Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council has this week edged a step closer to moving into a new town centre location.
At a meeting of the full council on Monday evening (September 2nd), councillors agreed to further explore the proposals to sell off their current Jaycroft Road site, pictured below, and move into The Princess Theatre in Princess Street, pictured below.
While the plans remain at an early stage, if they do go ahead it would mean that the Town Council would be located in the heart of the town centre. Other public services, such as Burnham Police and the Registrar, are also considering a move.
While town councillors have not ruled out other locations, such as moving into the former Adult Learning Centre in Princess Street, they feel the building does not have enough room for offices, meeting rooms and a council chamber.
Cllr Peter Clayton said: “I don’t think moving to the S&L (Skills & Learning Centre) is the way forward for us. All the pieces are in place for The Princess.”
However, Cllr Helen Groves said: “It’s important that all the options are fully considered.” Cllr Phil Harvey agreed, suggesting the council’s proposal to begin exploring the move should include the words “without ruling out other possibilities.”
Town councillors say the plans could save public money and make local public services more accessible in the town centre.
However, councillors heard that ruling out the Skills & Learning Centre would allow the council to avoid bearing costs of over £5,000 associated with the surveying the site.
Burnham’s adult learning centre has been vacant since it closed down in December 2017 due to central government funding cuts.
