But Where?
Down here apparently!
[here's the post on Carry On Langport's Facebook page around 3 weeks ago]
...the people who managed to get to the [3 o'clock in the afternoon on a week day] council meeting at the town hall a few weeks ago appear to have come away with the distinct feeling that's where the town council wants it.
With a narrow access route that makes Wagg Drove look like the A303, coming out on a road where there's already a busy supermarket junction and a school and a 'decent walk' from town centre shops and offices - objectors had hoped it may be shelved.
Doesn't look like it has been though and Mr Dromgoole, if not others on the council, seem to be - according to those who listened in at the recent meeting - "enthusiast".
The main reason for that enthusiasm being Network Rail are about to use a large plot of land there on the moor next to the railway line for a hard standing for their vehicles and heavy plant machinery for when they start work on the railway bridge later this summer.
Having the ground already flattened out and semi-ready would mean far less expense for anyone who wants to come along and build a car park on top. Makes sense.
At this point, we're not even sure who owns that land. Is it part of the North Moor common land? Or is it, as many have said, actually within the boundaries of Huish Episcopi?
Either way it sounds far cheaper than buying a plot of land at, let's say Westover for example.
If the carpark does go ahead - it's believed the town council hopes it could encourage the [approximately] 80 drivers who work and park in the town centre 5-6 days a week to park there, behind the old Perkins store on the moor, instead.
[quite a walk that - don't forget your brollies]
Our busy little town certainly needs some more parking or some parking spaces freed up - which some think may well happen if fees were introduced in part[s] of the Cocklemoor car park.
But that idea seems to have gone quiet while this new carpark idea out on the moor is banded about.
In conclusion:
While the town council should be commended for making great efforts to get it all sorted out, one does get the impression that Langport is about to create a new public carpark in the wrong place simply because it's the cheapest option.
Surely practicalities - very poor access, distance from the town centre for those 'asked' to park there instead and sticking it all right on top of a supermarket junction and near a school - should override expense here.
Lots to chew over and admittedly, this article won't have covered all angles of the issue.
But it's a start....and with town council meetings about it at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on a weekday - well perhaps a Carry On Langport post might mean far more people might get to hear about it eh.
Feedback, observations, suggestions, corrections and rants all in the comments section please!
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