The dates have been announced this week for when a new play area is set to be built on Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront lawns at the southern end of The Esplanade.
The new play area had originally been proposed for the concrete area opposite Quantock Court, however residents there launched a legal objection, as we reported here.
Local councils and residents held negotiations and the new play area’s proposed location was changed in September as being further along the seafront on the lawns opposite the Haven Holiday park entrance.
This week, at a Burnham and Highbridge Town Council meeting on Monday (November 15th), Clerk Sam Winter announced: “We have had confirmation from Sedgemoor District Council that it will fund the additional approximate £50,000 costs to install the new play area on a new site on the South Esplanade lawns.”
“The earliest date that Wicksteed, the contractor, can undertake the installation will be after the Easter holidays and before the school summer holidays next year.”
Cllr Andy Hodge welcomed the news during Monday’s meeting, saying: “It is reassuring that we now know that the project will proceed and continue forward, which is excellent.”
The project is being funded with a grant from the Hinkley Point Community Impact Mitigation Fund at a cost of £87,400. However, Sedgemoor’s extra £50,000 of funding announced this week will take the full cost to £137,400.
A spokesman for some of the residents at Quantock Court said previously: “We are very pleased that a decision has been made to site the new play area opposite the Haven Holiday park entrance which residents had suggested when objecting to the play area proposal to be sited opposite the 46 flats mainly occupied by elderly residents.”
“This decision is a win-win for all concerned and will be welcomed by many young visitors and residents who will benefit from this new facility.”
We reported a year ago this week that town councillors had given their support to the designs for the new play area.
