February 2010 Burnham-On-Sea News - Highbridge News - Burnham & Highbridge news

February 2010 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

January 2010 news archive

Weather fails to halt clean-up
THIS group of hardy conservation volunteers braved heavy rain and strong winds to spend Sunday (February 28th) tidying up Berrow's sand dunes. The Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers made their annual visit to the nature reserve to plant marram and buckthorn. More...

Torquay visit for Moose lodge
MEMBERS of Burnham-On-Sea's Moose International Lodge joined members of other lodges from across the West Country for an annual trip to Torquay. The three-day event included a grand black tie ball on Saturday night, attended by the Vice Chairman of Torquay District Council. More...

Army cadets in fundraising drive
MEMBERS of Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge's Army Cadet Force launched a new fundraising drive on Saturday (February 27th) to help boost their funds and raise their profile in the local community. Cadets were helping customers pack shoppers' bags at Asda whilst raising money for a number of planned development projects. More...

Hovercraft's flying visit to school
YOUNGSTERS at East Huntspill School and Pre-School got a lesson in beach safety this week when one of Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercrafts made a special visit. Rescue charity BARB was invited to bring its Light Of Elizabeth craft to the school, where pupils heard about some of its rescues and discovered how it works. More...

£10k car gutted in arson blaze
Exclusive: STAFF at a vehicle repair centre in the centre of Highbridge have been counting the cost of a deliberate fire which damaged four cars on Friday night (February 26th). As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com, two fire crews and a team of police officers from Burnham-On-Sea rushed to CJK Vehicle Repairs in Kings Street. More...

Jail break drama in Burnham
Photo Special: BURNHAM-On-Sea police station was the centre of attention when a jail break took place on Saturday (February 27th) - but it was all in aid of a Weston charity. Seven teams of 24 people donned colourful costumes to take part in the event, for Weston Hospicecare, with the aim of getting as far away from Burnham as possible. More...

Pupils win science competition
A TEAM of pupils from King Alfred School's Science and Engineering Club in Highbridge took on an unusual challenge this week when they competed in a competition to create a device capable of moving one litre of water in one minute. The six Year 8 pupils travelled to Chilton Trinity to compete against five other local schools. More...

Fire crews tackle arson attack
FIRE crews from Burnham-On-Sea have tonight (Friday) been battling a blaze at a vehicle repair centre in Highbridge that has left a vintage car badly damaged following an arson attack. Two fire crews and a team of police officers from Burnham-On-Sea were called to CJK Vehicle Repairs in King Street at 8.41pm. More...

Tech giant creates 50 local jobs
HIGHBRIDGE is to get a welcome economic boost after technology giant IBM announced it is creating 50 new jobs with the launch of a new IT support centre. The high-tech facility is scheduled to open on the Isleport Industrial Estate by the middle of this year and bosses are recruiting new staff. More...

Police launch new CCTV cameras
Exclusive: MOTORISTS driving along Burnham-On-Sea's seafront have this week been warned that 'Big Brother' is watching following the introduction of several new police CCTV cameras. The high-tech cameras have been installed next to the junction of The Esplanade and Pier Street, and another has been is opposite the Tourist Information Centre. More...

Gym refurb gets 'knockout' boost
LEADERS at a Highbridge boxing club have this week received a welcome donation of hundreds of pounds towards their gym's refurbishment. County councillor John Woodman met members of King Alfred Amateur Boxing Club on Wednesday evening (February 24th). More...

Sanders picks charities of year
STAFF at a garden centre in Brent Knoll have this week selected the four groups which will be their ‘charities of the year’ for 2010. Sanders Garden World is set to host a series of fundraising activities with the four charities over the coming months, which include local wildlife rescue charity Secret World. More...

Town clock to retain Royal link
A NEW town clock which looks set to be built in the centre of Highbridge is to be dedicated to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. At the latest town council meeting, councillors voted in favour of trying to secure funding to purchase a new three-faced clock for Jubilee Gardens. More...

Triple award win for craft shop
DELIGHTED Burnham-On-Sea shop owners John and Katharine Edwards are celebrating this week after scooping THREE top awards in a national competition for a second year running. Material Needs in Burnham High Street has been voted 'Stitching Retailer Of The Year' for the whole UK. More...

