Burnham-On-Sea News December 2007 News Archive

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Storms damage sailing pontoons
EMERGENCY repairs have had to be carried out to Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club's pontoons after strong weekend storms caused damage. Heavy seas and gusty winds caused damage to the walkways during the early hours of Saturday morning (December 29th). More...

Coastguards find lost cyclist
A DISORIENTATED cyclist who got lost in heavy winds and rain at Brean Down was taken to hospital on Saturday (December 29th) after being found by Coastguards. The 23-year-old had lost her way in "atrocious" weather at the eastern end of the Down. More...

Arthur awarded MBE by Queen
BURNHAM-On-Sea pensioner Arthur Gilbert has been awarded an MBE for charitable services in the Queen's New Year Honours, announced on Saturday (December 29th). Arthur, 86, is well-known for taking part in Burnham's annual Triathlon (pictured below), which he has run for charity. More...

Rotarians help abuse victims
BURNHAM-On-Sea Rotary Club has helped bring a little Christmas cheer to victims of domestic abuse in the Sedgemoor area. Bridgwater's Daffodil Club supports women and children across the district who are in difficult domestic situations and has been given gifts by Burnham Rotarians. More...

Celebrate New Year in town
REVELLERS in Burnham-On-Sea will be able to celebrate the start of 2008 in style with a line-up of live music across the town on New Year's Eve. Popular local group The Ginger Hitlas (pictured) will be playing at Burnham's Ritz Club in Victoria Street from 9pm. More...

Ram raiders attack Highbridge store
HIGHBRIDGE'S Somerfield supermarket was closed to customers on Friday morning (December 28th) after ram raiders attacked the store overnight. These were the scenes at the supermarket - as police and staff inspected the damage to shutters at the front of the store. More...

Recycle your Christmas cards
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents are being urged to recycle their Christmas cards and help the environment throughout January. Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, will be recycling cards throughout the month as part of an ongoing recycling initiative. More...

MP visits Burnham care home
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP has paid a seasonal visit to Frith House Residential Care Home in the town. David Heathcoat-Amory, who is no stranger to Frith House, was welcomed by Manager Paul Cullis before he met some of the 85 residents of the home for the elderly. More...

Power outage cuts O2 signals
THOUSANDS of O2 mobile phone users across Burnham were unable to make calls due to a technical fault on Boxing Day evening (December 26th). Reception was blacked out throughout the Burnham-On-Sea area for more than four hours due to a power outage. More...

Roadworks to hit High Street
PART of Burnham-On-Sea's High Street will be closed to all traffic for six days during January. Roadworks will mean the northern end of the town's main shopping street, from the junction with Regent Street to College Street, will be closed from January 14th to January 20th. More...

Fire crews called to town blaze
FIRE crews rushed to a property in Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday morning (December 27th) after fears that a kitchen was on fire. One fire engine from Burnham-On-Sea and another from Bridgwater were sent to Brunels Way after a fire within a microwave oven. More...

Developer plans 39 new homes
HOUSE developer Bloor has this week submitted proposals to build 39 new homes in Burnham-On-Sea. The Swindon-based company is applying for full planning permission for 39 dwellings and garages on land at Rosewood Farm off Ben Travers Way. Planners will review the scheme in early 2008. More...

Drama for Burnham yacht crew
BURNHAM-On-Sea yachtsman Mark Preedy is spending the Christmas holiday on dry land in Australia after a medical drama during the latest leg of the ten-month Round The World Yacht Race. A crew member onboard one of the other yachts was taken ill. More...

New! Play local jigsaws online
GOT a few minutes to spare? Why not have a go at Burnham-On-Sea.com's new online jigsaws featuring scenes from the Burnham area. See how quickly you can piece together the jigsaws, featuring the town's lighthouse, pier, hovercraft and St Andrew's Church. More...

Bank error shocks town couple
BURNHAM-On-Sea lorry driver Colin Cawley had a shock when he opened up his post this week to find an unexpected bill from the bank for £59million! The letter threatened Mr Cawley with court action if he did not pay £59,033,166.76 which he allegedly owed to HFC Bank. More...

Police called to moo-ve cow
BURNHAM-On-Sea police were given the run-around by a cow which caused traffic hold-ups in West Huntspill on Monday morning (December 24th). Officers were called to the A38 near the White Cottage pub at 7.40am when several motorists reported seeing a cow on the road. More...

Council hits back on cash cuts
THE Leader of Sedgemoor District Council has written a sternly-worded letter to Local Government Minister John Healey complaining that services such as Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Pool are being placed under threat by cuts in central government funding. More...

Campaign group targets local land
Exclusive: CONTROVERSIAL campaign group Fathers 4 Justice has carried out two 'graffiti attacks' on land besides the M5 motorway in Burnham-On-Sea this week. The high-profile group is renowned for its publicity-seeking tactics and has spray-painted its name over two sets of farmyard silage bags. More...

