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Electrical fault shuts pool
BURNHAM-On-Sea swimming pool was shut to the public on Sunday (February 17th) due to a technical problem and is likely to remain closed later on Monday. "The pool closed at 7am this morning due to an electrical problem in the plant room," said Duty Manager Jeff Smith.
Library hours to be cut back
EVENING opening hours at Burnham-On-Sea Library are to be cut back from March when a new opening schedule is introduced. Somerset County Council has decided to reduce opening of Friday hours, but at the same time start Wednesday opening. From March 31st, the library will no longer open on Fridays after 6pm.
Winter chill leaves icy scenes
THESE were the unusual scenes on Brean beach, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Sunday morning (February 17th) as sub-zero temperatures left a bank of ice along the high tide line. The ice was deposited along the beach after thermometers fell to -6°c.
Bird garden's expansion rejected
PLANS to expand a busy tourist attraction at the foot of Brean Down have this week been turned down by district planners. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported last year how Brean Down Bird Gardens at Brean Cove (pictured) had submitted a planning application to extend its facilities in time for the summer.
Talks due on farmers' market
A MEETING is to be held between Burnham-On-Sea Town Council and the organisers of Somerset's Farmers Markets later this month to secure the future of the monthly events. The loss of Town Centre Manager, Anne-Marie Spalding had put a question mark over the future of the markets.
New local restaurant opened
MORE than 150 people were invited along to the official opening of a new £450,000 restaurant on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea on Friday evening (February 15th). The Oak Tree was formally opened at the Oak Tree Arena speedway track by the Chairman of British Speedway.
Vandals attack phone box
SHARDS of broken glass were strewn over pavements near a Highbridge school on Friday (February 15th) after vandals attacked a phone box. The glass surrounds of the box on the corner of North Avenue, opposite the entrance to King Alfred School, was kicked in.
Pool community bid gathers pace
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool met this week to discuss a possible community bid to take on ownership of the facility. Tom Ashton, Chairman of the Save Our Swimming Pool campaign group, met local Liberal Democrats to discuss the plan.
Panto fun comes to Brean!
FINAL rehearsals are underway in Brean this week as the village's Coastline Players prepare to perform their annual pantomime, which this year is Aladdin. Tickets are on sale now for the colourful show, which will be held in Brean Village Hall from Monday February 18th-23rd.
Petition calls for road re-opening
Exclusive: Hundreds of angry beach users have signed a petition calling for Berrow Beach to open to vehicles all-year-round. The petition, signed by 200 people, comes after Sedgemoor District Council took the decision to shut the entrance onto the beach over the winter months at the end of last year.
Groups braced for lighting bill
Exclusive: SEVERAL groups in Burnham-On-Sea face bills for thousands of pounds due to tough new regulations requiring them to test street lighting columns. Tighter health and safety regulations have recently come into force that require lighting columns to be tested for their structural integrity.
Civic award nominees sought
BURNHAM and Highbridge Town Council is soon to consider nominations for this year's annual Civic Awards. The awards are given to people deemed to have rendered outstanding service to the community and will be presented at the Annual Civic Service.
Drugs seized in new police raid
POLICE recovered hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis following a raid on a home in Highbridge on Thursday morning (February 14th). The intelligence-led operation involved Burnham police officers executing a warrant under the misuse of drugs act.
District council's 4.5% tax rise
SEDGEMOOR District Council will boost its coffers by around £200,000 following a decision on Wednesday (February 13th) to set its proportion of the Council Tax at 4.5 per cent. The increase equates to a rise of £5.23 per year for a Band D property, totalling £121.38.
Should town be pedestrianised?
BURNHAM-On-Sea businesses are this week being asked for their opinions on controversial plans to pedestrianise the town centre. Hundreds of survey forms have been sent to firms in the centre of the town to assess their feelings about restricting traffic along the High Street (pictured) at certain times of the day.
Call for Berrow volunteers
CONSERVATION volunteers are being invited to help with a day of scrub clearance and other work at Berrow Dunes this Sunday (February 17th). Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers will be visiting the nature reserve to undertake a day of work, including marram grass planting.
Seafront shelters boarded up
SEAFRONT shelters in Burnham-On-Sea's Marine Cove gardens have been boarded up in an attempt to protect them from ongoing vandalism. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported on two incidents during January when the windows of the seafront shelters were smashed.