Godson inspires Burnham runner
A BURNHAM-On-Sea teacher is set to pull on her running shoes to raise money for a charity very dear to her heart. Sam Stockham, who works at Brent Knoll School, is running the Bath Half Marathon on March 7th to raise money for the MPS Society, an organisation that is close to her family. More...

Thieves steal lifeboat man's bike
A LIFEBOAT crewman in Burnham-On-Sea had his bike stolen while he was inside the RNLI station on a training session. Crew member Ian Tench, pictured here on the far right, had his mountain bike pinched from outside the Pier Street station last Wednesday while he was taking part in a training exercise. More...

11 new jobs at town pasty shop
ELEVEN new jobs will be created in Burnham-On-Sea next week with the opening of a new cornish pasty shop in the town centre. The Newquay Pasty Shop Company will officially open its doors to the public at 36 The High Street on Monday morning (March 1st), it was confirmed. More...

£15k boost for Berrow play area
DELIGHTED residents in Berrow are celebrating again this week after securing £15,000 of funding from environmental firm Viridor towards the village's new play area project. The parish council announced on Wednesday (February 24th) that Viridor is to provide the funding through its Landfill Communities Fund. More...

School's solar plans approved
Exclusive: A BURNHAM-On-Sea school is set to be partially powered by sunlight after local councillors this week gave it the go-ahead to install new solar panels. St Joseph's Primary School has applied to Sedgemoor District Council to install two sets of panels at its Oxford Street premises. More...

Rotary Club opens town shop
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor and Mayoress were on hand at this week's official opening of a temporary shop being run by the town's Rotary Club. The former Threshers off-licence shop in College Street has been turned into an information centre for one week only by the club's members. More...

Cash boost for Burnham club
A GROUP that helps people with learning disabalities across the Burnham-On-Sea area has this week been handed a financial boost of hundreds of pounds. Somerset County Councillor John Woodman has given the Burnham and Highbridge Gateway Club a cheque for £500. More...

Country music star visits town
LEGENDARY country and western musician George Hamilton IV - who used to tour with Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers - was the special guest at a one-off concert in a Burnham-On-Sea church on Tuesday (February 23rd). Pastor Kelton Black welcomed him to the College Street Baptist Church. More...

Volunteers to clean up dunes
BERROW'S sand dunes will be tidied up by a group of conservation volunteers this coming weekend. The Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers will make their annual visit to the nature reserve to plant marram and clear sea buckthorn on February 28th as part of a day of conservation work. More...

Asbestos find halts pool work
Exclusive: WORK to dismantle Burnham-On-Sea's beach boating pool has been dramatically halted this week after asbestos was found in part of the landmark's crumbling concrete structure. The landmark was due to have been fully removed by owners Sedgemoor District Council, but Burnham-On-Sea.com learns workmen given the task of taking away have been asked to halt the work. More...

Winter road repairs for area
SEVERAL road closures in the Burnham-On-Sea area have been announced this week while winter road repairs are carried out. Somerset County Council has closed Ham Road/Station Road in Brent Knoll while resurfacing goes ahead. The route wll remain shut until Friday February 26th. More..

Three MPs launch pylons attack
THREE West Country MPs, including Burnham-On-Sea's David Heathcoat-Amory, have this week joined forces to step up their attack on plans to build a long line of huge electrcity pylons across the Somerset countryside. The trio have submitted a joint paper to parliament regarding the scheme. More..

Virus shuts town hospital ward
Exclusive: Health bosses have said today (Monday, February 22nd) that the Noro Virus bug is to blame for an outbreak of sickness which has shut a ward at Burnham-On-Sea War Memorial Hospital. Burnham-On-Sea.com learns one ward has been closed after five patients went down with the Noro Virus bug. More...

Holiday tennis camp is a hit
A HOLIDAY camp for young tennis players in Burnham-On-Sea over the half-term holiday has been hailed a success. Despite the wintry weather, a large group of youngsters attended the camp at The Avenue Tennis Club during the week, said the group's Head Coach Vinny Duddy. More...

Air cadets seek new members
BURNHAM-On-Sea's 290 Squadron Air Training Corps have launched their new website this week and also appealed for new members. The new-look website has been produced with the help of staff and cadets and has an updated look with a programme of what you can expect. More...

3D films come to town's cinema
3D movies will be coming to Burnham-On-Sea's cinema for the first time later this week. The Ritz Cinema in Victoria Street has invested £75,000 in a new state-of-the-art digital projector, which is being installed this week in readiness for Friday's first 3D screening of the blockbuster Avatar. More...

