One of the region’s biggest and longest-running charity motorcycle events is switching from Weston-super-Mare to Burnham-On-Sea this summer.
Westland’s Vintage Motorcycle Club usually finishes its annual charity bike run on Weston’s seafront lawns, however organisers say the council is charging them too much to park there so they have decided to switch the event to Burnham instead.
200 motorbikes will therefore be heading onto Burnham’s seafront on Sunday June 22nd when the event will come to the town for the first time.
Henry Pinney, Chairman of the club, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’ve been running our Coast To Coast Run between Lyme Regis and Weston for 27 years.”
“We have had a lot of goodwill in Weston in that time and have raised a good sum for charity so it’s disappointing that the council is charging us £150 to park our bikes on the seafront lawns there.”
“That takes money away from our deserving charities and is just not on. Other councils in the towns we visit waive fees altogether in order to support us.”
He added: “This year’s event will therefore finish in Burnham and we’ll be raising funds for Headway for brain-damaged children. The run is a great spectacle – we’re looking forward to coming to Burnham.”
Town councillors in Burnham this week welcomed the news and have proposed to Sedgemoor District Council that the South Esplanade is earmarked for the bikers to use for parking.
Cllr Ken Smout said: “This is a really big event in Weston that is always well supported so it’s great to see it coming to Burnham.” Cllr Paul Young added: “This event will be an asset to our town, helping business and pulling in more visitors.”
And Ian Jefferies, Tourism Manager at BIARS (Burnham Information and Rescue Support), told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This is great news. It’s another date to add to Burnham’s growing list of events this summer. Hopefully, many tourists and residents will come along and see all the effort that the club puts in to keeping their bikes running.”