MP praises town's mail staff
BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory and district councillor Arthur Thorogood praised busy postal workers in Burnham this week when they visited the town's Postal Sorting Office. Mr Heathcoat-Amory met managers and staff during the special visit. More...

Shoppers dig deep for fire fund
COLLECTION tins were rattling along Burnham High Street on Saturday (December 22nd) as firefighters in the town raised funds for needy colleagues. Festive shoppers dug deep into the pockets and purses to donate money towards the Fire Services Benevolent Fund. More...

Fire crews tackle house blaze
FIRE FIGHTERS from Burnham-On-Sea and across Somerset were called to tackle a major house blaze in Blackford, near Wedmore, on Friday evening (December 21st). Two fire engines from Cheddar and Burnham-On-Sea were called to the scene at 6.40pm. More...

Xmas light winners announced
THIS colourfully decorated house has been named the winner of Burnham-On-Sea's annual Christmas lights competition. A group of judges from Burnham and Highbridge town council have been touring both towns in recent days to find the best illuminated houses and shops. More...

Huge lotto windfall for Apex
HIGHBRIDGE'S Apex Wildife Park has been handed a huge Christmas windfall from the National Lottery this week. The Big Lottery Fund announced on Friday (December 21st) that children in the district are set to benefit from a £230,000 lottery windfall over three years. More...

Safety review for graveyards
THE safety of memorial stones and graves in churchyards across Burnham-On-Sea is to be tested as part of a major safety scheme next year. Sedgemoor District Council is to undertake the programme of memorial testing in closed churchyards and cemeteries in 2008. More...

Fresh push to finish Parkway
THE long-running saga over completion of Burnham-On-Sea's Frank Foley Parkway must not be allowed to run on for another 12 months without resolution, the town's MP has said this week. He released a statement on the matter on Friday morning (December 21st). More...

Huge turnout at pool meeting
MORE than 200 Burnham-On-Sea residents packed into a public meeting on Thursday night (December 20th) to have their say on controversial plans to close the town's swimming pool. A petition signed by 725 students at Highbridge's King Alfred School was unveiled and Conservative councillor Cllr Peter Clayton said he would quit his local party if the closure goes ahead. More...

Xmas grant boost delights club
POLICE working with young people in Highbridge have received an early Christmas present thanks to a £14,000 funding boost. The Highbridge Community Youth Club (HCYC) is looking forward to the future thanks to the grant from the Sedgemoor Area working Panel. More...

Young Nathan's memory lives on
A NEW tennis academy has been launched in Burnham-On-Sea this week in memory of teenage tennis ace Nathan Edwards, who died in a tragic road accident last month. Nathan's parents, Sally Edwards and Joe Montgomery, were at the unveiling of The Nathan Edwards Tennis Academy at Burnham's Avenue Tennis Club. More...

Ritz rewards loyal film fan
A FILM lover has this week been handed a special loyalty certificate by cinema bosses in Burnham-On-Sea after being named the Ritz's best-ever customer. Gaye Holman was handed the award and a bottle of bubbly by cinema owners Pat and Beryl Scott (pictured). More...

New £1.8m health club for town
Exclusive: EXCITING plans for a new £1.8million health club and swimming pool on the outskirts of Burnham are unveiled today for the first time. Home Farm Holiday Park hopes to construct the new complex on land at its current site off Stoddens Lane and open it in early 2009. More...

Town Lib Dems welcome new leader
LIBERAL Democrats in Burnham and Highbridge have welcomed the appointment of Nick Clegg as their newly apppointed party leader. Mr Clegg, who visited Highbridge's King Alfred School in March when he met students and local politicians, beat Chris Huhne. More...

Christmas burglary warning
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea have launched a bid to stamp out Christmas burglaries by issuing a timely warning about how to safely dispose of gift wrappings and rubbish. Acting Police Sergeant Mike Whatley and PCSO Gill Udal are working to cut post-Christmas crime. More...

Rock gig for Highbridge hall
TOP Taunton rock band Evolution will be performing a night of rock music at Morland Community Hall, Highbridge in January. Aimed at locak youngsters aged under 17, the event is being organised to highlight just some of the possible uses of the closure-threatened hall. More...

MP pushes Minehead barrage
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP David Heathcoat-Amory has this week asked the govermment to consider building the Severn Barrage from Minehead instead of Brean Down. He has wrtitten to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton. More...

Norovirus confirmed at hospital
HEALTH bosses confirmed on Monday afternoon (December 17th) that the Norovirus bug is to blame for an outbreak of sickness which has shut a ward at Burnham-On-Sea War Memorial Hospital. We reported last Friday how the main ward had been closed after five patients showed symptoms of the Norovirus bug. More...

Lorry crash partially shuts road
A ROAD in Huntspill was partially closed on Tuesday morning (December 18th) after a lorry crashed into a telegraph pole. Burnham-On-Sea police were called to the junction of Withy Road and the A38 Main Road at 6.38am after the lorry collided with the pole. More...