Police find drugs at Highbridge pub
BURNHAM-On-Sea police found traces of Class A drugs during a search at a Highbridge pub on Tuesday (February 12th). A warrant was carried out at the Coopers Arms at 9am as a result of intelligence given to police from the community that drug misuse was going on at the premises.
MP steps up footpath pressure
A BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory has written to the Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, to try and push forward a scheme to build a footpath and cycle way along a dangerous stretch of road at Berrow. The scheme for Coast Road has been blocked.
Man arrested after crash fight
A MOTORIST was arrested for assault after allegedly fighting with another driver following a road accident outside Highbridge on Tuesday morning (February 12th). Police were called to a two-vehicle collision involving a Ford Transit and a Ford Escort on the Isleport Road.
Agency steps in to river bank row
THE Environment Agency has stepped in to stop residents felling trees and cutting back bushes along the banks of the River Brue in Highbridge. Several new residents living in Clyce Road have cleared away greenery along the side of the river bank in recent days without the permission of The Environment Agency.
Fire crews tackle major blaze
FIREFIGHTERS from Burnham-On-Sea and across Somerset were called to tackle a major fire in a building in the centre of Bridgwater on Monday morning (February 11th). Three people were rescued from the property as eight fire crews from Burnham, Bridgwater, Taunton and Street fought the blaze.
In photos: Charity night fun
ALMOST 200 people filled the main hall of Burnham-On-Sea's Lakeside Holiday Park on Saturday evening (February 9th) when more than £2,000 was raised for a town charity. The event included a race night and auction for Burnham's Community Medical Equipment Fund.
Police plea after tyres slashed
BURNHAM-On-Sea police are seeking the public's help following a spate of criminal damage to parked vehicles in the town. Thirteen cars had their tyres slashed or bodywork damaged on January 30th and 31st in and around the town centre of Burnham-On-Sea, as first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com.
New TV drama filmed at Brean
BREAN Down was transformed into a film set over the weekend when a BBC film crew recorded scenes for a major new TV drama series. The six-part, primetime BBC One series Bone Kickers is being filmed across the West Country, with the Brean Down scenes shot on Sunday (February 10th).
Mild weather pulls in visitors
UNSEASONALLY warm weather brought crowds of visitors to Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday (February 10th), giving businesses in the town a boost. The sushine and mild temperatures saw dozens of walkers strolling along The Esplanade and creating a surge in ice cream sales.
Purple Love Week celebrated!
SCORES of Burnham-On-Sea residents flocked to a health food shop in the town on Saturday (February 9th) to take part in a nationwide food-tasting event. Kyffins in Victoria Street is one of 600 shops nationwide involved in the third annual 'Purple Love Week'.
£5,000 CCTV boost for gardens
MORE than £5,000 has been spent upgrading the CCTV camera in Burnham-On-Sea's Marine Cove gardens in an effort to stamp out ongoing vandalism. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported on two seperate incidents last month in which the windows of shelters in the gardens were smashed and fences were torn down.
Burnham shop owner to retire
ONE of Burnham-On-Sea's longest running shops is to close at the end of February when its owner retires after 46 years of business. Keith Cox, 72, told Burnham-On-Sea.com he has "enjoyed every minute" of his time running the electrical store on the High Street.
Dog group's charity boost
A CHEQUE for £1,000 has been handed over to local animal rescue charity Secretworld this week in Burnham. Marion Day from local dog training and agility group Canine Capers handed over the money to Secretworld's Pauline Kidner in a ceremony at St Andrew's Hall.
Upbeat message on pool talks
"PROMISING progress" is being made in the search to find a new owner for Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool, bosses from Sedgemoor District Council told 150 people at a packed meeting in the town on Thursday (February 7th). The public meeting gave residents a chance to grill the council.
Chimney blaze in Burnham
A BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crew was called to a chimney blaze in a private house in the town on Thursday evening (February 7th). A team of firefighters was sent to Stoddens Road after a resident near the junction with Rectory Road reported his chimney alight.
Surgeries 'threatened by reform'
GPs in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge fear medical centres in the town could be put under threat by new government reforms that seek to introduce longer opening hours. GPs at the two medical centres are urging patients to contact local MPs amid concerns that government pressure to extend opening hours could put the future of the surgeries under threat.
Top cop pledges more patrols
MORE visible policing looks set to be introduced in Burnham-On-Sea following a meeting between by the region's top cop and town councillors this week. Chief Superintendent Sandy Padgett said that she would like to see PCSOs patrolling the town centre on foot.
