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Burnham pool's future saved
DELIGHTED campaigners fighting to save Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool are celebrating today after the district council announced on Tuesday (April 8th) that it had found new owners to take it over. Triathlon champion Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin have been named as the new lease holders.
Meet the pool's new bosses...
TRIATHLON champion Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin (pictured) have been named as the new lease holders of Burnham swimming pool, ending months of uncertainty about the facility's future. Sara is the daughter of local hoteliers David and Ann Cox.
MP's concern over flood zones
BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory expressed his "concerns" on Monday (April 7th) at plans by the Environment Agency to change flood zones in the town. Mr Heathcoat-Amory has written to the Environment Agency asking for an explanation.
Council signs up to charter
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council is set to work closer together with Sedgemoor District Council following the signing of an official charter on Monday evening (April 7th). Town Mayor Pauline Pollard signed the 'Sedgemoor Charter' at the beginning of the monthly council meeting.
Hopes high on pool's big day
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool are set to hear on Tuesday (April 8th) whether new owners have been found to take it over. Hopes are high that a new owner has been found to take over the facility after Sedgemoor District Council recently confirmed a bidder is interested in taking over the pool.
75 new homes spark protest
Exclusive: PROPOSALS to build 75 new homes on a patch of open space in Burnham-On-Sea have sparked a protest by nearby residents. Persimmon Homes has applied for full planning permission to construct 75 dwellings on land to the west of Lawrence Close and north of Wallace Wells Road.
New look for closed shelters
BOARDED-up shelters on Burnham seafront have been painted green in an attempt to make them blend in more with the scenery around them. Council workmen were called out to do the job after complaints about the appearance of the two shelters at Marine Cove gardens.
April snow arrives in Burnham
Photo special: BURNHAM-On-Sea received an unseasonal dusting of snow in the early hours of Sunday morning (April 6th). Residents woke up to these scenes in the Burnham area, with wintry scenes on Brent Knoll (above) and other parts of the town, including Apex Park.
Old time music celebrated!
OVER 140 people filled Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall on Saturday (April 5th) for a special night of traditional music and entertainment organised by Burnahm and District Lions Club. The Old Time Music Hall show was held to raise funds for local and Lions charities.
Drama at town boat crane-in
THE start of Burnham-On-Sea's new sailing season didn't quite go to plan on Saturday (April 5th) when one of the boats being craned into the River Brue started to take on water and sink. Burnham Sailing Club's annual 'crane-in' is arranged every year at this time.
Holiday fun at sports centre
A BUSY fortnight of activities has been lined up at Highbridge's King Alfred Sports Centre during the school holidays from April 7th-18th. The centre has organised a wide range of activities to keep youngsters aged between 5-14 busy and entertained during the holidays.
Lighting safety checks begin
WORK to test the safety of street lighting columns along Burnham seafront began on Friday (April 4th), a fortnight after strong winds sent one column crashing down onto a pavement. Somerset County Council is using a specialised vehicle to assess the strength of 46 lighting columns along The Esplanade.
Concerns over 24 new homes
Exclusive: COUNCILLORS in Burnham have this week expressed concern about plans to build a new housing estate of 24 homes in the town. Burnham-On-Sea.com revealed last month how house builder Persimmon has applied for full planning permission to build the properties on land besides 63 Links Gardens.
Cycle race confirmed for town
BURNHAM-On-Sea was officially named as the finishing location for the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race on Thursday (April 3rd). Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported in February that our town would be chosen as the final destination for the race on September 9th - and organisers confirmed the story on Thursday (April 3rd).
Motorist calls for ticket rethink
A BURNHAM-On-Sea motorist has called on the district council to rethink the design of car parking tickets sold at a seafront car park after he received a fine earlier this week. Tickets sold from machines at the Pier Street car park do not have sticky, adhesive backings.
Hinkley plans to be discussed
BRITISH Energy, the owner and operator of Hinkley Point B nuclear power station near Burnham-On-Sea, is to hold a public meeting later this month to discuss potential plans for a new nuclear power plant. The special meeting will be held in Cannington on April 23rd.
MP hits out at expense abuse
BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory has this week criticised fellow MPs who claim expenses for 'capital household items' and items up to £250 without receipts. Mr Heathcoat-Amory spoke out this week after being asked about his expense claims.
