Monday night saw the first face-to-face meeting of the newly-formed ‘Rise Up and Fight For Highbridge’ group.
Plenty of local people who hadn’t heard of the group’s Facebook origins attended the meeting and new grievances were aired.
A lot of common ground was found and the meeting concluded that everywhere in Highbridge the message seems to be the same – residents do not want their town given over to flats and maisonettes.
Some of the strongest support came from owners and residents of the existing flats – people who have moved into a reasonably well balanced mix of a town and did not want to see that balance eroded.
Infrastructure concerned everyone; plus the lack of school places, jobs and medical facilities, which those present said are at a ‘critical’ level.
Some of the group’s youngest members pointed to the lack of affordable things to do for those between the ages of fourteen and sixteen.
The group agreed to support each other’s causes wherever possible, to share knowledge and contacts. Local councillors Helen Groves and Joe Leach helped explain the oddities of the planning process.
Speaking afterwards, the newly-elected Chair, Dawn Molloy, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Feelings were running high at the meeting, but it is the hope of the group as a whole to make the best of the town’s development; supporting positive ideas to rebuild our infrastructure and taking action to restore the community we once had in Highbridge.”
Tina Gray, the Vice Chair, added: “Together we will stand up and fight for everyone who is unable to use their voice; especially the young and elderly.”
“The tone overall was angry, energetic and positive. We want our town to be given a fighting chance to flourish again.”