10,000 homes hit by power cut
THOUSANDS of homes across the Burnham-On-Sea area were without power this evening (Sunday, February 21st) following a major power cut. Western Power Distribution told Burnham-On-Sea.com that a total of 10,000 homes in Burnham, Highbridge and the Berrow area suffered an outage at 7.38pm following a high voltage fault. More...

Calm weather leaves thick smog
A PHOTOGRAPHER on Burnham seafront was shocked to take this snap of a thick smog drifting over the Bristol Channel on Sunday afternoon (February 21st). Calm weather led to the thick brown haze drifting along the South Wales coastline, stretching for miles from Aberthaw to Weston-super-Mare. More...

Town dancers back from Russia
SIX members of Highbridge-based dance group Kazdanz, who come from the town's King Alfred School, have just returned from a week in Russia where they were hosted by students and dancers from a secondary school in the town of Pereslavl-Zalessky, near Moscow. More...

BT community award for BARB
A LIFE-saving Burnham-On-Sea charity has received a financial boost from British Telecom this week. Hovercraft rescue charity BARB has been awarded £150 through BT's Community Champions award scheme thanks to the voluntary work of one of the organisation's crewmembers, Eddie Fey. More...

Allotments plans unveiled
Exclusive: A field near Burnham-On-Sea is set to be divided up into dozens of allotments for the general public. Sanders Garden World has submitted a planning application to the district council to turn land to the south of the Brent Knoll garden centre, pictured here, into 100 allotments. More...

Guides gather for centenary
Photo Special: MORE than 250 youngsters and leaders from girl guiding groups across the Burnham-On-Sea area gathered together on Saturday (February 20th) to celebrate 100 years of the guiding movement. The groups attended a special event at King Alfred School to mark 'World Thinking Day', one of several events. More...

Burnham wakes up to snow
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents woke up to a dusting of snow on Saturday morning (February 20th). A light covering of the white stuff fell during the early hours of the morning and, with temperatures dipping to minus three centigrade, pavements and roads were left icy, as pictured. More...

Students become newsreaders!
STUDENTS from Highbridge's King Alfred School gave up a day of their half-term holiday on Thursday (February 18th) to record news stories for local blind and partially-sighted people. They read news items from Burnham-On-Sea.com and other publications for the town's talking newspaper. More...

Murder: Woman faces trial
A 27 year-old Highbridge woman will face judges charged with perverting the course of justice over the death of Burnham-On-Sea man George Lawson. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last month how Debbi Huxtable from Southwell Crescent had been arrested in connection with the investigation into the murder. More...

3% council tax rise approved
RESIDENTS in Burnham-On-Sea will pay three per cent higher council tax charges in the coming year after the district council this week voted in favour of a small rise. Sedgemoor District Council set its proportion of the council tax at three per cent for the coming year, leading to a small rise in tax bills. More...

Photos: Busy week for Dreamscheme
Photo Special: DOZENS of members of Highbridge's Dreamscheme have had a busy half-term week. 43 young people, three of whom were new, have been earning points by applying for funding for the organisation and also creating a new code of conduct for themselves and the leaders. More...

Apex Park celebrates new award
A WILDLIFE park in Burnham-On-Sea has this week been named as one of the top ten green spaces in the South West. Apex Park has been awarded a 'Planting Places' award by Sustainability South West, which shines the spotlight on the best examples of public, sustainable green areas across the region. More...

Sudden death 'not suspicious'
Exclusive: POLICE were called to a home in Highbridge earlier this week following the sudden death of a resident. Officers and ambulance crews were called to an address in Burnham Road at 1pm on Sunday after the body was found – but police have confirmed that the death is not suspicious. More...

Highbridge history site launches
A NEW online history of Highbridge, supported by funding from the National Lottery, has been launched this week. Called Capture Highbridge, the site builds upon the work of the Highbridge History Project and its contributors. Together, they created a book in 2004 and have no pooled their pictures for the website. More...

£1.6m club hailed a success
Exclusive: Over 500 people have signed up as members to a multi-million pound Burnham-On-Sea leisure club during its first year of operation. Fusion opened in the grounds of Home Farm Holiday Park last January and, since then, the facility has grown in popularity. Owner Steve Atkinson told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: More..