Lions Club gives charity boost
MEMBERS of Burnham-On-Sea Lions Club handed out £2,000 to two grateful charities on Wednesday evening (February 6th). In a ceremony held at the Oak Tree Arena at Edithmead, near Burnham, the club gave £1,000 to the National Blind Childrens Society and BIBIC.
Smoke causes Brean fire alert
THESE were the scenes in Brean on Wednesday afternoon (February 6th) when thick, billowing smoke led to a call-out for Burnham-On-Sea firefighters. One engine was sent to the Three Acres Caravan Park in the centre of the resort at 5.15pm after residents raised the alarm.
Future of Stert Island Swim saved
THE future of Burnham's annual Stert Island Swim has been safeguarded thanks to a local athletics group. Nigel Roderick, Leisure Manager at the council confimed to Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday morning (February 6th) that West Country Tri-athletes would be taking over the event.
Felling of 48 trees is approved
CONTROVERSIAL plans by a Burnham-On-Sea holiday park to fell 48 protected trees on its property have been met with objections by town councillors. Burnham Holiday Village wants to fell a long line of trees that have grown beside homes in Maple Drive, pictured.
Sea wall struck by more graffiti
BURNHAM'S sea wall has been attacked again by graffiti vandals, prompting a renewed clean-up operation. A racist slur and various four-letter words have been daubed in paint over the structure near the top of Cross Street - much to the anger of the town council.
Early Spring bursts into colour
SIGNS of an early Spring are already starting to show at Burnham-On-Sea's Apex Wildlife Park this week. It may only be early February, but bunches of colourful daffodils are already in full bloom at the park, as pictured here on Wednesday morning.
Town fashion show is a hit
HUNDREDS of bargain-hunters filled King Alfred School's Main Hall in Highbridge on Tuesday evening (February 5th) when a special fashion show and sale was held. Almost 200 ladies flocked to the event, which was organised by Burnham Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs.
Hinkley set for more repairs
BRITISH Energy has announced this week that it is to shut the nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point, near Burnham-On-Sea, later this year for further inspections. Hinkley Point was shut down for seven months for boiler repairs last year and has been running at 60-70 percent.
25% jump in council tax rates
RESIDENTS in Burnham-On-Sea have this week been warned to brace themselves for a 25 per cent hike in council tax rates. Town councillors in Burnham approved the inflation-busting increase at a meeting on Monday evening (February 4th). It means a cost of £57.65 per Band D property, a jump of £10.
New Active Living Centre opens
A BRAND new Active Living Centre for residents over 50 opened in Highbridge on Tuesday (February 5th). The facility, in Morland Hall, was officially opened during a ceremony attended by Highbridge County Councillor Rosemary Parsons, local PCSOs and the Stroke Club.
Mayor hands out grants boost
REPRESENTATIVES from more than a dozen Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge groups received grant boosts from the town council on Monday (February 4th). The council awards grants to local groups every year at this time and Mayor Pauline Pollard handed over £2,500.
Drink up for Secret World funds
A COFFEE morning to raise funds for local wildlife rescue charity Secret World is to be held this Saturday (February 9th) at Burnham-On-Sea's Methodist Church in College Street. Open from 10am to midday, the event will feature many stalls including bric-a-brac and raffle.
More new homes for Highbridge
A NEW housing development in Highbridge could be set to grow still further if plans for nine new homes are given the go-ahead by local planners. Raglan Housing has just applied for planning permission to build nine dwellings, within two buildings, on land north of Worston Road, pictured here.
200 set to attend fundraiser
MORE than 200 people are set to enjoy a 'Mysterious Night Of Fun and Laughter' this Saturday (February 9th) when a special fundraising event is held in Burnham-On-Sea. In addition to a race night, there will be a star cabaret, Irish bingo and a charity auction.
Cyclists roll up for security day
SCORES of cyclists had their bikes security marked and were given crime advice when police in Highbridge held one of their weekly surgeries in the town's Asda supermarket on Sunday (February 3rd). PCSOs Claire Chambers and Gill Udall handed out crime reduction advice.
'Don't sell-off town's car park'
CONCERNED councillors and traders in Highbridge have officially launched a campaign to save Bank Street Car Park from closure. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last week how the car park faces the axe by Sedgemoor District Council as part of its cash cutbacks.

WEATHER

Burnham-on-Sea
light rain
8.3 ° C
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