About Us

Taunton & District
Civic Society

Protecting the Past &

Influencing the Future

Taunton and District Civic Society, Founded in 1971, Registered Charity no. 297710

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T&DCS 06_Sept_11.wpp Last updated 6Sep11

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We are not NIMBYs. We look to support things that will make Taunton a better place to live. This may involve initiatives that create more jobs, more homes (especially affordable homes), and better amenities or infrastructure - but it may also mean saying “No, that goes too far”.

We look to support things that increase the prosperity of the area - but not if the environmental or social costs look likely to be unacceptable. We support green initiatives.

We acknowledge that planning and design may involve hard choices - but we want them to be the best possible choices.

We are totally non-political.

National & regional strategies, planning and development frequently involve political controversy. We may comment or make representations, but do so purely from our impartial assessment of the benefits or disadvantages for Taunton or the wider community.

We don’t “take sides”.

Our view all depends on whether the matter is, on balance, going to be good for Taunton.

We don’t get involved in small issues.

For example, we don’t comment on ordinary domestic planning applications.

Other Information

The current officers and committee members are listed here, and this is our constitution.

About Us

In essence we are a group of people working together to enhance, conserve, promote and enjoy their local environment.

There are well over 1000 Civic Societies in England and each society is originated and entirely run by local residents. Nearly all started because people became frustrated by poorly planned development, or a lack of amenities, or because a some treasured place or building was under threat. The word ‘civic’ just means ‘relating to a city, citizen, or community’ - nothing to do with officialdom in any form - and some societies do not use the word - the oldest society is simply called The Sid Vale Association. Like many societies we are members of Civic Voice which is a charity that exists to give coherence and a national face to the movement.

What We Do.

We strive to improve the places and spaces where we live and work: the everyday 'built environment'. By influencing the thinking and actions of people who shape and manage the built environment, and through a number of other activities we achieve improvements in the quality of urban and rural life for Taunton Deane. We are regarded as a ‘stakeholder’ in Taunton.

We:

respond to consultations concerned with local policies and strategies, such as Project Taunton, the Local Development Framework, cultural facilities and other matters
often send delegates to meetings and presentations about the future of the town and district
make representations about important planning applications, objecting to poor design, suggesting alternative approaches, supporting good projects
are represented on the Council’s Public Art and Design Panel.

What We Don’t Do

Our “Waterways” conference promoting the use of the South West’s rivers and canals