A Burnham-On-Sea resident has this week called on town councillors to reconsider plans to fully pedestrianise the High Street in a bid to encourage more shoppers into the town.
Speaking at Monday’s Town Council meeting, Tony Lynham (pictured), said the work should be funded using £300,000 of community funding which Tesco is due to give the town later this year when it completes the expansion of its Burnham-On-Sea store, as we recently reported here.
Tony said: “I think the time is now right to reconsider the full pedestrianisation of the High Street. It would encourage more shoppers into the town and give businesses a much-needed boost.”
“A number of surveys have found there is huge support among residents for pedestrianisation – including last month’s Mary Portas funding questionnaire.”
“However, I’d like to see the Town Council run a final, once-and-for-all survey of the whole town asking traders and residents whether it should go ahead. The survey would appear on Burnham-On-Sea.com and leaflets would also be posted through letterboxes across the town so that all residents have their say. If it’s a ‘yes’ then the whole scheme should go ahead.”
Cllr Phil Harvey told Monday’s meeting he supports calls for pedestrianisation. “I am in favour of what Tony is proposing providing that limited access to vehicles is provided at the crossing points in Cross Street and Adam Street, and that traders have access at certain times of the day for unloading,” he said. “We also need to ensure that residents who use the High Street to get to their homes are fully consulted and considered.”
District councillor Joe Leach told Burnham-On-Sea.com he supports Mr Lynham’s proposals for a survey. “I think asking the whole town for their opinion would be useful – it would be interesting to see what would be the outcome.”
