Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge’s MP has welcomed the news that plans for a new 75-bed Travelodge hotel in Highbridge have this week been given the final go-ahead by Sedgemoor District Councillors.
As first reported here, the council’s Development Committee met on Tuesday in Bridgwater where they gave approval to the controversial Highbridge hotel on the Isleport Business Park.
MP James Heappey told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I welcome the decision to allow a Travelodge in Highbridge. The extra hotel capacity in Burnham and Highbridge is much needed, especially as so much is being built in Bridgwater and more is planned in Weston-Super-Mare too.”
“There was a real danger that with so many new hotel rooms becoming available off the M5 junctions to our north and south, Burnham and Highbridge would lose out.”
“This decision will ensure we can continue to compete with Bridgwater and Weston whilst the Travelodge offer should sit neatly alongside the excellent hotels and guest houses that are already in the town.”
The council’s planning officer Dawn de Vries had recommended that the hotel be approved – and the council’s committee members agreed, granting consent despite an objection from the Town Council.
“The proposal would bring investment and jobs to the area as well as enhancing the image of the area as a business and tourist location,” said Dawn.
As Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here, Travelodge is to build a four-storey hotel with 75 bedrooms, 75 parking spaces, and a cafe/bar on vacant land to the east of Bennett Road on the Isleport Business Park.
Now it has been approved, the Travelodge will be located next to Highbridge’s planned new Aldi superstore.
The new store, pictured in the plans above, was approved by Sedgemoor District Council back in May and is expected to be built during 2018.
