A long-running carnival club in Burnham-On-Sea has been given a £5,000 boost this week to buy a new building to construct its entry next year.
The club’s Duncan Britton appealed for financial help from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council for the project during a meeting held on Wednesday night.
“We need this so we can progress our entries for many years to come – we are currently building in very difficult conditions on land at the Walrow Industrial Estate,” he said.
“We moved here last year after our previous site at Woodberry and Haines was no longer available when the firm went bust. Now, we need help to put up a proper building to build our float.”
“We do get a lot of support locally from businesses, our volunteers and children – and we want to keep the club growing, but it is harder and harder each year.”
He said that the grant funding would not be used to buy land since that has already been located, but it would cover some of the costs of the new building, which will be a total of £10,400.
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton said: “I am very supportive – the club does a fantastic job locally each year.”
Cllr Martin Cox said he would support a match-funded grant application, with half coming from the club and the remainder from the council.
Councillors voted unanimously to award a grant of £2,500 now and a further £2,500 next April when the work is set to begin – making a total of £5,000.
Duncan said the funding was “greatly appreciated” by the club.
Hillview members are busily finishing this year’s carnival entry – a Christmas-themed float called ‘It’s A Cracker’ which features a giant Santa and Snowman plus many festive-themed moving parts, as we reported here.
RELATED LINKS:
Guide to Burnham-On-Sea Carnival 2015
Burnham’s Hillview Carnival Club set to unveil Christmas-themed cart
