A new group of local residents and businesses has been formed in Burnham-On-Sea to help shape the town’s future.
The group – called ‘Better BOS’ – comprises a dozen local people who came forward earlier this year following a call for volunteers of different backgrounds.
The new group has a mutual interest of helping the town to develop with exciting events and forward-thinking projects to make the town centre more welcoming and vibrant for residents, businesses and visitors.
The team has met several times already and has already agreed its vision and set its core aims.
“Community involvement is vital and therefore public consultation activities are being planned by the group over the next few weeks when local people will be encouraged to get involved and contribute by giving ideas, feedback and suggestions for positive change,” says a spokesperson.
“A number of projects and events that aim to improve Burnham town centre for residents and visitors are being planned — some for next year and others for the future.”
The High Street Task Force – a government-funded body consisting of place experts from architects and designers to planners – has also provided expert advice to the team during two workshops, bringing external knowledge of how other towns are growing and developing.
Somerset Council and the Town Council have seats on the group, but they are not the leading force. The Chair is Ruth Ackroyd, a local resident who is not a councillor.
The group says it intends to be formally constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in order to facilitate fundraising and financial management.
They are currently working on finalising the constitutional documents to form the CIC and a long-term vision statement around which future plans can be put together. It has a website here.
The first project for the group will be to survey the town over the next few days and interview others to identify the most immediate things which can be done to make the centre more inviting and usable.
