The future of monthly farmers markets could be in jeopardy because of the proposed loss of Burnham’s Town Centre Manager.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last week how cost-cutting plans by Sedgemoor District Council have put a question mark over the future of the position of Burnham’s Town Centre Manager.
Sedgemoor District Council wants the town council to take on the costs of town centre management – generating projected savings of £64,870 – and it has already begun discussions about the possibility.
The current manager, Anne-Marie Spalding (pictured right), oversees road closures and schedules for the monthly farmers markets, plus occasional continental markets in the tourist season.
Burnham Chamber of Trade Chairman Alex Turco said in a statement issued on Thursday (December 13th): “I would like to know what the future holds for the various markets in our town now it appears we will be without a Town Centre Manager from next spring.”
“It doesn’t seem that the vacancy will be filled by any other local body so it does raise questions over the future of the markets.”
He is keen to hear what businesses in the town think about the plans for the farmers markets and can be contacted here.
However, Burnham farmers market organiser Liz Scott of Somerset Farmers Markets told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I hope the markets would go on without a Town Centre Manager in place. Anne-Marie does organise the road closures and scheduling, but the running of the markets themselves rests with us.”
The next market will be held in Burnham High Street next Friday (21st December), rather than Friday December 28th which would be its usual last monthly slot.