Mayor's Christmas messsage
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge's Mayor, Pauline Pollard, has this week issued her annual Christmas message in which she praises the 'unsung heroes' in the community and wishes local residents season's greetings. The full text of her message is published here on Burnham-On-Sea.com. More...

Pool public meeting announced
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents will be able to have their say on controversial plans to close Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool at a special open meeting this Thursday (December 20th). The event will be held at 6.30pm in Lakeside Holiday Park and will be open to all. More...

Tax advice day for Burnham
SEDGEMOOR District Council is to hold an open day in Burnham-On-Sea next month to let residents hear more about how the council can help with paying rent and council tax. Staff from the council's benefits, homeless and housing advice sections will be on hand. More...

Brrr-nham shivers in icy chill!
THESE were the scenes at Highbridge's Apex Wildlife Park on Monday morning (December 17th) as sub-zero temperatures left the Burnham-On-Sea area shivering with its first proper taste of winter. Overnight, temperatures in the town sank to a low of -4°c. More...

Safety plea to Berrow motorists
EMERGENCY services fear lives could be put at risk if motorists continue to block access onto a beach near Burnham-On-Sea. Coastguard and rescue hovercraft crews are worried that access onto Berrow beach has been blocked several times during recent weeks by motorists parking vehicles in front of the gates. More...

Swim pool campaigners meet MP
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, held talks with campaigners battling to save the town's swimming pool from closure on Friday evening (December 14th). The meeting came after Sedgemoor District Council recently said the pool would close in April 2008. More...

Two arrests after Burnham crash
TWO people have been arrested by police after a car demolished a wall and ploughed into a garden at high speed in Burnham-On-Sea during the early hours of Saturday morning (December 15th). Police were called to the accident on the corner of Gore Road at 1.45am. More...

Anglers reel in funds for BARB
GENEROUS anglers in Clevedon have raised hundreds of pounds for the charity that runs Burnham-On-Sea's two life-saving hovercrafts. A fundraising raffle at Oliver's Angling shop raised a total of £457 for BARB and grateful crewmembers were handed a cheque by Maria Hobden on Sunday (December 16th). More...

Building starts at kids centre
WORK has begun this week on a new Children’s Centre in Burnham-On-Sea, which will provide local support and advice for parents and carers of children under five. The centre, due to open in Spring 2008, will create a single point of access to services for families. More...

Town student wins logo contest
A PUPIL from King Alfred School in Highbridge has won a county-wide competition that tested young people’s talent for design. The County Council invited schools across the county to enter the competition to design a logo for its Transforming School Food project. More...

Virus scare shuts hospital ward
THE main ward at Burnham-on-Sea's War Memorial Hospital was closed on Thursday (December 13th) amid a virus scare. Five patients at the hospital in Love Lane showed symptoms of the Norovirus, which causes sicknesss and diarrhoea, and as a precaution they were not allowed to leave. More...

Public meeting to be held on pool
A PUBLIC meeting is set to be held in Burnham-On-Sea next week where residents and users of the town's swimming pool will be able to air their views about the controversial plans to shut the facility. The event is being organised by Burnham campaign group SOS - Save Our Swimming pool. More...

Farmers markets threatened?
THE future of monthly farmers markets could be in jeopardy because of the proposed loss of Burnham's Town Centre Manager. We reported last week how cost-cutting plans by Sedgemoor District Council have put a question mark over the future of the Town Centre Manager. More...

Station safety in the spotlight
ANGRY Highbridge Railway Station commuters have this week called for urgent safety work to improve 'dangerous lighting' at the station. Burnham-On-Sea commuter Keith Gough says defective lighting over the footbridge (pictured) is raising safety concerns for passengers. More...

Tourist attraction to expand
A BUSY tourist attraction at the foot of Brean Down has this week unveiled proposals to expand its facilities. Brean Down Bird Garden, which is based at Brean Cove (pictured), has submitted a planning application to extend its property with new buildings and extra space for staff. More...

Call for improved bus services
BURNHAM and Highbridge town council has met with county transport bosses in an attempt to improve public transport services in the area. Cllr Chris Williams and Town Clerk Eileen Shaw met First Bus and the County Council after a recent poor transport survey. More...

Barrage plans debated in Lords
MULTI-billion pound plans to build a Severn Barrage from Brean Down, near Burnham, to Wales are being debated in the House of Lords on Thursday (December 13th). The environmental impact of the proposals to construct a barrage from the Down to Lavernock Point. More...

Shoe shop brings Xmas cheer
A BURNHAM-On-Sea shoe shop has donated more than 2,000 shoe boxes to organisations that are helping to bring Christmas cheer to needy children in Eastern Europe. Shickle Shoes manager Geoff Shickle explained how the boxes will be used by various groups and organisations. More...

Festive choral concert in church
CHILDREN from St Andrew's Junior School will join Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Choral Society members in performing at the group's annual Christmas concert next week. A wide range of festive tunes will be peformed in St Andrew's Church on December 20th. More...