1,000 signatures reached
To: Somerset Council Executive
Save Taunton’s High Street Car Park
Somerset Council is planning on selling off Taunton’s Mary Street/High Street Car Park for development with no consultation with residents, local businesses or community groups and in opposition to the views of local councillors. The car park is very well-used by the public and vital to the livelihood of many businesses, churches, community groups and arts and nighttime venues in the vicinity. We want Somerset Council to remove the sale of this car park and to keep it as a car park.
Why is this important?
This can’t happen. Officers claim the car park is surplus to requirements and people can simply park elsewhere but this contradicts local knowledge and experience. There will be a net loss of 12 disabled parking bays. High St/Mary St car park is the most accessible car park for many disabled people and older people who cannot walk far to visit High Street businesses or events/venues/groups in the vicinity.
Many often can’t find a spot in the Crescent car park anymore and find Orchard multi-storey next door a nightmare by comparison. It is also the only place you can park in the area after 7pm (its lowest level is not locked) as Orchard is shut then. Removing that night time parking facility in particular would spell disaster for the popular nearby venues including CICCIC (Creative Innovation Centre) and the Lawns Social Club, businesses and churches, whilst also restricting the opportunities for many local residents to access a social life and increasing isolation.
Taunton aspires to be a destination - for arts and culture, festivals, social activities, retail - but removing this car park will do nothing but damage to town centre footfall, our cultural life and the town’s economy. Worshippers at churches in the area would also be deprived of the ability to attend services.
Vivary Park (owned and managed by Somerset Council) across the road hosts major popular events through the year attracting thousands of visitors, making the nearest car park - the High St/Mary St car park facility - absolutely vital to the continuing success of these and to avoiding traffic and parking chaos. People do not yet have an adequate level of public transport opportunities to always leave the car at home.
We demand that Somerset Council presses PAUSE on current plans, undertakes a proper impact assessment, looks at all the options and commits to proper consultation and joint working with local residents, businesses and stakeholders to secure continuation of effective parking provision in the area (including at night) in the interests of Taunton’s community and economy.
Many often can’t find a spot in the Crescent car park anymore and find Orchard multi-storey next door a nightmare by comparison. It is also the only place you can park in the area after 7pm (its lowest level is not locked) as Orchard is shut then. Removing that night time parking facility in particular would spell disaster for the popular nearby venues including CICCIC (Creative Innovation Centre) and the Lawns Social Club, businesses and churches, whilst also restricting the opportunities for many local residents to access a social life and increasing isolation.
Taunton aspires to be a destination - for arts and culture, festivals, social activities, retail - but removing this car park will do nothing but damage to town centre footfall, our cultural life and the town’s economy. Worshippers at churches in the area would also be deprived of the ability to attend services.
Vivary Park (owned and managed by Somerset Council) across the road hosts major popular events through the year attracting thousands of visitors, making the nearest car park - the High St/Mary St car park facility - absolutely vital to the continuing success of these and to avoiding traffic and parking chaos. People do not yet have an adequate level of public transport opportunities to always leave the car at home.
We demand that Somerset Council presses PAUSE on current plans, undertakes a proper impact assessment, looks at all the options and commits to proper consultation and joint working with local residents, businesses and stakeholders to secure continuation of effective parking provision in the area (including at night) in the interests of Taunton’s community and economy.
