Proposals to revitalise Burnham-On-Sea’s high streets and shopping areas have been given a boost this week with a £10,000 cash injection.
The Department for Government and Local Affairs announced on Tuesday that Burnham’s Town Team has been successful in its bid to become an official ‘Town Team Partner’.
The new status gives the group a £10,000 grant to develop a number of town centre plans and a ‘support package’ which provides help from retail experts and advice from other town teams across the UK.
.HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT
The support package will be targeted immediately towards the following plans:
• Independent retail initiatives;
• Mapping of current occupancy type and strategy to address concerns with landlords/estate agents;
• Work with Chamber of Trade on late opening initiatives and encouraging on-street trading;
• Purchase of street accessories (barriers, cones etc which have to be hired from other councils);
• Planning for ‘Sandy Sunday’ events in 2013;
• Marketing strategy for a programme of events;
• Removal of by-laws to prevent street busking;
• The launch of a ‘High Street on Tour’ next Spring;
• Work with BIARS to develop more live events;
• Establishment of a Town Team constitution
Burnham Town Team’s Beverley Milner Simonds told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The faith shown by the Government in the Town Team concept and teams like ours is heartening.”
“We have worked really hard to formulate realistic plans and are now energised that some of the plans suggested by residents earlier in the year will now be able to get off the ground.”
“The plans highlight again the need for a single point of responsibility and accountability for delivery in the town – a town centre manager tasked with the project and stakeholder management, design and successful delivery of a range of business, resident and visitor-focused capital and revenue projects. It is going to be hard relying on so much on the good will of volunteers to get things done – but we will be pressing on with these ideas.”
Burnham’s MP, Tessa Munt, welcomed the news, telling Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s great news that Burnham has been selected as a Town Team Partner. This gives the local team a well deserved boost in their efforts to make the important changes in the town; many of which have been proposed by Burnham people themselves. It is a great example of localism in action.”
A Burnham Chamber of Trade spokesman added: “This is superb news. The Chamber is looking forward to working closely with the Town Team to further develop the proposals and bring benefits to businesses and shoppers in Burnham town centre.”
Burnham’s Town Team submitted two bids to become a Mary Portas Pilot Town in May and July in an effort to secure a share of £1million of funding. While both bids were unsuccessful, the group has continued to work on its proposals to boost the town centre, working with Burnham Chamber of Trade and the Town Council.
Pictured: Burnham Town Team’s Beverley Milner Simonds with Kay Rossiter and Derek Monaghan celebrating the news on Tuesday
