A TAUNTON resident said she could “cure” the issues affecting a closed footbridge in the town centre by asking “the Romans to invade again”.

Brenda Prentice addressed a full town council meeting as they discussed updates on the closed footbridge in Goodland Gardens.

She said: “I know I’m not allowed, but can I make an observation? I can cure all this. All we need to do is ask the Romans to invade again”.

A spokesperson for Taunton Town Council said the removal of the footbridge is now “imminent”.

The spokesperson also said more investigation works and studies will take place later this month.

WSP, the consultant they engaged to provide options for the replacement of the bridge, advised a topographical survey before the removal of the bridge.

The survey will take place on July 26 to consider the soil makeup, foundation depth, and other issues relating to what is under the ground.

This will tie in with Somerset Council’s removal of the bridge due to be complete by 15 August.

The reports will be brought back to Planning, Development and Licensing Committee to consider and full council in due course will consider options for Taunton Town Council to replace the bridge.

The cost of this will be upwards of £500,000 and investigations are ongoing into what grant funding may be available to support this cost.

Councillor Caroline Ellis said: “This bridge really matters. People miss it, they need it, and they want it back.”

The meeting also confirmed that the new footbridge would be a Taunton Town Council asset after the question was raised by councillor Giuseppe Fraschini.

Brenda Prentice has also recently supported applications to make the riverside path near Goodland Gardens a designated right of way.

The footpath would connect Bridge Street to the path leading to French Weir.

What we know

The Goodland Gardens bridge was closed in November 2022 when the structure was deemed unsafe for use.

The findings of the structural surveys concluded that the footbridge was in poor condition with significant rot observed on multiple timber members.

In July 2023, the town council supported a motion submitted by Cllr Caroline Ellis and wrote to Somerset Council to say the replacement of the bridge is “essential”.

In October 2023, the council appointed WSP to undertake a Feasibility Study on Goodland Gardens Footbridge at a cost of £7,700.

Last month (June 2024) residents were asked to support an application that would make a footpath in the town centre a designated right of way.

The application would add the riverside path near Goodland Gardens, connecting Bridge Street to the path leading to French Weir, to a definitive map.