New agreement for Comeytrowe French Weir and Galmington Parks Taunton

In one of its final actions before being abolished, Somerset West and Taunton Council secured special protection from the Fields in Trust charity to preserve Comeytrowe, French Weir and Galmington Parks in Taunton.

The council and Fields in Trust have signed a legal agreement (known as a ‘deed of dedication’) which ensures the parks are protected “in perpetuity” and are retained as public green spaces.

The parks’s future management and enhancement will now be overseen by Somerset Council, which replaced the existing authority on April 1.

Frenchweir Park in Taunton. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

The deed of dedication – which is registered with the UK Land Registry – is designed to prevent any disposal of the land through sale or lease without the explicit consent of Fields in Trust.

Each park is eligible for protection owing to their community access, length of ownership, size, and principal use being for outdoor recreation, sport, and play.

A council spokesman said: “This is great news for Taunton’s parks, and we’re delighted to secure permanent and legal protection from the Fields in Trust, so they remain unchanged for communities now and in the future.

“As highlighted by the pandemic, our parks and green spaces play a vital role in our health and wellbeing, so it’s important that we protect them for generations to come.”

The charity (which has been working to protect green spaces in Britain since 1925) has already secured a number of other green spaces in and around Taunton – including Hamilton Gault Park and Longrun Meadow in the town itself, the recreation ground in Creech St. Michael, and the King George V Playing Fields in Trull.

These latest agreements mean there is now an unbroken green corridor from French Weir Park through Longrun Meadow to the Silk Mills park and ride facility – a green corridor which includes a well-established pedestrian and cycle route.

The Willow Cathedral in Longrun Meadow. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Somerset Council is currently undertaking a £50,000 study on how these active travel routes may be extended to better connect Taunton to the neighbouring villages of Bishop’s Lydeard and Cotford St. Luke, with its findings expected to be made public later in the year.

The protection of Galmington Playing Fields comes as a particular source of relief, following efforts to build a Maggie’s cancer centre on part of the field nearest to Musgrove Park Hospital – efforts which were abandoned in late-2020 after the council refused to sell the land.

Andrew Sharman, chairman for the Friends of Galmington Playing Field community group, said: “We’re delighted that the council has secured
protection which is essential for our park.

“This marks the culmination of a major pledge made to our community that the park would be saved and protected for future generations.

“We’re grateful for the efforts of the councillors, particularly those directly involved with our work, our committee, local residents and the council officers, in securing Fields in Trust protection for this essential green space.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with a renewed focus on enhancing our park now that it is finally safe.”