Pylons judicial review rejected
SOMERSET County Council has this week rejected calls from Protestors demanding a judicial review into National Power's controversial proposals to build a line of new, 46-metre tall electricity pylons across the Somerset countryside near Burnham-On-Sea from Hinkley Point. More..

Youth cafe receives cash boost
MEMBERS of Highbridge Ladies Group have this week handed a £150 financial boost to the town's Shed Youth Café. PCSOs Sarah England and Eliot Green introduced themselves to the Highbridge Ladies Group at the beginning of last year and updated them on a new cafe. More..

Call for Civic Award nominees
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge town council is inviting nominations for the towns' annual Civic Awards. The awards are given to local people who are deemed to have rendered outstanding service to the community. They will be presented to the winners at the Annual Civic Service in the summer. More...

Top singer to perform in town
AN internationally-known singer will be performing a concert in Burnham-On-Sea next month. Jonathan Veira will be singing a line-up of popular songs, accompanied by opera, jazz, classical and country music, at Burnham-On-Sea Baptist Church in College Street on Wednesday 10th March. More...

£6m housing scheme for Highbridge
Exclusive: Controversial plans to build a huge £6million housing development in Highbridge have this week sparked concerns from businesses, residents and users of a community hall which would be demolished. A consultation letter has been distributed to dozens of residents living around Morlands Industrial Estate. More...

New restaurant to open in town
A BRAND new family-friendly restaurant serving home cooked food is to open in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea next month. Truly Scrumptious will open for the first time on Friday March 5th at 20 College Street in place of Crowdy's Bistro, which recently closed down. More...

Merged schools get new name
CHURCHFIELD Primary School will be the name of a new school opening its doors in Highbridge this autumn following a controversial merger. The name for the amalgamated St John's and Beechfield Schools was chosen over the past week during a special governors meeting. More...

Town recycling service expands
THOUSANDS of new bins and recycling boxes will be distributed across Burnham-On-Sea over the next fortnight during the latest expansion of the district council's recycling service. This phase covers 11,000 homes in parts of Burnham-On-Sea, Bridgwater and rural communities. More...

£200k golf course for seafront?
Exclusive: Ambitious plans to transform part of Burnham-On-Sea's seafront into a £200,000 mini golf course were unveiled at a town council meeting this evening (Monday, February 15th). Birmingham entrepreneur Paul Chatwin wants to turn a grassy area of The Esplanade into a large, purpose-built golf park. More...

Cadets win for sixth year in row
A group of Burnham and Highbridge Sea Cadets have this week won their area drill competition for the sixth year year in a row. Leading Cadet Wookey, Able Cadet Tutton, Able Cadet Hayes, Cadet Edwards and Cadet Jefferies have won the competition every year since 2004 - quite a feat! More...

In photos: Brent Knoll craft fayre
DOZENS of local craftmakers showed off their talents during a two-day craft fayre at a garden centre near Burnham over the weekend. The event at Sanders Garden World in Brent Knoll attracted crowds of visitors on both Saturday and Sunday - and also raised £400 for a lcal charity. More...

Police seek town volunteers
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge have received more than 50 expressions of interest from residents keen to become new police volunteers in the two towns. It comes after PCSOs and officers held several roadshows across the Burnham area during the last few days to explain how locals can join the new volunteer scheme. More...

Subway wins 3am opening bid
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's recently-opened Subway store has been granted a new premises licence so that it can open until 3am at weekends - despite a petition signed by 16 residents objecting to the proposal. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported earlier this month that Mike Bond, the owner of the Burnham franchise, had applied to Sedgemoor District Council. More...

Romantic meal won by couple
A BURNHAM-On-Sea couple enjoyed a slap-up Valentines Day meal after winning a competition in Highbridge. Denise and Steve Lynham were delighted to win the contest organised by the Asda store in Highbridge for a meal for two at the White Cottage Restaurant in West Huntspill. More...

Success for Burnham gymnasts
MEMBERS of Burnham-On-Sea's Monarchs Acro Gymnastics Club are celebrating this week after scooping several medals at the South West Schools Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in Sherborne. The gymnasts have been competing against more than 200 entrants from across the region. More...

Jason's ready for London Marathon
WELL-known Burnham-On-Sea runner Jason Vickers is in training to take part in this year's London Marathon. Jason, who works at Burnham's Tesco supermarket, is currently running 45 miles a week to get ready for the 26-mile race, which is this year being held on Sunday April 25th. More...

