QUANTITIES of asbestos have been removed from the Firepool site in Taunton as a public consultation looms on how the site should be revamped.

Somerset West and Taunton Council published plans in June for how it intends to redevelop the site, which has been vacant since 2008.

Work has been ongoing since March to clear the site, enhance its appearance and put in place a new access road which would link it to Trenchard Way.

As part of this work, asbestos has been removed from several buildings on site – and the council has also purchased land and properties at the Canal Road end.

The council published its draft master-plan for the site in June, which includes new homes, businesses, a multi-purpose venue and an innovation centre.

Councillor Marcus Kravis, portfolio holder for economic development, published an update ahead of a full council meeting in Taunton on Tuesday evening (October 8).

He said in his written report: “Acquisitions on the site have been completed and asbestos surveys have been undertaken.

“The brief for the multi-purpose venue is with members of the executive for comments.

“We have plans for community engagement sessions for later in October under way.”

The master-plan for the site is currently being revised ahead of these public sessions.

The council has said it had acquired “some land and several properties in Canal Road” – but did not divulge the specific area or how much it had paid for them.

A spokeswoman added: “Surveys were carried out in existing buildings on the site where small amounts of asbestos were found.

“We have budgeted for the safe removal and disposal of the asbestos. This is included in the £825,000 infrastructure and enabling budget that was approved in March.

“We are in the process of finalising details of the public engagement sessions and will publicise these shortly.”

A further update on the Firepool site will come back before the council’s executive committee in December.