High Street

Visitors, shoppers, businesses and residents will get the chance to have their say on the next step in updating Taunton’s pedestrianised High Street. Work on the High Street was paused to allow the space to be used for the Olympic Torch and Diamond Jubilee celebrations but is getting under way again. Thoughts are now turning to the future with a special event being staged on Saturday June 16 when the masterplan for the street will be unveiled. Between 10am - 3pm throughout the High Street members of the development team will be asking for your views, trialling positions for the new benches and showcasing alternative wooden furniture.

The Town Team behind Taunton’s application to become a Portas Pilot will be hitting the High Street on Thursday to tell people about its plans and to drum up support. Representatives will be on the street from 9am giving out flyers, asking people to back the plans and answering questions.

The Portas Pilot scheme will see 12 towns across the UK benefit from a share of a £1million fund to revive England’s high streets, as well as mentoring from the retail guru herself.

The plans for Taunton’s High Street area include appointing a ‘Buzz Maker’ (a person who will coordinate and run a busy events calendar for the High Street), hosting unique monthly markets, creating a children’s play area on the High Street to keep little ones amused and establishing a free mentoring and support scheme to help both current retailers and those thinking about opening up a shop in Taunton.

Somerset's County town is set to receive the help of Mary Portas, ‘Queen of Shops’, if an application to become a ‘Portas Pilot’ is successful.

A ‘Town Team’ has gathered together to make the application to transform the High Street area, and is looking for your support.

The Portas Pilot scheme will see 12 towns across the UK benefit from a share of a £1million fund to revive England’s high streets, as well as mentoring from the retail guru herself. As part of the process, hopefuls need to create ‘Town Teams’ who will drive change to help rejuvenate flagging town centres.

The plans for Taunton’s High Street area include appointing a ‘Buzz Maker’, (a person who will plan and run a busy events calendar); creating a children’s play area on the High Street to keep little ones amused and establishing a free mentoring and support scheme to help both current retailers and those thinking about opening up a shop in Taunton.