing not only transport related spaces, but adding value for our residents.
“What we don’t want is to just presume to know best. We hear so many wonderful suggestions, but with space limited, a consultation will help us to understand the real priorities.
“We’re asking residents to have their say; complete the consultation, tell us whether a shop or repair café, a community room or a share library would be most important to you. Help us to shape Taunton’s future.”
A drop-in event allowing people to express their views in person will be held at Taunton Library on Paul Street on Wednesday, June 4 between 3pm and 6:30pm.