Cyclist pedals for town lifeboats
DAVID Price, a Yatton Rotary Club member, has pedalled hundreds of miles to raise over £1,500 for lifeboats in Burnham-On-Sea and Weston. Mr Price completed a sponsored cycle ride from Land's End to John'O'Groats in 2009 and has this week handed over the money to the RNLI. More...

In photos: Mayor's quiz night
MORE than 80 people sharpened up their pencils and put on their 'thinking caps' to take part in a fundraising quiz organised by Burnham and Highbridge's Mayor on Saturday evening (February 13th). The event, held in Highbridge Community Hall, raised £515 for the Friends of Burnham Hospital. More...

Fire crews tackle blaze in flat
THESE were the scenes in Berrow Road on Saturday (February 13th) when two fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea were called out to tackle a fire in a flat. Firefighters used two sets of breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to tackle a small fire in the kitchen of an upstairs flat at Ashcombe House in Berrow Road. More...

£500k cannabis factory found
POLICE have uncovered a high-tech drugs factory in a quiet village near Burnham-On-Sea. A huge haul of cannabis with a street value estimated at £500,000 was recovered from a quiet farm in Tarnock, which is a usually sleepy village on the A38 on the outskirts of Rooksbridge. More...

New clothes shop opens in town
A NEW women's clothing shop opened its doors for the first time in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday (February 13th). Eve Fashion and Accessories opened at 44 The High Street following a two month re-fit. Owner Fiona Stevens already runs a similar store in Winscombe and says the new business will be a success. More...

Kite surfer in Coastguard drama
A WALKER'S concerns for a kite surfer in the sea at Brean led to a call-out for Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards on Saturday afternoon (February 13th). A walker on Brean Down spotted the surfer apparently struggling in the water at the mouth of the River Axe and called 999 on a mobile phone to alert Coastguards. More...

Full Monty group raises £1,700
A GROUP of 'Full Monty' style dancers handed over a bumper cheque for over £1,700 to a cancer charity on Friday night (February 12th) following a successful fundraising event in Burnham-On-Sea. A cheque for £1,749.35 was handed over to Cancer Research at the Somerset and Dorset pub by organisers. More...

Police recover stolen necklace
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea have today (Friday, February 12th) made an arrest after recovering a £900 necklace that was stolen during a house burglary last month. Four people had already been arrested following the burglary on January 8th and officers followed up information from the public. More...

Police seize cannabis resin
HUNDREDS of pounds worth of cannabis resin was seized by police during a raid on a property in Highbridge this morning (Friday, February 12th). Police officers executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at a property in Morland Road. A quantity of cannabis with a street value of more than £300 was recovered. More...

New off-licence set to open
THE manager of Burnham-On-Sea's former Threshers off-licence is to launch a new shop selling alcohol at a vacant premises next door. EW Heath's Opticians in College Street shut its doors to the public last year and is now being transformed into a new off-licence just a few metres away! More...

£130,000 overhaul for church
Exclusive: A £130,000 project to modernise the interior of a Burnham-On-Sea church is on track to be completed during the next few weeks. Builders have been working inside St Andrew's Church on The Esplanade since last October, carrying out a six month project, which is on schedule to finish during March. More...

Cash boost for Highbridge group
MEMBERS of Highbridge's Local Action Team received a welcome financial boost during the group's annual general meeting on Thursday evening (February 11th). The town's County Councillor John Woodman handed over a cheque to the group's Chairman, Jason Adams, for £250. More...

Burnham car wash plan rejected
PROPOSALS to convert part of this parking area in Burnham-On-Sea into a car washing centre have this week been turned down by district council planners. The land owner had applied for full planning permission to turn the car park at the rear of Morrisons supermarket into a valeting service. More...

Fresh drive to attract tourists
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's new 2010 tourist guide has been launched this week with the aim of encouraging more visitors to our area during what could be a challenging year for the local tourist trade. A 24-page glossy brochure was officially unveiled on Wednesday (February 10th). More...

Craft fair to be held this weekend
CRAFT enthusiasts from across Somerset will be gathering at a charity craft fayre taking place at a garden centre Brent Knoll this weekend. The event will take place at Sanders Garden World in Brent Knoll on Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th to raise cash for a local charity. More...

