Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm flagging this up - wondering what details anyone has.

Taunton Station / road (side) rather than rail side is being redeveloped.  Various comments I have hear, wonder if any member have heard them too ...

a) On the south side, a multi story car park is being placed outside the pedestrian exit with limited consideration for continued use by pedestrians

b) Buses will now all run from the north side

c) The new link road brings in road vehicles but will dump them into an already congested area.


Effect of (a) and (b) will to mean lots more road traffic passing under the road bridge.    Buses which typically head to the town (which is to the south) will have to go through to get to their stops to the north.    Road traffic, much of which comes from the north, will have to pass through the bridge to get to the parking on the south.

Passengers arriving on the main westbound platform who currently walk out of the station and across the road to head south into the town won't have such an easy route that way.   Arriving on the southern most platform, to get to the town to the south they'll find it easiest to take the subway to the booking hall on the north side, exit the station and pass back under the track via the road bridge.

Please tell me that the plans in reality are sensible and I have been fed the above by a disenchanted cynic!

There is a footpath down to Station Road from the south side exit. Exit the gateline, keep the station buildings to your right until you reach the end of the station buildings, then turn left down the slope to Station Road. All that's required here is a dedicated marked walkway and better signage. Even today it's a safer walk than crossing the road across the current car park entrance. No need to take the subway to the north side.

An image of said footpath, cropped from Street View. To the left of the white building coming down from the south side of the station:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/rps20170606_182256_zpsoboznv0a.jpg)

The road layout coming out of the downside car park is awful because of the intersection with the new bypass  The station approach road abuts the junction at such a bad angle that it looks like you must turn left on to the by pass, though it is possible turn right by swerving past the traffic island, avoiding queuing traffic and ignoring the white lines.

I believe the plan is that the station's main entrance and ticket office will be relocated to the south side so maybe the current arrangements are temporary during construction.  Details at http://heartofswlep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Business-Case-Response-Taunton-station-LTB-150204.pdf

Now in the realms of Satanic manifestations, obviously. Devilish drivers intent on turning right please note !