A controversial £210,000 project to pedestrianise part of Burnham-On-Sea High Street has been put on hold until the autumn.
At a meeting of Burnham’s Chamber of Trade this week, traders were informed that the town’s Civic Pride group had decided that the scheme to pave over the High Street between Cross Street and Adam Street would not go ahead before September at the earliest.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported last November that the plans had been given a cool reception by many High Street businesses, who fear the scheme will hurt their trade. There was also not overwhelming backing from the public for the scheme at a public exhibition.
Cllr Neville Jones, Chairman of the Civic Pride group, said this week that the decision to delay the project had been prompted by the “difficult economic climate”.
The Civic Pride group had hoped the scheme could be introduced by Easter this year. Surveying work was even carried out by the County Council last autumn, as pictured here.
Sedgemoor District Council’s Executive last autumn unanimously agreed that over £158,000 of funding could be spent on creating the pedestrian-only zone.
