A small event was held today (Thursday, March 24th) to thank the staff at Burnham-On-Sea’s Tourist Information Centre as the facilities closed for the final time under Sedgemoor District Council’s control.
The seafront centre will be shut for three weeks while stock-taking and re-fitting takes place ahead of its re-opening under the operation of the new voluntary group BIARS (Burnham Information And Rescue Support) on April 14th.
Town councillors Neville Jones, Dennis Davey and Arthur Thorogood were joined by several members of the BIARS team at Thursday’s function in the centre to thank the team for their award-winning work.
Cindy Tee, Sedgemoor’s Service Manager for Tourism, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The Burnham team have always been very professional, friendly and successful with their customer service and the TIC won many national awards as a result. But, as one chapter ends, a new one begins and we wish BIARS all the very best for the future.”
Cllr Jones said: “The team at Burnham TIC have delivered an incredibly high standard of service to visitors over many years and they will be very hard to follow for the volunteers.”
“We thank Cindy, Annette and the team for all they have done for Burnham over the past few years and wish them all the best.”
The future of the seafront TIC was plunged into doubt in 2009 when the cash-strapped district council announced it could no longer afford to run it, but BIARS stepped forward to save it and it now aims to turn the centre’s fortunes around and make it profitable again.
BIARS has almost 30 volunteers who will be helping to run the centre, but it still requires more to join its ranks and anyone who can spare an hour or more on a regular basis to help it is invited to get in contact via the BIARS web page on Burnham-On-Sea.com here.
