High Street pedestrianisation and extra street markets are among the suggested improvements proposed by more than 200 people who have completed a survey supporting Burnham-On-Sea’s bid to secure a share of £1million of Mary Portas regeneration funding.
The group of residents co-ordinating the bid say they are “delighted” with the response to the survey, which closed this evening (Wednesday).
The information is being gathered to help the team write a ‘vision’ for the future of Burnham town centre, which forms a core part of the overall funding bid.
One of the team, Bev Milner-Simonds, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “There have been lots of good suggestions from people across the community, with the most popular being High Street pedestrianisation, more farmer’s markets, extra outdoor eating areas on pavements, and a better range of shops.”
“In addition to over 200 online survey entries, we’ve had a further 60 face-to-face responses from shoppers in the town, plus feedback from local schoolchildren and businesses. A short video to support our bid was filmed across the town on Tuesday, so our bid is on track to be submitted by the end of the month.”
A follow-up public meeting is set to be held in Burnham’s Princess Theatre this Thursday (March 22nd) at 6pm in the Pizey Room to discuss the survey results in more detail – and also estbalish how they will fit into the overall bid for funding.
Burnham is competing against dozens of other towns across the country who are bidding for the chance to resuscitate their faltering high streets with the help of cash from the government scheme led by retail guru Mary Portas, pictured.
The £1m pot is to be shared out between 12 towns and successful bids can receive up to £100,000 plus the benefit of expertise.
The fund, made up of government cash, is one of a series of ideas put forward by Mary Portas in an effort to halt the decline of British high streets as shoppers head to out-of-town superstores and increasingly shop online.
To get in touch with Burnham’s town team, contact Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade by sending a letter to Sea Breeze Art Gallery at 37 Victoria Street, Burnham or email the chamber’s secretary, Jonathan Walter, here.
Pictured: Top, two members of the Burnham bid team, Bev Milner-Simonds and Ben Metcalfe, holding a copy of the survey
