Work to turn 'eyesore' into transport hub imminent

Work to transform an "eyesore" building into a new £3.2m transport hub is set to begin imminently, a council has said.

Taunton's bus station was closed at the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and repurposed as a vaccine centre.

Somerset Council said its contractor, D R Jones Ltd will start work "imminently" to revamp the site, in Tower Street, into a transport hub for the town.

The project, which will be finished by the end of the year, will bring new bus stops and shelters, a waiting room and toilet, cycle parking and disabled and taxi bays.

Plans for the refurbishment were unveiled in 2024, and last year, residents were asked for their views on the future use of the former bus station.

The transport hub will also feature real-time digital displays, cycle repair stands with tools, and planters and seating.

Taunton Town Council is looking at further proposals in time, which may include refreshments and enhanced toilet facilities.

Somerset Council's lead member for transport, Richard Wilkins, said the hub would be a "key part" of wider plans to improve the region's bus services.

"We want to make bus travel more attractive for people so that it is a genuine alternative to travelling by car to work, college or for a day out," he said.

"By providing clean, warm waiting facilities, somewhere safe to leave your bike, buggy or scooter, and real-time information on bus times, we are making it easier for people to make that choice."

The council's lead member of economic development, planning and assets, Mike Rigby, added that it will become a "new gateway to Taunton with pleasant public spaces and good connectivity to the town centre".

"This has been a bit of an eyesore for a while, and it's fantastic that we have got this funding to transform not just the building but this area of Taunton," he said.

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