A council report outlining how Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge should grow over the next two decades does not go far enough, residents and councillors said at a public meeting on Wednesday evening (November 18th).
The meeting, held in Burnham’s town council chambers, discussed Sedgemoor District Council’s ‘Local Development Framework Core Strategy’, which proposes creating 1,000 new jobs, building 1,300 extra homes and restoring Burnham’s regeneration project.
But the general consensus of councillors and residents was that the report does not go far enough and that more quality family housing, better employment opportunities and improved public services and infrastructure will be needed in the Burnham area over the next 20 years.
Cllr Neville Jones said: “Over half of the 1,300 homes mentioned in the report are already being constructed, so are we really expecting just 600 extra homes to be built in the Burnham area by the year 2030?” He called for residential development to the north of Stoddens Road, the extension of the Eastern Distributor Road, and the regeneration of Princess Street and The Esplanade.
Proposals were put forward for a new Burnham-On-Sea railway station off Queen’s Drive by Cllr Chris Williams, who said that better public transport services were critical to the town’s future.
“A new rail station to serve alongside Highbridge’s station would provide much-needed improved transport facilities in Burnham and attract more businesses and people here,” he said.
A heated debate was held over proposals to earmark the fields to the east of the Frank Foley Parkway for development, with a council vote deciding that the land should be safeguarded from future homes and new business. “That land is essential and creates a clear definition for the edge of our town,” argued Cllr Jones.
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton agreed that the land should be ‘protected’, saying that while development of our area is needed, “there is a risk of Burnham expanding too quickly without the proper infrastructure being in place.”
Among those speaking at the meeting was Alex Turco (pictured above), the former Chairman of Burnham’s Chamber of Trade, who called the framework document “little more than a slow death for our town.”
He explained: “The ten years since the millennium could be characterised as Burnham’s lost decade. Whilst the UK’s economy boomed and public sector largesse was dolled out, our town largely missed out. The challenge is to shape a Local Development Framework that provides the conditions for the private sector to invest in our town. This document does no such thing.”
Mr Turco added: “Housing to the north of Stoddens Road, retail expansion in the town centre and mixed use development to the east of the Frank Foley Parkway to enable new industries with highly skilled jobs to take advantage of our excellent location for north-south motorway and rail links must be reconsidered as part of a private sector focussed Local Development Framework. Please send the the strongest possible message to Sedgemoor that the lack of care and attention to our needs will not be tolerated.”
Highbridge’s future was also debated at the meeting, with town councillor Janet Keen warning: “Most of the new building being proposed in the report is in this town, rather than Burnham, and I would question whether such a large increase in a short space of time is needed.”
She added: “We also need much more detail about the regeneration plans for Highbridge. The scheme should be about bringing life back into the town, creating open space and ensuring that small pockets of land are protected.”
And she blasted: “It would be complete civic incompetence if the district council was to consider removing the Bank Street car park. Proper parking facilities in the town centre are absolutely vital to the town’s future.”
Bill Fisher of the Highbridge Residents Group (pictured at the event with members Pam Lyes and Janet Hills) added: “We can only hope that any houses built will be for the private sector and that not more social housing is inflicted on Highbridge. Certainly no more flats are needed.”
“We have been campaigning for the Jubilee Gardens and Highbridge town centre to become open spaces in perpetuity. If all this new housing is to take place, it is more than ever necessary for these open spaces to be protected.”
Mr Fisher added: “If more shops are to be built on the cattle market site, more parking spaces will be needed within the town and to dispose of our existing car park seems to me to be absolutely ludicrous. We should like to know, together with many Highbridge residents, what plans have been made for bigger schools, and a larger doctors’ surgery within Highbridge itself to cater for the ever growing number of people.”
Regarding public facilities, Cllr Mike Mansfield also told the meeting he is concerned that existing drainage and sewage facilities in the two towns would not be able to support the growth and development being proposed.
The Town Council will be using the feedback from Wednesday’s meeting to compile a formal response to Sedgemoor’s framework report.
Meanwhile, the public still has a chance to have their say on the proposals, with the consultation period ending on December 18th.
You can have your say by visiting the Sedgemoor website here or by picking up a Local Development Framework newsletter from Burnham Library.
The results of the consultation will help the district council prepare a draft plan, which is due to be published next summer.