Shoe shop to shut this weekend
Exclusive: A BUSY shoe shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea will be shutting down this weekend to allow a new business to open in its place. The Footwear For You outlet store, which is located at the corner of Pier Street and the High Street, replaced JPS Shoes last summer. More...

Internet safety in spotlight
ST JOHN'S Primary Junior School in Highbridge worked with local police on Tuesday (9th February) to raise awareness of online safety and in particular Safer Internet Day. Burnham-On-Sea PCSOs Claire Chambers and Gill Bawler visited the school and spoke to Year 6 pupils during the event. More...

Council donation packs a punch!
MEMBERS of a Burnham-On-Sea boxing club wer this week punching the air with delight after receiving hundreds of pounds from Somerset County Council. Titans Amateur Boxing Club, which is based at the town's youth centre in Cassis Close, received £250 from County Councillor John Woodman. More...

Multi-vehicle accident on M5
THIS was the scene on the M5 motorway this evening (Wednesday) when emergency services were called to a serious accident involving three cars and a lorry near junction Burnham-On-Sea. Fire crews from Burnham and Weston rushed to the northbound carriageway after the serious collision near Sedgemoor Services at 7.25pm. More...

RSPB issues barrage warning
BUILDING a Severn barrage across the Bristol Channel near Burnham-On-Sea could increase the risk of flooding and adversely affect wildlife, the RSPB has claimed this week. The conservation charity has made comparisons to a storm surge barrier that has been causing problems in the Netherlands. More...

New hopes for pedestrianisation
PROPOSALS to pedestrianise Burnham-On-Sea's High Street could soon be back on the cards if Sedgemoor District Council is successful in its claim for £150,000 of regenaration compensation. The district council said this week that it has begun a claim from the regional development agency. More...

Pair's wedding goes up in smoke!
Exclusive: A BERROW couple's wedding day almost went up in the smoke when fire crews were called to tackle a blaze at their wedding reception. Nathan and Lexi Mead, from Julians Acres, had just tied the knot when they were told a fire had broken out at their reception venue nearby. More...

Money stolen from arcade
Exclusive: A group of youths stole cash from fruit machines at this seafront amusement arcade in Burnham-On-Sea on Monday evening (February 8th). Police rushed to Sunspot Amusements on The Esplanade, as pictured, after several machines were smashed open by four youths. More...

Over 150 flock to fashion show
OVER 150 bargain hunters filled the main hall at King Alfred School in Highbridge on Tuesday evening (February 9th) when an annual fashion show was held. Organised by Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel group, the third annual event raised money for local charity groups. More...

In photos: Brean panto preview
FINAL rehearsals are underway this week for the annual winter performance by Brean's Coastline Players drama group. The award-winning group is preparing to perform "Humpty Dumpty" in Brean Village Hall for a week-long run from Monday 15th February to Saturday 20th February. More...

Tributes flood in for Louis, 18
TRIBUTES have been flooding in for an 18 year-old teenager who was found dead in Burnham-On-Sea last week. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported last week how Louis Doran, pictured right, was found dead last Monday evening (February 1st). Dozens of tributes have paid on the man's Facebook page. More...

Burnham set for new snowfall?
WINTRY scenes like this could be set to return to Burnham-On-Sea this week, with forecasters predicting the town will get a dusting of snow. Temperatures are expected to plunge as low as -4 degrees Centigrade, and light snow showers could leave a dusting of the white stuff. More...

£3,400 confiscated from drug dealer
Exclusive: A Burnham-On-Sea man who has been convicted of drug dealing has had thousands of pounds confiscated by police. The 41-year-old from the town has been forced to hand over £3,400 under powers given to officers through the Proceeds of Crime Act. Once an offender has been convicted, police and the courts can investigate their finances. More...

Bereaved family raises £1,300
A BEREAVED family has raised £1,300 for the Intensive Care Unit at Weston General Hospital through a sponsored fishing match. Jonathan Puddy, 21, of Burnham-On-Sea was a keen angler before his death in a crash last August. His brothers organised a fundraising fishing event. More...

MP: 'Sorry for expenses mistake'
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP has this weekend apologised to voters for "making a mistake" over his controversial expense claims. Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com on the town's seafront, Mr Heathcoat-Amory admitted that he regrets his expense claims, which famously included £380 for horse manure. More..

