A major project to introduce £440,000 of improvements to Burnham-On-Sea’s town centre is on schedule to start being delivered next year despite concerns over the time it is taking.
New plans unveiled this week show how the list of improvements, shown below, will be introduced in the town centre over the next 18 months using funding from Tesco to offset the impact of its Burnham store expansion.
.HOW THE £440k WILL BE SPENT: 
Lighting improvements in Burnham High Street and Victoria Street
Hanging basket posts
Additional cycle racks in High Street
Highways improvements: Coloured paviers between Adam Street and Cross Street £20k; Coloured road surface £20k & maintenance £20k; Finger post signs £10k, street furniture, including £1k for a central electricity point for events, plus £30k
Publicity
Roller shutter project £5k shop front grants £25k
New public notice boards (High Street & Victoria Street)
Town Centre Manager and projects
Contingency to cover additional costs as figures are estimates
Paul Martin, the Project Manager who is overseeing the work, pictured above, has presented his latest plans to the Town Council.
Denise Emery, Town Clerk, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’ve reviewed three sets of plans covering several parts of the project including the resurfacing work in the High Street that is part of creating a new events area, new street lighting and new post signs.”
“The project is moving forward well and the plans are starting to take shape. It’s on track and we’re pleased with the progress.”
She added: “The first of the improvements – recruiting a new Town Centre Manager – is due to be delivered early in the new year and the highways work iis scheduled to be put in place in 2015, however anything that can be delivered earlier will be.”
Several town councillors, including Cllr Neville Jones, have recently expressed concern at the drawn-out timescales to deliver the overall project, which was originally started in the summer of 2011.
The £420,000 comprises funding from Tesco, the Town Council and compensation from the former South West Regional Development Agency.
