THE Gateway Park and Ride site at Taunton will re-open tomorrow (Tuesday) after a group of travellers who caused its closure moved on.

They had been on the site since late on Friday afternoon but finally moved on this afternoon (Monday).

The site was was closed today on safety and security grounds.

A legal notice was served this morning leading the travellers to leave the site a few hours later.  Normal business will now resume from 6.45am tomorrow.

Ollie Woodhams, strategic manager at Somerset County Council, said: “We are delighted the park and ride site services will resume as normal tomorrow and we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"We do not take the decision to close our park and ride sites lightly, but due to concerns about vehicle movements and the safety of commuters and travellers alike, we made the decision to temporarily close the site.

“We served a legal notice this morning and the travellers left a few hours later. After assessing the site, we can confirm normal services will resume tomorrow.” 

TAUNTON'S Gateway Park & Ride site is closed this morning (Monday, April 8) on the grounds of safety and security after travellers illegally set up camp at the site late on Friday.

Gateway buses will continue to operate between the Town Centre and Blackbrook Park as normal and alternative facilities are available at Silk Mills Park and Ride.


READ MORE: Travellers set up camp on Taunton park-and-ride site


Ollie Woodhams, strategic manager at Somerset County Council said: “Buses of Somerset and Somerset County Council made the decision to close the site on safety and security grounds after a number of travellers accessed the site late on Friday afternoon.

"The primary concern is for the safety of all users of the site and to mitigate the risk of accidents due a large number of vehicle movements.

"We have started the legal process to remove the travellers and we aim to open the Gateway Park & Ride site as soon as possible.”


READ MORE: Park-and-ride closed for THIRD day after travellers move in


The latest incident comes after the site was closed for several days in April last year when travellers moved on to the site.

Somerset County Gazette:
LAST YEAR: Travellers at the site in April 2018