Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge town councillors have given a £10,000 boost to four local groups this week.
Members of the Town Council’s Policy and Finance Committee approved four applications for funding at their meeting on Monday (November 26th) after scrutinising the bids.
Burnham BMX Club received £4,000 towards kit and track improvements, Monarchs Gymnastics was awarded £2,987 for travel and equipment, King Alfred Boxing Club was given £2,800 towards rent, and Highbridge Community Hall Trust received £500 towards the facilities upkeep.
The Monarchs were given support from councillors, including Cllr John Parkes, who told the meeting: “The standard of their coaching and teaching is second to none – they do a wonderful job and I fully support the application.”
Mayor Bill Hancock added: “I have been impressed with the Monarchs whenever I have visited them. The children there are at an incredibly high standard and I 100% fully support this application.”
Highbridge’s King Alfred Boxing Club also received the support of councillors, but Cllr Harvey questioned the club’s Roger Keen on whether it has a business plan to avoid further requests for rent at its new facilities. Mr Keen said: “The club has an increasing membership, with support from local businesses, and it expects to be self-sustaining in six months.”
Cllr Hancock added: “I fully support this club – I was really impressed at the discipline and activities that they have in place.”
Burnham BMX Club’s application attracted more debate, with Cllr Janet Keen wanting the £4,000 funding to be paid in two installments – with £3k for the track works and £1k later next Spring on equipment.
The club’s treasurer Sue Cornelius said the funding would allow it to maintain health and safety standards, improve the club’s facilities, and “keep riders coming to Burnham instead of heading off to other tracks instead.”
Cllr Facey said that the meeting would be the final one of the financial year where grants would be awarded, so a decision on a second part of the funding would not be possible. Cllr Keen felt that it is “seriously unfair to other groups that there’s no further opportunity to apply for grants before next Spring,” and she added that the Town Council “are enablers, not the end result” when it comes to funding local projects.
Councillors voted by a clear majority to approve the BMX Club funding in full, but Cllr Keen said was “incensed by the process and will try to call it in.”
Councillors also approved a small £500 grant for Highbridge Community Hall Trust.