20p a week rise in council tax
COUNCIL tax bills in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge will rise by less than 20p a week after town councillors this week approved a small increase for the coming year. For 2010-11, the town council's precept demand to Sedgemoor District Council will be £416,472, which means the Town Council’s share for the year will be £60.99 for an average Band D property. More...

Voting guides to be delivered
SEDGEMOOR District Council is sending a leaflet to every household in the Burnham-On-Sea area in a drive to encourage more residents to register to vote or check that they are registered for the forthcoming general election. Councils across the UK are being encouraged to make sure that voters are on the Electoral Register. More...

Surprise! Surprise! Cilla's in town
TV personality Cilla Black was spotted in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday morning (February 7th). Several shoppers claim to have seen the TV presenter walking along the High Street near Shickle Shoes and she apparently stayed at a guesthouse in the town. More...

Lottery win is blooming great!
MEMBERS of Highbridge In Bloom are celebrating this week after learning they have scooped a National Lottery funding grant of £1,759. The money has been awarded by Awards for All, a Lottery grants scheme which supports small, community projects across the UK. More...

Car washes raise £1k for RNLI
BURNHAM-On-Sea lifeboat station's second car wash on Saturday 6th February has was hailed a success after being supported by dozens of local motorists. Over the course of two weekends, a total of £1,083.70 was raised for the RNLI when 106 vehicles were washed by the team. More...

Elgar festival tickets now on sale
THE music of one of England's greatest composers, Edward Elgar, will be celebrated during a two-day festival being held in Burnham-On-Sea later this month. The town's University of the Third Age (U3A) and lecturer Julian Williamson have joined forces to present a Elgar Weekend starting on February 27th. More..

Top acoustic act heads to town
ONE of the UK's leading acts on the acoustic music scene will be playing at Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Acoustic Club later this month. Ember will be performing on Thursday February 18th from 8pm, with tickets priced at £5 each. Ember comprises of Welsh violinist Emily Williams and Utah-born steel string player Rebecca Sullivan. More..

Crime falls 12.6% in Burnham
Exclusive: CRIME in Burnham-On-Sea has fallen 12.6% over the past year, residents were told by police this week when officers held their quarterly community meeting in the town. Over 20 members of the public attended Thursday's PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting at the Town Council chambers. More..

Cash windfall for local schools
TWO local schools shared financial boosts of several thousand pounds on Friday (February 5th). Delighted pupils and staff at Brent Knoll Primary School and Lympsham School received donations from a regional 'Cash For Schools' competition run in conjunction with Barclays Bank. More..

Extra £28,000 for tourist centre
COUNCILLORS in Burnham-On-Sea have today (Friday) welcomed the news that Sedgemoor District Council is to contribute £28,000 towards keeping the cash-strapped Tourist Information Centre open. Sedgemoor has decided to pledge a further £28,000 to keep it open for the next financial year. More..

Lorry destroyed in blaze drama
THESE were the scenes in Brent Knoll this morning (Friday) as fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea tackled a lorry blaze. Two fire crews were called out at 11.20am after a 17 tonne vehicle was reported to be alight at Sanders Garden World garden centre just off the A38. Two appliances from Burnham were sent to the scene. More...

Subway bids for 3am licence
BURNHAM-On-Sea's recently-opened Subway store wants a new premises licence so that it can open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays - but a group of local residents has objected to the proposals. Mike Bond, the owner of the Burnham franchise, has applied to the council. More...

Jodie wins seat in parliament!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea school student will be representing Sedgemoor and Mendip in the UK Youth Parliament. Jodie Gregg, a Year 11 pupil at King Alfred School, has been voted to represent Sedgemoor and Mendip in the UK Youth Parliament. This is the first time a student from the school has put themselves forward. More..

Apex play area shuts due to mud
THE mud-soaked play area at Highbridge's Apex Park has been temporarily closed this week by Sedgemoor District Council after problems worsened. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last month that parents and children are furious about the muddy conditions at the park. More..

Dozens attend funeral of vicar
DOZENS of mourners, including current and past Mayors, paid their last respects to a popular former Burnham-On-Sea vicar on Thursday afternoon (February 4th). Raymond Dean, who was vicar of St Andrew's Church from 1970-1993, passed away last month and a special thanksgiving service was held in his memory. More...

