Burnham and Highbridge’s Mayor has welcomed today’s long-awaited opening of a £4.6 million replacement for the Highbridge Hotel.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held today to officially open the new YMCA Highbridge with a launch event being held from 11am to 1pm.
Town Mayor Cllr Andy Brewer told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It is great to see the building work coming to completion and the new facilities coming into use. The building has been fitted out to a very high standard and I’m sure it will soon become a great asset to the community.”
“This new facility is a real credit to the YMCA and all those involved in the redevelopment of the site. “The Planning Committee of the Town Council was very much involved in the planning process for the rebuilding work and it is pleasing to see how the frontage of the building has replicated the former hotel, creating a good impression when coming into Highbridge. I’m confident that this new facility will give a boost to Highbridge.”
The original hotel building was gutted in a fire in April 2008 that left it severely damaged, prompting a lengthy re-build project that encountered several delays.
YMCA spokeswoman Lauren Easterbrook told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “The impressive new YMCA Highbridge building provides a community cafe, a large multi-use sports hall for group sports activities, plus modern meeting areas, and 23 new homes for young people.”
“The YMCA Highbridge development has seen the fire-damaged building transformed into a community café, sports hall, conference and meeting space as well as 23 rooms of supported accommodation.”
“The building will now host a range of fitness classes, youth services and community events as well as offering rentable meeting and conference rooms.”
Funded by YMCA Dulverton Group, Sedgemoor District Council, Homes England and EDF’s Hinkley Point C Community Fund; the development has been a collaborative effort and will be a community asset for Highbridge.
“Previously known as the Highbridge Hotel, the building had been left in a state of disrepair after a fire in 2008, but after works completed by John Perkins Construction, is now complete, with finishing touches being added before the grand opening.”
The YMCA Highbridge team have already begun providing a variety of sessions as part of a timetable of weekly events, which includes a stay and play for parents with babies, as well as sports sessions for children aged 8-15. The programme of events will expand over the coming weeks, including the introduction of a fitness timetable from the 3rd February.
The official opening of YMCA Highbridge will be held at the site on Huntspill Road from 11am to 1pm, where members of the public are welcome to attend.
