A fresh bid is being made to improve the appearance of the former job centre in Burnham-On-Sea amid growing concern about its deteriorating condition.
Sedgemoor District Council has written to both the owner and tenant of the building – at the corner of the High Street and Regent Street – in relation to air its concerns.
Sedgemoor spokeswoman Sam Taylor told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “SDC have not served an Enforcement Notice but have been in contact with both the owner and tenant in relation to our concerns about the condition of the site. From the date of the first letter the owner will have 28 days to contact us and discuss what work needs to be completed to return the site to an acceptable standard.”
“If we do not receive contact within the 28 days we make a second attempt, usually allowing an additional 7-14 days for contact to be made, with our Enforcement Team. If contact is not made after two attempts strong consideration will be given to issuing a Section 215 Enforcement Notice.”
Burnham’s Town Centre Manager Bev Milner Simonds, right, has also been working to try and improve the site. She said: “Since the job centre closed in March 2008 the building has deteriorated and is a real eyesore at this key junction in the town.”
“I have been in contact with the centre’s assigned tenant, Telereal Trillium, to try and encourage them to find a new tenant – or at very lease get the facade cleaned up. I have suggested a variety of art projects that could be applied to the windows, but Telereal Trillium want the Town Council to pay for this and we haven’t been able to find agreeable terms. I haven’t given up though and I am working through some different channels to get this building let.”
The property is under lease with Telereal Trillium and its spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “We continue to actively source a tenant for this property. It has been widely marketed but formal interest in the building has been limited. We would encourage those interested in the property to enquire with Alder King, the agents marketing the site, for further information. The property is under lease with Telereal Trillium until 2018, and we are hopeful that a suitable tenant can be found in the very near future.”
The Department for Work and Pensions vacated the former Burnham Jobcentre at 15 Regent St on 31st January 2009 and handed the building over to Telereal Trillium. The lease for the premises expires on 31 December 2018. Although the lease is still in the name of the Secretary of State, it is ‘virtually assigned’ to Telereal Trillium.
