The owner of Burnham-On-Sea’s pier has quit one of her town council roles as she tries to resolve a legal dispute with Sedgemoor District Council over the future of a controversial sweet shop on the forecourt of the pier.
Louise Parkin, pictured, has this week submitted a formal planning application to keep the building, supported by a petition of 1,160 supporters.
At the same time, she has resigned as a member of the Town Council’s Planning Applications Committee as she fights Sedgemoor’s enforcement team who are requesting that the white conservatory building is removed.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported earlier this year that the council had requested that the white conservatory, which is used as a sweet shop, be demolished because it was installed “without planning permission” and is “out of keeping”. However, Louise is adamant that it does not require permission because it is a ‘Permitted Development’ under UK planning laws for amusement parks.
This week, she told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I feel a formal planning application is unnecessary but submitting it to the district council halts the enforcement action and will also hopefully draw the matter to a close if retrospective permission is granted.”
She added: “I confirm that I have resigned from the Town Council’s Planning Applications Committee because I feel Sedgemoor has made my role untenable.”
“I have also told the Town Council that if at any time they feel my presence is awkward then I will resign as a councillor altogether.”
Louise thanked the 1,160 people who have signed her petition, adding: “The vast majority of people can see we are just trying to run a tourism business and want to keep the Pavilion running. This has been our worst season for 43 years and the kiosk has been a life-saver, providing essential shelter to customers during a very wet few months.”
Sedgemoor’s Corporate Relations Manager, Claire Faun, defended the legal action, saying: “Sedgemoor District Council has a duty to apply the planning regulations equitably within the law.”
