Places features

As Taunton and Wellington develop and expand over the next 15 to 20 years, the council wants to know what you want to see there to ensure the towns maintain and strengthen their links with the surrounding countryside.

Provisional government housing targets have been set up to 2026 and the first steps in planning how this will pan out are being taken.

So now views are being sought on how paths would link a country park to the open countryside and which routes follow a stream, river or canal.

Vivary Park

A new green wedge could be created along the Galmington stream in Comeytrowe, where a major urban extension is planned, and a country park could be created between Priorswood and Monkton Heathfield with a path linking Halcon to the Quantock Hills.

Another idea is for paths linking Taunton Castle in the centre of town to Castle Neroche on the Blackdown Hills to the south. There could be link a circular countryside route through the Vivary green wedge to the hills and back.

The aim is to create habitats to enrich wildlife such as community woodland and wetland areas. There are also plans to help ease flooding for some areas.

Ralph Willoughby-Foster, Planning Policy Adviser, said: "We want to provide green lungs for our new housing areas to ensure that Taunton and Wellington remain the green places that they are today.

"Creating new green wedges and enhancing existing wedges bring the countryside into town and help create identities for our developing communities."

Plans will be exhibited on 28 May at Taunton Library from 1pm until 4pm and at Wellington's Co-Op store off Longforth Road on 29 May from 10am until 1pm.