April 28, 2005
Crimes rates in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge fall
Crime rates in Burnham-On-Sea have fallen by 14 per cent during the last year after police officers took a tougher stance in the town, it was disclosed this week.
Speaking at the annual town meeting on Wednesday April 27, Inspector Dale Baker of Avon and Somerset Constabulary Police (pictured) said: “We have targeted the town’s most prolific criminals and many are now in prison.”
He added: “On the Burnham beat, overall crime has gone down from 549 crimes last year to 471, a fall of 14 per cent. In Highbridge, the figure’s fallen by seven per cent.”
He added that house burglaries fell by 29 per cent during the year, while thefts of motor vehicles sank from 15 to 12.
The one black spot was thefts from vehicles, where the overall rate rose by three per cent. There was an increase in such incidents in Burnham, but a fall in Highbridge.
Seafront speeding
During the meeting Cllr Neville Jones (pictured) raised the issue of speeding along the seafront. He warned that while the problem has improved during the last year, “one day there will be terrible problems here” and he questioned whether speed bumps could be introduced.
Insp Baker said that local emergency services had raised concerns about speed bumps along the seafront hindering their access, but he added that “if they were appropriately staggered so that emergency vehicles could weave around them, it probably wouldn’t be a problem.”
Love Lane traffic problems
Traffic along Love Lane was brought up by Cllr Poole (pictured), who said “numerous people have been killed along the road in recent years and many others have been involved in near misses.”
He added: “People along Love Lane are really angry. We want some assurance that police will take some action. Over 200 people have signed a petition regarding heavy and speeding traffic causing homes to crack and crumble.”
Insp Baker said that Love Lane is a “priority road” for his officers and he added that “we will continue to do our best.”
Lynton Road petition
Later in the meeting, James Beasant, a resident of Lynton Road, handed a petition to the town council highlighting the plight of residents in the area. He said people in that part of town suffer from graffiti on walls, windows being broken and children playing ball games against the walls of their homes for up to 11 hours a day.
Mayor Louise Parkin said the council would take up the issue for residents, adding: “I do feel for you and am fully sympathetic. We will definitely bring this up with Sedgemoor District Council and the police.”
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