District councillors have today (Tuesday) unanimously approved the revamp of a seafront pub in Burnham-On-Sea despite concerns from some town councillors about its design.
The Reeds Arms on The Esplanade, operated by JD Wetherspoon, is set to re-open on June 7th following a major £600,000 refurbishment.
The pub chain has applied to Sedgemoor District Council to install a glass wind-breaker outside its main seafront entrance, protecting it from onshore prevailing winds, and to construct a glazed conservatory over its southern entrance in Pier Street.
The council’s Development Control Committee met on Tuesday morning to consider the plans, where the scheme was supported, but members have asked the pub to consider using different materials in the wind-breakers.
The meeting heard that Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s Planning Committee had objected to the plans earlier this month, as first reported here by Burnham-On-Sea.com, stating that while it didn’t have concerns about the conservatory, it felt the glass wind-breaker would “not be in keeping” due to the pub’s location in Burnham’s Conservation Area.
However, 16 residents have written to Sedgemoor District Council backing the pub’s plans, describing them as “brilliant” and “elegant.”
And Burnham district councillor Alistair Hendry told Tuesday’s meeting that he strongly supports the plans.
Cllr Mike Murphy noted that JD Wetherspoon had already installed the wind screen outside the pub over the past few days. He claimed that rather than being built of anodised aluminium, they are made of stainless steel, raising corrosion concerns.
Despite that, the committee voted unanimously to approve the plans and JD Wetherspoon told Burnham-On-Sea.com that it is on track to re-open the new-look Reeds Arms on June 7th.
