The cost of launching boats from Burnham-On-Sea’s storm-damaged jetty could rise in order to fund much-needed repairs, it was confirmed this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last month that Sedgemoor District Council had closed the landmark after a series of storms damaged the surface and coping stones underneath, pictured here.
It’s now been confirmed that increases to the cost of launch permits are being considered as a possible option to fund the repairs.
Currently, annual permits cost £12 per vehicle – but users may have to pay up to £20 every month to enable the repair work to go ahead.
Cllr Neville Jones told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “An increase in the cost of launch permits has been mooted. There is a view that those who use the jetty on a regular basis for sailing and jet-skiing should contribute to the costs of its upkeep.”
“The financial loss to the district council in repairing the structure could be quite considerable, so asking regular users to pay a weekly fee of, say, £5 to include the use of a car park space for a trailer and vehicle is a small price to pay.”
Another option understood to be under consideration is including the jetty in Burnham’s soon-to-be-expanded conservation area, enabling the district council to apply for a heritage grant to finance the repair work.
Meanwhile, district council spokesman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com that a report on the repairs is currently being compiled and that the options on how to proceed are to be considered by the council’s Executive Committee over the next couple of months.
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