Work to dismantle Burnham-On-Sea’s beach boating pool was almost complete on Saturday (March 13th) – but for one final piece of the concrete structure, pictured above, which is to be retained as a permanent memorial.
Contractors working on the demolition told Burnham-On-Sea.com that the final chunk of the landmark will soon be moved into position on The Esplanade, alongside a new plaque.
The controversial work to remove the pool began on Wednesday and since then large pieces of the debris have been taken away by bulldozers to Maddock’s Slade – as pictured on the right – from where lorries have then taken away the material.
The pool, built in the 1920s, was given to Burnham by members of the Braithwaite family, who constructed it in thanks for the safe return of their five sons from the Great War and this will be reflected on the new plaque.
Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last summer that the landmark was in jeopardy when cash-strapped Sedgemoor District Council said it was launching a study into the cost of the repairs needed to retain it.
District councillors voted in December to have the pool removed due to a combination of costly repairs and safety concerns. The district council admitted in January that the bill to tax payers of demolishing it would be £9,800.
The absence of the pool has forever changed the appearance of Burnham’s beach north of the pier and a film about its history is currently being made, as reported here.
The beach looks barer without the boating pool in place
The final piece of the pool, pictured above, is being retained as a memorial
The work to dismantle the pool took place over the last few days
The concrete was taken away by JCBs and bulldozers
The moment the dismantling work began was captured above
The beach looks empty without the familiar pool in place
The final chunk of concrete is pictured here on Saturday evening
