A £40,000 events area that was installed in Burnham-On-Sea’s High Street last year could be ‘phased out’ due to a lack of community events being held there, it has been suggested during a council meeting.
Burnham’s former Mayor Cllr Martin Cox questioned the future of the events area during the latest meeting of the council’s Town Projects Committee.
“I think we probably made a mistake with the events area, but I think it’s too soon to say we don’t want it to stay,” he said. “We have got to see how this year goes, but I think it will probably be phased out, but it’s too early to make a decision.”
The £40,000 events area comprises of a yellow tarmac road surface, new pavements and a power box for events equipment. It was installed last year with regeneration funding from Tesco to offset the expansion of its Burnham store, plus grants from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council.
Some traders are unhappy that too many closures of the High Street have been taking place, which they see as being disruptive and hindering access and trade.
The latest discussions about the events area came as councillors considered budgets for the coming year.
Town Clerk Denise Emery told the meeting that the events area “is still under budget, and it is Tesco money”, adding that £20,000 is earmarked for its maintenance over the next five years.
Also see:
Row over ‘disruptive’ plans to build events area in Burnham High Street