MP repays £29,000 expenses
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP David Heathcoat-Amory has paid back almost £30,000 in expense claims for gardening and cleaning items, it was confirmed this evening (Thursday). He said the payment was made earlier this week. It comes after a day of national media attention on the controversial subject. More...

Four bidders for town's Princess
Exclusive: Four bids have been made by groups wanting to take over Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Hall, it was revealed by the district council on Wednesday (February 3rd). Sedgemoor District Council confirmed that four firms have submitted formal 'expressions of interest' to take over the management of the loss-making hall. More...

Mayor opens new pool facilities
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor and Mayoress were the special guests at the unveiling of new disabled facilities at the town's swimming pool on Wednesday morning (February 3rd). Burnham's Medical Equipment Fund has donated £2,100 towards the purchase of a new set of specialised steps. More...

Burnham's BARB gets £3k boost
THE charity that runs Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercrafts has been given a financial boost this week with the donation of more than £3,000. Residents in Trinity Close have handed over a cheque to BARB for £3,127.71 to help fund the replacement of one of its life-saving hovercrafts. More...

Teenager found dead in town
Exclusive: POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are investigating the death of an 18-year-old youth in the town. Burnham-On-Sea.com understands the body of the man was found at an undisclosed address in the town on Monday evening (February 1st). Police are not treating the death as suspicious at this time. More...

Marine Cove plans unveiled
Exclusive: A £360,000 project to revamp Burnham-On-Sea's Marine Cove gardens has taken another step forward this week with the formal submission of a planning application for the scheme. The scheme covers the restoration of the seafront public park and modernisation of various facilities. More...

Councillors split on £50k lifeline
TOWN councillors in Burnham-On-Sea have this week voted in favour of spending £50,000 on keeping Burnham-On-Sea's cash-strapped Tourist Information Centre open over the summer, but several councillors have expressed their deep concerns about the plan - and proposed a smaller funding package. More...

Man arrested over Brean crash
Exclusive: A MOTORIST has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving following late night accident in Brean at the weekend. Police were called to Brean Leisure Park at just after 1am on Saturday morning (January 30th) after the collision. Inspector Roger Tolley confirmed the news to Burnham-On-Sea.com. More..

Housing firm may fund new clock
DOZENS of people who donated money towards the repair of Highbridge's crumbling town clock may be given their money back if a local housing developer provides up to £15,000 towards the cost of a new clock. Raglan Homes may give the money for a new town clock as part of a commitment to support the community. More...

Burnt toast sparks fire drama!
A PIECE of burnt toast sparked a call-out for Burnham-On-Sea's fire crew on Tuesday morning (February 2nd). Fire fighters were called to the David Salisbury factory on Highbridge's Isleport Industrial Estate at 9.45am to investigate after the alarms sounded. One fire engine was sent to the scene. More...

Tickets on sale for Brean show
TICKETS have gone on sale for the annual winter performance by Brean's Coastline Players. The group will be performing "Humpty Dumpy" in the village hall from Monday 15th February to Saturday 20th February. Tickets, costing from £4, are now available from the post office. More...

Boundary changes unveiled
PROPOSALS to change several electoral boundaries across the Burnham-On-Sea area have been formally uneveiled by the district council this week. The Boundary Committee for England is reviewing the boundaries of Sedgemoor District Council's electoral wards, along with the number of district councillors required. More...

Burns Night celebrated in town
KILTS, bagpipes and haggis were the order of the day when members of Burnham-On-Sea's Avenue Tennis Club celebrated Burns Night at the weekend. The popular event attracted dozens of people to the club for an evening of traditional Scottish entertainment, which included a traditional meal. More...

MP joins pylons protest march
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Tessa Munt both joined a protest march on Saturday (30th January) to campaign against National Grid's plans to build a huge network of electricity pylons. The proposed route of the pylons crosses two constituency boundaries. More...

Top award for town policewoman
A POPULAR member of Highbridge's police team has today (Monday) been named as one of the region's top police officers. PCSO Gill Bawler has been named 'PCSO Of The Year' for Somerset West in the annual Community Policing Awards. Gill was instrumental in setting up the successful Highbridge Dreamscheme. More...

Haiti collectors raise hundreds
FUNDRAISERS across the Burnham-On-Sea area raised hundreds of pounds towards the Haiti Earthquake Appeal over the weekend. Burnham Lions Club collected in the foyer of the town's Tesco store, raising £376, while a special coffee morning in Brent Knoll raised £495. More...