PEOPLE can check out what exactly garden town status means for Taunton.

Business, council and community leaders met up on Monday to launch the town's first garden town exhibition.

The display will be in Taunton town centre until July 15 to provide residents with more information about what a garden town is and offering them the chance to ask questions and comment.

Taunton is the only garden town in the South West, after being awarded the distinction in the New Year by the Government.

It means that future development will benefit from being closely linked to the environment through green corridors giving direct access to the countryside, improved transport, cycle and pedestrian links, more green spaces and links to the riverside.

“Becoming a garden Town is the result of having a clear strategy and commitment to a thriving town centre, new, sustainable communities, a strong and growing business community, improved transport and infrastructure, marrying development with access to green spaces,” said Taunton Deane Borough Council leader Cllr John Williams.

“Taunton already benefits from many of the characteristics of a garden town – we want to strike that balance between retaining that special character and wonderful environment to our growth aspirations that will make our county town more desirable and prosperous in future.”

He urged people to take the time to visit the exhibition, adding: “We want the exhibition ti stimulate questions and gather views about people’s hopes and concerns and the things they would like to see addressed.”

Remaining exhibition times and venues:

  • Wednesday July 12: 11am – 3pm Market House (Taunton Visitor Centre);
  • Thursday July 13: 11am – 3pm Market House (TVC);
  • Friday July 14: 11am – 3pm Orchard Centre;
  • Saturday July 15: 10am – 2pm Orchard Centre.