A new community interest company could be formed to take over the derelict former Tucker’s Garage site in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea where a controversial development of 35 flats is planned.
Fifteen local people attended the first meeting of the newly-formed Tucker’s Garage Action Group on Thursday night, which has been set up to fight the flats development and find a long-term future for the site.
Property developer Abracore, which owns the site, wants to build 35 ‘retirement apartments’ in two blocks of buildings at the prominent location in Victoria Street. And, as first reported here last week, it has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to try and overturn a decision by Sedgemoor District Council last year to reject the plans last year.
Alex Turco from nearby business Positive Wealth Creation has formed the new group and hopes that it can halt the development.
“We heard a number of objections to the plans from local people during the meeting, ranging from parking concerns to the negative impact on nearby firms, and we will be submitting a formal letter to the Planning Inspectorate in opposition to Abracore’s appeal.”
“Our new group is keen to find a positive long-term future for the site as well. One option that’s been proposed is forming a new community interest company that could help us access funding to buy the site and ensure the needs of the community are met. It’s one of several potential ways forward,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Pauline Wright, owner of the shop Grandma’s Attic in Victoria Street, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This development would be very harmful for businesses here. Not only would parking be a big issue, but I fear that fewer shoppers would come to this end of town if it becomes less commercial.”
Among those opposed to the flats scheme is Reverend Graham Witts from nearby St Andrew’s Church, who told the meeting: “We’re concerned that parking for visitors to the church would be limited in Victoria Street due to the proposed development and the church is objecting.”
Nearby resident Ollie Hulme agreed, adding that the ‘night time economy’ of local restaurants, cinema and social club could also be affected if parking is not available.
Cllr Helen Groves told the meeting that registering the site on Burnham’s Community Asset Register, which we featured last year, would enable the group to raise a community ‘right to bid’ the land. She added that funding for the bid could also be available from the Coastal Community Fund.
During the meeting, Burnham Food Festival’s Bev and Sarah Milner Simonds offered to help gather signatures in support of the group at this month’s event on May 24th.
A Burnham Chamber of Trade spokesman added: “We support the group’s opposition of this development – the extra vehicles and limited parking facilities at the site would put a real strain on the area, potentially reducing the footfall of shoppers in that part of town. We would like to see a positive, long-term scheme for the site in its place.”
The Tucker’s Garage Action Group will meet again at 7pm on June 12th to finalise its submission to the Planning Inspectorate.
Sedgemoor District Council previously rejected proposals for the site last July, but the developer came back with an updated scheme which it claimed addressed the comments – however the plans were rejected again last September.
The site was previously occupied by the former Tucker’s Garage, pictured above, which was demolished seven years ago, as we featured here.