Boat owners in jetty protest
Exclusive: ANGRY boat owners in Burnham-On-Sea are set to lobby local councillors over the rising cost of buying permits to launch their boats from the town's crumbling jetty. They are unhappy with Sedgemoor District Council's decision to hike up the annual charge for using Burnham jetty, even though the structure has been half-closed since last summer.
Wildlife rescuers release birds
SEVERAL wild birds which were injured when they became coated in oil after a spill along a mile-long stretch of stream in Mark, near Burnham, were released back into the wild on Wednesday morning (April 2nd). All the birds were released successfully onto the waterways.
Steam display attracts crowds
VISITORS flocked to a display of vintage steam engines in Burnham-On-Sea over the weekend. Sedgemoor Vintage Club displayed a number of colourful engines outside Western Steam Model Engineers in Love Lane to give residents a small taster of its upcoming summer festival.
Residents fight homes plan
Exclusive: ANGRY residents in Burnham-On-Sea handed a petition to town councillors on Monday night (March 31st) in opposition to plans to build two new homes. Residents are fighting plans to create two new homes on land adjacent to 9 Winchester Road. A petition signed by 40 people was presented to the council.
£2m fountain for Stert Island?
EXCITING plans to create a huge new £2million water fountain on Stert Island to bring "thousands" of extra tourists to Burnham-On-Sea are set to be unveiled on Tuesday (April 1st). The eye-catching feature is the brainchild of a Russian entrepreneur and architect.
Iain's ready for big race day!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea man will be among the thousands of runners taking part in this month's London Marathon in aid of a Weston-based charity. Iain Turner from Burnham-On-Sea will be running the famous 26 mile road race in aid of Weston Hospicecare on April 13th.
Child injured in three-car crash
A CHILD was rushed to hospital with whiplash injuries following a three-car accident on the M5 motorway at Burnham-On-Sea on Monday afternoon (March 31st). Two lanes of the southbound carriageway were closed to traffic after the accident at 2.05pm, which was close to the entry slip for junction 22.
Pubs pass underage drinking test
AN UNDERCOVER operation carried out by Trading Standards officers and police in Burnham-On-Sea over the weekend has found pubs in the town centre are not willing to break the law by selling alcohol to under-age drinkers. An operation on Friday saw two volunteer teenagers try to illegally buy drinks.
New oil spill probe in Mark
The Environment Agency was called to investigate a second oil spill in Mark, near Burnham-On-Sea. A resident spotted what was thought to be more oil in a rhyne on Monday morning (March 31st) and alerted the Agency. Animal rescue centre Secret World was contacted and checked out if any wildlife was affected.
Shop window contest to start
OVER 30 Burnham-On-Sea town centre businesses are taking part in a 'spot the odd item in the shop window' competition during April. The competition, run by Burnham-On-Sea Chamber Of Trade, will involve items that firms do not sell being put into their windows.
High Street gets a spring clean
BURNHAM-On-Sea's pavements should be looking a lot cleaner this week after the town's bi-annual street wash got underway. Contractors working for Sedgemoor District Council are completing the first cleaning session of the year along the High Street, pictured here.
1,000 music fans flock to Brean
OVER one thousand Queen fans descended on Brean at the weekend for the 23rd annual Queen Fan Club Convention. The three-day event, held at Pontins holiday camp, attracted fans from all over the world, including from as far away as America and Australia.
John introduces summer time!
Photo special: ANYONE annoyed about losing an hour's sleep on Sunday (March 30th) should spare a thought for 79-year-old John Comer who has to climb the steep tower of St Andrew's Church in Burnham to turn forward the clock's hands. Mr Comer oversees the clock.
Burnham hit by power cut
THOUSANDS of homes across Burnham-On-Sea were without power on Saturday night (March 29th) after a "major" electricty cut. Western Power Distribution confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that a fault had occurred just after 7pm, affecting 3,000 homes across Burnham.
Fireworks light up Brean skies
THE skies above Brean were lit up with fireworks on Saturday night (March 29th) when the resort's leisure park held the first of a series of four displays. Heavy rain throughout Saturday dented the size of the crowds watching, but the spectators enjoyed the display.
Motorist in hospital after crash
A MOTORIST was rushed to hospital on Saturday evening (March 29th) after an accident near Burnham-On-Sea. Burnham fire service was called at 7.27pm to a crash involving a single car in Mendip Road, Rooksbridge where one female was trapped within the vehicle.
