Proposals to transform a set of aging tennis courts in Burnham-On-Sea into a new £75,000 public recreational activity area have been given a boost this week.
Town councillor Mike Murphy recently unveiled plans to develop the Crosses Penn gardens in Burnham-On-Sea, next to the town’s Manor Gardens.
Town councillors have this week unanimously agreed that in principle they will support an application for £19,212 of RLT2 developer contributions to be earmarked towards the project.
Two modern new, all-weather multi-use games areas are proposed – one dedicated to tennis and the other would for netball, basketball, football and hockey – and there would also be new lighting.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, Cllr Murphy said: “This is a great first step towards securing the funds to allow the project to be completed.”
“I’m over the moon that the Town Council is giving us this backing for the project – it gives us an incentive to step up the work to get this progressed.”
He added that he has already held a “positive” meeting with Sedgemoor District Council over the plans, and that a project group of volunteers is being formed.
“We already have four or five people onboard and I hope to get 12 local people supporting the project in all.”
Cllr Murphy added that further funding will be needed to complete the project. “We are looking at many different agencies and places to secure the funding,” he said.
He previously said: “Tennis has been played at Crosses Penn for 100 years and it’s important that it continues, but the current facilities are looking sad and run down. They are under-used and attract anti-social behaviour.”
He says the modern new facilities would have many benefits: “They will promote health, fitness and wellbeing; would provide new sports facilities for tourists and residents; help to reduce anti-social behaviour in the gardens; and encourage social interaction and team spirit.”
