A project to celebrate Burnham-On-Sea’s railway heritage has finally been given the ‘green light’ this week after three years of work.
Sedgemoor District Council has approved a planning application to install a set of old railway buffers in Pier Street, where the town’s former railway line once ended.
The team behind the Buffer Stop Memorial Project, pictured above, were also awarded £4,000 of funding from the Town Council at this week’s Policy and Finance Committee meeting.
The project’s leader, John Strickland, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’ve been working on the project for over three years and this has been a very important week for us.”
“We’re delighted to have received the go-ahead from the district council and to have the funding earmarked from the town council – both very significant milestones.”
“The builder to install the buffers at the top of Pier Street where it meets The Esplanade has been identified and we hope work can begin soon on the installation.”
The buffers will form the start of a forthcoming Heritage Trail around Burnham.
The project group – comprising of John Strickland, Terry Temlett and Ann Popham – has been fundraising for several years to install the buffers.
“We still need the support of local residents to get the project completed,” added John. “To help our ongoing fundraising, we very much welcome donations in our collecting tins at the S&D Pub, Wetherspoons, The Royal Clarence, GW Hurley’s newsagents, The Railway Hotel. Cheque can also be made payable to ‘Burnham Buffer Stop Memorial’ and sent to 1 Wordsworth Close, Burnham-On-Sea, TA8 2QB.”
Burnham-On-Sea’s MP Tessa Munt, who recently supported the project, has welcomed the news.
She told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The railway was an important part of Burnham’s history and the idea of introducing a tourism attraction here with a history trail based around these railway buffers is fantastic.”
“It would be a lovely addition to this corner which is used so much by people coming in and out of the town.”
“I give my full support to the project and have already made a donation and hope that others will follow as well.”
The railway station in Burnham’s Pier Street was opened on 3rd May 1858 with the name ‘Burnham’ and it was not until 12th July 1920 that the suffix ‘on-Sea’ was added. Burnham’s railway station closed to regular passenger traffic in October 1951, although summer excursions continued until 8th September 1962.
