A programme of environmental improvements to Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) Council’s parks and open spaces has progressed with a catalogue of works completing in Taunton’s Green Flag, award-winning Vivary Park.
As part of the 2022/23 agreed annual budget, SWT has invested in a programme of environmental enhancements for the benefit of its residents and visitors.
Taking place in Vivary Park, the latest work included resurfacing of the network of paths and widening of the walkways by the toilet block and sensory garden to increase accessibility and safeguard walking stick, wheel and pushchair users.
Further improvements included repairs to the boundary edging of the sensory garden; replacement of the posts surrounding the war memorial; newly erected information and location signage at the entrances; and repainting of the gates and fountain, the latter of which was serviced to include installation of a new pump.
Additional work to preserve the park’s iconic band stand will commence later this year.
To ensure the park remained open throughout including during the Big Jubilee Lunch held in June, the Council scheduled the work in stages to limit the restricted access placed on the footpaths.
Executive Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Andy Sully, said: “Our parks and green spaces are more than just places for recreation or to help wildlife thrive – they provide important functions to society which have an economic value, so we’re committed to maintaining them in line with our re-surfacing programme and improvement plan.
“Having smooth footpaths increases the number of people who can use and enjoy them, and this latest work represents a significant investment in the longevity of the district’s flagship park.
“I’d like to thank all our users for their patience and the contractor for completing the work so quickly.”
Recent path resurfacing work has also been completed in Wellington Park, along with the construction of a new raised walkway at Swains Lane Nature Reserve.
Future park and open space improvements are planned for locations in Minehead and Taunton.