A team of residents is travelling to Liverpool today (Thursday) to represent the town at an awards ceremony where the the UK’s ‘Coach Friendly Town of the Year’ will be announced.
As first reported here, Burnham has been selected as one of six finalists in the running for the sought-after title of ‘coach-friendly town or city of 2013’ alongside Bournemouth, Chesterfield, Liverpool, Shrewsbury and Skipton.
Ian Jefferies, BIARS Business and Tourism Manager, compiled Burnham’s bid with the help of local residents Les Barber and Helen Brodie plus backing from Sedgemoor District Council’s Head of Economic Development Phil Adams, the Town Team, Chamber of Trade and Burnham’s Mayor, Cllr Ken Smout.
The group will know later today whether the bid has been successful. Tonight’s ceremony is being held in Liverpool Cathedral.
Ian said: “We are absolutely delighted that recognition has been given to our small town against a lot of major cities.”
“Hopefully being seen in this light by Britain’s largest coach awards will mean that many coaches that haven’t stopped in our town before will now come here and bring in welcome revenue.”
“A lot of work has been carried out over the last few months, collating coach incentives within our town and distributing this package to drivers and coach companies.”
The coach-friendly package put together for Burnham includes free coach parking from Sedgemoor District Council, plus information for coach visitors from a group of ‘meeters and greeters’, organised by Burnham Town Team.
An information pack has also been put together for coach firms and drivers to show the locations of free coach parking and where drivers can get a free newspaper and meal thanks to the generosity of businesses in Burnham.
Pictured: The team gathered in Burnham shortly before leaving this morning
