Contentious plans by the Town Council to give every primary schoolchild in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge a free commemorative mug to mark next year’s Royal Jubilee have been given the go-ahead this week, despite concerns over the cost from some councillors.
At a council meeting on Monday evening (December 5th), councillors approved spending £2,200 on the 1,500 mugs, which will be distributed to every primary school child in the two towns before the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.
Ten councillors voted in favour of the proposal, while three councillors voted against, and two abstained.
Cllr Tom Nicholls was among tho councillors who believes the mugs should not be given away. He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I cannot support spending money in this way when I am representing local people who are struggling to make ends meet on meagre benefits. Jubilee mugs are not essential and do not represent value for money for tax payers.”
And Cllr Helen Groves added: “Quite apart from the cost, I’m not convinced that a mug is suitable for schoolchildren of this age, who will be asked not to touch them for fear of breaking them. I’d have liked the money to be spent on an event or something that will benefit children for years to come.”
But a majority of councillors disagreed and the mugs will be given away during a special four-day Jubilee celebration in Burnham and Highbridge next Spring.
Cllr Neville Jones, Chairman of the Town Council’s Jubilee Project Committee, said: “The Town Council has produced quality souvenir mugs for special Royal occasions like this for many years. They are traditional keepsakes that stay on shelves for years to come. They mean a lot.”
The bone china mugs will feature a photo of the Queen plus an official Burnham and Highbridge Town Crest and a few words about the occasion. Some of the mugs will also be available to buy for the general public.
Pictured: Top, how the mugs will look and, above Cllr Neville Jones and Mike Murphy at a Jubilee project meeting
