Taunton Council Seeks Public Input on Demolished Footbridge Replacement

A local council has initiated a request for public input regarding the replacement of a footbridge situated in a prominent town centre location. The Goodland Gardens footbridge, located in Taunton, was dismantled this year by Somerset Council. This action followed an 18-month closure, during which the structure was determined to be structurally unsound and subsequently judged “not viable for repair.” Taunton Town Council is currently evaluating the possibility of replacing the bridge, including the method of replacement if deemed necessary. To gather feedback, the council has launched a public online consultation, which will remain open until 15 November. An earlier feasibility study, commissioned by the council this year, estimated the replacement cost to be between £300,000 and £500,000, which constitutes 5% to 8% of its overall budget. A structural survey, also commissioned by Somerset Council, concluded that repairing the now-removed bridge would have incurred greater expenses than replacing it entirely. Somerset Council stated that it could not bear the associated cost. Councillor Richard Wilkins had previously commented: “The wellbeing of the public has to come first and unfortunately this bridge is no longer safe.” He added, “With the pressures on our finances we currently do not have the funding to replace it.” Consequently, the town council is exploring various alternatives. The council indicated that it acknowledges “the importance of the structure to many of our residents and are actively considering whether to replace it.” It further stated, “We have commissioned the surveys and studies necessary to understand the cost of this replacement.” The commissioned feasibility study proposed that a new bridge could be constructed using materials such as steel, timber, a combination of both, or a specialized polymer.