Fewer than 25 people attended the annual general meeting of the Burnham and Highbridge Regeneration Partnership this week when the group gave an update on progress with improving the two towns.
Members of the Regeneration Partnership gathered in The Princess Hall (pictured) as they sought residents’ opinions on the proposed changes to the High Street, Cultural Quarter and Esplanade.
It came after Burnham-On-Sea.com reported in October how the Regeneration Partnership had been awarded £350,000 from the South West Regional Development Agency’s Coastal Towns Initiative, plus £80,000 from the district and county councils for ‘the second stage’ of the regeneration project.
While this week’s meeting remained positive, several members of the Regeneration Partnership stood down from the committee and Chairman Mike Murphy (pictured) faced several ‘pointed’ questions during a sometimes heated public forum amid frustration from some that the project was not moving forward quicker.
But Mr Murphy pointed out that the first stage of the regeneration project had already seen improvements made to the town, including the lighting of the Manor Gardens, information boards being installed along The Esplanade, and the opening of the River Brue cycle path.
Furthermore, he said that several ‘you are here’ boards are in the process of being acquired for Burnham and Highbridge, and a new Community Development Worker to replace the one who left earlier this year is to be interviewed shortly.
Cllr Neville Jones added: “Although we have not got a lot of money, look at what has already been done.”
And SWRDA spokesman David Reece added: “This is a great opportunity to do something positive. Regeneration is a journey with no road-map, we are all in it together. Our aim is to make the centre of Burnham more vibrant. We all have a role to play.”
Another meeting has been called for Thursday January 18th, which the Partnership hopes will be better attended.
.Burnham-On-Sea Cultural Quarter
An update was given by the Regeneration Partnership on the latest progress with the development of a ‘Cultural Quarter’ in Burnham covering Princess Street and Victoria Street around the Tuckers Garage area:
“With the granting of the initial funds of £430,000 these are earmarked to produce the second stage of the project. This covers the plans, planning permission and final quotes for the delivery of the project to be presented to the South West Regional Development Agency,” said chairman Mike Murphy.
“Currently, the Cultural Quarter bid is going through an evaluation by SCC and all parties remain positive. Consultation with the residents of Burnham-On-Sea will be encouraged.”
.Burnham-On-Sea Civic Pride
An further update was given by the Regeneration Partnership on progress with the development of a Civic Pride initiative:
Mr Murphy said: “The South West Regional Development Agency advised us that in order to present the Regeneration Partnership’s case it must be robust and to this end it granted funds for the engagement of consultants to produce an ‘Economic and Retail Impact Study’ which would indicate how the granting of funds for projects would result in kick-starting the regeneration process. The initial report from EKOS was incomplete and held back the project by several months to August this year when a final report was produced and accepted by the SWRDA. At the same time, and at no cost to the Regeneration Partnership, Sedgemoor District Council commissioned a Tourism Impact Study because the statistics available were outdated.”
“As many of you know, the work of our group began in 2001 followed by the formation of theme groups in Burnham and Highbridge. The main aim was – and still is – to obtain funding from the Market and Coastal Towns pot of £15million to aid the regeneration of our towns.”
“The work of these groups and many of the early persons involved transferred to a core group which completed the strategic plan. The group was then formed into a company limited by guarantee, Burnham and Highbridge Regeneration Partnership, in June 2005. Two years ago, the SWRDA advised us that we should focus on a particular pot of money called ‘Civic Pride’ and it was later decided this could only apply to Burnham-On-Sea at this time.”
“Civic Pride is centred on physical projects and was characterised by a consultancy vision project by Landscape Design associates.”
“Civic Pride identifies three areas for development: The Gateway to Burnham (the area around Pier Street and The Esplanade including the Somerfield car park); The full length of the High Street; and The Cultural Quarter (Princess Street and Victoria Street around the Tuckers Garage).”
