Traders in Burnham-On-Sea have this week launched a new campaign to encourage more coach companies to bring visitors into the town centre.
Plans to launch the campaign were first featured on Burnham-On-Sea.com earlier this month amid growing concern that the falling number of coaches visiting Burnham is reducing the number of shoppers.
The campaign was officially launched by Burnham’s Chamber Of Trade on Thursday (January 22nd) when a new group was formed consisting of local traders, including (pictured) Les Barber of Shearings Holidays, Burnham Chamber Chairman Alex Turco, Harris Beaumont of Alfie Blues and Penny Ferris-Arnold.
They say other local attractions, such as Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll, have benefited at the town’s expense by attracting coach companies.
Les Barber told Thursday’s meeting: “Sanders is close to the motorway, which makes it easy for coaches to pay quick visits for a few minutes in a similar way to a service station. Burnham is a few minutes further away the M5, so it will be difficult to compete for this trade, so we should be targeting afternoon coach trips and tours.”
Mr Turco said the group would be pressing Sedgemoor District Council to consider moving the “unsightly” recycling centre next to the existing coach car park just off Pier Street.
He added that the new sub-committee would also consider a range of incentives to encourage coach firms to drop off more visitors at the free coach park. He told the meeting: “We want to stop the rot and bring more visitors back into Burnham.”
Pictured are coach campaign supporters Harris Beaumont of Alfie Blues, Burnham Chamber Chairman Alex Turco, Les Barber of Shearings Holidays, and Penny Ferris-Arnold
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade
