Controversial plans to demolish two huge industrial units in Love Lane, Burnham-On-Sea, were given the go-ahead by district planners on Tuesday (March 13th).
The modernisation plans at Westmans Trading Estate were approved by Sedgemoor’s Development Control Commitee at their meeting in Bridgwater.
The decision has prompted urgent discussions between the 14 firms based at the site and its owners, Moorland Sanitary Steam Laundry Ltd.
It comes days after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported last week how several of the companies fear they could go out of business and the jobs of 30 people could be jeopardised by the scheme.
Businessmen such as Nick Prout (pictured below) say they have not been fully consulted about the plans and that their livelihoods are under threat because plans to re-locate them during reconstruction of the industrial units has not been fully thought through.
Planners received one letter of objection, plus four ‘letters of concern’. There were fears among some local people about the possible release of asbestos dust when the aging buildings are demolished.
Moorland Sanitary Steam Laundry Ltd said in its plans that it wants to remove the run down buildings at the front and middle of the site and replace them with “new, modern and more attractive units.”
It says the plans are in the best interests of firms at the site and the town as a whole, and that it envisages existing companies may be moved to another new industrial unit at the rear of the site during the works. Worried workers are questioning, though, whether they can all move in to the one industrial unit and continue businesses.
