Multi-million pound 'boulevard' gets mixed reviews

9 hours ago

Matty EdwardsWest of England

News image — The Firepool Boulevard is part of the wider development of the land that has been vacant for years

Chris Haig A drone photo of the top of the boulevard, showing two flights of steps with newly planted trees and patches of grass, with cars and buildings on each side and Taunton station at the end. — The Firepool Boulevard is part of the wider development of the land that has been vacant for years

A new footpath connecting a railway station to a town centre has received mixed reviews from local residents.

The Firepool Boulevard in Taunton, which opened recently after years of delays, has received some criticism for what it cost to build - more than £6m.

Meanwhile other residents are pleased about having a more direct route to the town centre away from busy roads.

The boulevard is the first step of a wider development of the vacant land by the River Tone, which it is hoped will bring an "ambitious commercial and leisure quarter" to Taunton.

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Local resident Andy Hales, 66, said: "The path is a great idea, but why they spent £6m, I shall never know. I'm sure they could have probably done it for a lot less by making it a much more simple path."

"The landscaping is also a great idea, but we all know it won't get looked after, so it becomes a jungle and a waste of money."

Funding for the project came from the government's future high street fund.

Lesley Trute, 77, said: "I am so grateful to the council for constructing this beautiful walkway in the Firepool area. It has added quite an improvement to my life.

"It allows easy access to the town from the train station and for the residents of this area," she said.

Chris Haig A birds-eye drone photo of boulevard, which is grey and has cars, buildings and vacant land on each side — The wider development could include hundreds of homes, a multi-purpose venue, hotel, cinema, bowling alley and shops.

The development is expected to include more than 400 homes and an "ambitious commercial and leisure quarter" that could accommodate a multi-purpose venue, hotel, cinema, bowling alley, shops, health hub and a nursery.

The area would also benefit from secure a water feature, open space and play areas.

Max, a college student who commutes to Exeter every day, said: "Due to the new path at Firepool it gives me a safe way to get home on my skateboard away from the traffic on Station Road.

"The access ramp is definitely wide enough for cyclists and skaters to use without obstructing other pedestrians and people with mobility issues."

Chris Haig A drone image of the end of the boulevard, which is surrounged by empty and. The boulevard reaches the River Tone and a bridge to the local cricket ground. — The boulevard reaches the River Tone and creates a faster route to the cricket ground and Taunton's independent quarter

Jamie Cox, the CEO of Somerset County Cricket Club, that he was "delighted" that the Firepool Boulevard would allow supporters to walk to the ground from the station.

"Easy access to the Ground will greatly improve people's match-day experience and beyond that it will enable people to visit the Taunton independent quarter more readily."

Somerset Council could not provide a detailed cost breakdown of the boulevard, but said the northern section near the station cost about £4.5m million and the southern section nearer the river around £1.8m.

These costs included construction, materials and equipment, planting, lights, cycle racks and fencing, as well as the cost of asbestos removal which delayed the project.

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