The Third Way
New plans unveiled for Taunton's inner relief road

12-10-04

Highways and planning experts have come up with a new design for Taunton's proposed Inner Relief Road in a move aimed at ensuring the town's economic future as a shopping, business and cultural centre.    The latest proposals for the road - linking Castle Street and Bridge Street via a new bridge over the River Tone - would remove traffic from town centre streets while still allowing the development of a cultural quarter, with a 550-seat riverside theatre, together with residential and business development.    The plans will go on show at an exhibition unit parked in High Street, from Saturday October 16 until Wednesday October 20 (excluding Sunday), between 10am and 4pm, when officials will be present to answer questions.    Consultants were commissioned jointly by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and the South West of England Regional Development Agency to explore alternative designs for the Inner Relief Road following a survey that showed that local people were divided over the original plans.    In an opinion poll 43 per cent backed the Inner Relief Road, while 57 per cent supported the Vision for Taunton proposals that did not include the road.    There were also claims the new road would be inappropriate for an area that was undergoing cultural regeneration - with proposals for a riverside theatre, apartments and homes.    Somerset County Council Transport Studies Manager Jeremy Callard said the revised scheme - known as The Third Way - was an imaginative solution that combines the best elements from both projects.    The scale and design of road have been changed to ensure it integrates, visually and practically, with the surrounding urban development and lessen its impact on the living and leisure spaces.     "The original Inner Relief Road project was a straightforward road scheme. What is now being suggested has the character of an urban street that will be less intrusive while still meeting the traffic needs of the town, " he said.    The Third Way proposals envisage -     - The pedestrianisation of North Street in off-peak hours, providing a more pleasant shopping environment for residents and visitors  - The regeneration of the Tangier area providing 5,500 square metres of retail floor space, 7,600 sq m of office/workshops and 29,900 sq m of residential development  - Creation of a cultural quarter, including a riverside theatre with bar and restaurant, a cultural centre and new library   - Three new bridges over the River Tone - two of them exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists  - A new riverside walk/cycle path along the south bank of the river, linking the town centre to French Weir  - A new 300 space multi-storey car park just off Wellington Road  - The provision of bus bays along the new road.  - Extensive tree planting and additional public access areas.     Somerset County Councillor Tim Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Transport, said: "The development of the town centre and its cultural, leisure and shopping facilities, is vital for the long term economic success of Taunton.    "Traffic in Taunton is growing rapidly and the town is experiencing a number of transport related problems. At present between 20 and 30 per cent of average journey time on key routes within Taunton in the morning peak are spent in delays or queuing.     "Following the very extensive consultation on the Taunton Transport Strategy, the decision was to retain the concept of the Inner Relief and blend it with the original Taunton Vision design proposals.    "Any way you look at it, this is an additional road space that will allow greater flexibility for traffic around the town centre."    It has been forecast that traffic congestion in Taunton could increase three to four times by 2011.    Experts expect the Inner Relief Road to take between 1,700 and 1,900 vehicles in the morning peak and 1,800 to 1,950 in the late afternoon.    Councillor John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Council, said: "This is a much improved design to that proposed previously and is certainly worthy of the extra time taken to arrive at this solution and warranting further public  consultation.    "It is an innovative design that will allow provision of the cultural area and the fullest development of the Tangier area with the provision of an additional route to avoid the over congested town centre.    "Having said this I shall be looking very carefully at how potential  congestion problems in Bridge Street will be overcome and I  look forward to the feedback from the public exhibition."    Esther Scott, Regeneration Consultant at the South West RDA which helped fund the consultant's studies into a number of key aspects of the town's regeneration, including transport, said: "Taunton has the potential to be a significant area for economic growth over the next twenty years. We welcome the new proposal which will help the town fulfil its important regional role and bring lasting economic success."     The Third Way Study proposals have been produced by a team including Alan Baxter and Associates, who are experts in highway infrastructure, design and conservation, and particularly the impact of road proposals in sensitive town centre locations, Vision for Taunton consultants Terence O'Rourke and engineers Halcrow and Atkins.    Somerset County Council's Executive Board will consider the revised design of the Inner Relief Road on November 10.     Contact:  Jan Hookings - Somerset County Council - Tel: 01823 355020