New shoppers guide to launch
A FEW last places remain for Burnham-On-Sea shops wanting to bve included in the town's 2008/2009 Shoppers Guide. Burnham Chamber Of Trade is putting the finishing touches to a new version of the pocket-sized booklet, which provides an A-Z guide to the best shops.
Highbridge council office shuts
FINANCIAL cutbacks led to council offices in Highbridge closing down on Friday (March 28th). The Alpha House cash office in Market Street has been permanently shut by Sedgemoor District Council in order to save tens of thousands of pounds a year.
Fireworks show this Saturday
BREAN Leisure Park has this week unveiled plans to hold a series of free fireworks displays throughout the 2008 holiday season. The first of four displays will be held this Saturday (March 29th) at 8pm with further events on May 31st, August 30th, and November 1st.
New delay for pool decision
A DECISION about the future of Burnham's closure-threatened swimming pool has been further delayed and will not now be made until April 8th, it was announced on Friday (March 28th). The decision has been put back due to "highly complicated legal processes."
Car parking charges set to jump
CAR parking charges across Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge are set to increase by up to 20 per cent next week. The higher charges come into force on Tuesday (April 1st) and have been partly prompted by Sedgemoor District Council's huge £1.8m funding defecit.
New Pontins owners unveiled
PONTINS holiday camps at Brean and across the UK have been bought for £46 million by a Bristol company. Businessmen Clarke Osborne, Ian Smith, Graham Parr and John Parr intend to take the chain of camps - including Brean Sands, near Burnham - upmarket.
New recycling service for town
SIX hundred households in Burnham-On-Sea will soon be able to recycle food waste, plastic bottles and cardboard items when a brand new home recycling scheme launches in the town this May. The trials for new waste and recycling collections are to be launched in Burnham by the Somerset Waste Partnership.
Over 200 watch town concert
MORE than 100 young people from the Burnham-On-Sea area gathered in Highbridge on Thursday evening (March 27th) to take part in a special concert organised by the town's Rotary Club. They came together for Burnham Rotary Club's 'Youth Makes Music' concert.
Job centre shuts for final time
BURNHAM-On-Sea's job centre closed its doors for the very last time on Wednesday afternoon (March 26th). The Job Centre Plus premises in the High Street has shut down as part of a cost-cutting "modernisation programme" by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Caravan left in road at Brean
POLICE taped off a caravan which appeared to have been abandoned in a dangerous position on the side of a country road in Brean this week. Burnham police were called to Wick Road on Wednesday (March 26th) after the vehicle was left on the edge of the road.
Gas leak drama in Burnham
A ROAD in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea was closed for several hours on Wednesday (March 26th) after a car accident caused a gas leak. Technical Street was shut for much of the day after a vehicle collisioin caused the drama in the centre of town. Fire crews and gas workers were called to the scene.
Motorist hurt in road accident
A MOTORIST was rushed to hospital following an accident near junction 23 of the M5 motorway for Highbridge on Wednesday morning (March 26th). Traffic was brought to a standstill around the Dunball roundabout after the morning rush hour collision involving two vehicles.
Anger as cars keyed by vandals
Exclusive: HUNDREDS of pounds of damage was caused to vehicles in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea over the Easter weekend when vandals 'keyed' several cars, leaving them with deep scratches. Residents in Adam Street said the vehicles were so badly damaged that they now require expensive respray work.
£4m garden centre plans on show
PLANS for a huge £4million expansion of a garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea went on show to the public for the first time on Tuesday evening (March 25th). Burnham-On-Sea.com broke the news earlier this month that Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll is hoping to extend its premises by 35,000 square feet.
Police to hold store surgeries
SHOPPERS in Burnham-On-Sea will get the opportunity to speak to the town's police officers about their concerns when a series of crime surgeries is held in a town supermarket. Burnham police are to hold regular surgeries in the town's Somerfield supermarket.
Pool decision delayed til April
A DECISION about the future of Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool will not be made until April, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon (March 25th). Sedgemoor District Council said it expected a report to its Executive committee would be deferred until April 2nd.
Tim to sing for charity at Brean
LOCAL opera singer Tim Pitman will be raising the roof to help raise funds for charity at Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea, next month. He will be performing during an evening of entertainment at Brean Leisure Park to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society on 18th April.

WEATHER

Burnham-on-Sea
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