A £3.2 million transport hub being built in Taunton for bus passengers from the West Somerset and Wellington areas and other parts of Somerset has slipped behind schedule and will not be in operation before Christmas.

Somerset Council began work in March to transform the former Tower Street bus station which was closed in 2020 into a new, modern hub to allow a wider range of services to stop in the town centre.

The project has been funded by the Department for Transport as part of the council’s bus services improvement plan (BSIP), with work originally scheduled to be completed before Christmas.

But, council service director Mike O’Dowd-Jones has now said the target will not be met and he could not confirm when it would open.

Mr O’Dowd-Jones said: “There is discussion under way with the contractor at the moment about the likely finishing date.

The former bus station in Taunton is being converted to a 'transport hub'.
The former bus station in Taunton is being converted to a 'transport hub'. (Tindle News)

“There was a target date set out in the initial contract, the work is underway and good progress is being made.

“There have been issues that have cropped up during the construction that were not foreseen, as you always get on these sorts of projects.

“Particularly at that location, there were archaeological issues and various other matters that needed to be dealt with.

“We are just working with the contractor at the moment about what the revised programme is.

“At this point in time, we do not have the date, because those discussions are still underway.”

The new hub will include six ‘drive in, drive out’ bus stops, each with their own shelter, meaning buses will not have to reverse onto Tower Street after they have picked up passengers.

Two stops will also be provided along Castle Way as an interchange for passengers between the local bus network and nationwide coach journeys.

There will be five layover bays, where local buses can be parked when not in active service to prevent them clogging up the town centre, and each of the new shelters will include seating and solar panels on the roofs.

The new hub will have real-time information boards for passengers, an indoor waiting room with toilets, and a Changing Places toilet facility with a dedicated accessible parking bay.

Outside the building will be a pedestrianised area with outdoor seating and planting, bicycle parking, and new pedestrian crossings to link the site with Goodlands Gardens and other active travel routes.

A council spokesperson said: “Work continues at the hub with most of the groundwork complete.

“September saw the installation of the kerbs and central island rain garden, along with some of the metalwork on the crossing points.

“We undertook a bus test on the site using the longer electric bus which navigated the site twice without any issues.

“Work is underway to develop an operational plan for bus use of the site.

“Engagement with First Bus on the occupation and use of ‘building one’ is ongoing.”

The council’s website indicates roadworks will be in place in Tower Street until the end of next January.