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

January 2009 Burnham-On-Sea News

Brean Rally - Day One photos
FREEZING cold weather reduced the number of spectators at the opening day of the annual Brean Rally on Saturday (January 31st), but the action on the track was just as hot as ever. Brean Leisure Park once again echoed to the sound of high octane engines for the thirteenth annual Brean Stages Rally. More...

Police meeting for Marine Drive
Exclusive: POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are to hold a public meeting this Wednesday (February 4th) in response to mounting concerns about vandalism, speeding and crime in nearby Marine Drive. The 'street briefing' will be held on Wednesday at 12.30pm in Apex Park. More...

Attempted robbery at town shop
POLICE were investigating an attempted robbery at a shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Friday afternoon (January 30th). Officers rushed to Victoria Street at 4.23pm after two people burst into a shop. Police have appealed for witnesses to get in contact with any information. More...

MP in town for Conservative AGM
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP was the special guest at the annual general meeting of the town's Conservative Party on Friday evening (January 30th). Over 30 people attended the AGM of the Burnham branch of Wells Conservative Association in the town's Princess Hall, where the MP spoke about his recent constituency work. More...

Police in town speeding crackdown
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are this week stepping up their efforts to rid the town of speeding motorists with the launch of a fresh crackdown on those that break speed limits. More speed checks are being introduced at known trouble spots, including The Esplanade (pictured here) and Marine Drive, where motorists are being pulled over. More...

Burnham panto fun starts tonight
TWO pantomime groups are making final preparations for their shows, which open over the next few days. Burnham-On-Sea District Pantomime Society's annual show, pictured right, opens to the public on Friday evening (January 30th) and then runs until Saturday February 7th (except Monday). More...

Car washes to help town's RNLI
MOTORISTS in Burnham-On-Sea will be able to get their cars washed by the town's lifeboat crew this weekend... and raise money for the RNLI at the same time. Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat station in Pier Street is taking part in the RNLI's SOS Day nationwide fundraising event this Saturday (January 30th). More...

New roadworks to cause delays
MOTORISTS using a main road into Burnham-On-Sea will be faced with nine weeks of disruption when roadworks get underway in February. The County Council's Highways Department this week that Western Power Distribution would be laying new high voltage cabling along Love Lane from February 2nd. More...

Doorstep callers get cold shoulder
TWO new 'no cold calling zones' have been launched in Highbridge this month to help protect residents from distraction burglars and rogue traders. Over the past months, the Highbridge police team has been working with Sedgemoor District Council to set up the scheme in Trowbridge Close and Kiln Drive. More...

Litter problems to be swept away
Exclusive: LITTER problems in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea could soon be swept away following a decision by the town council to invest in a dedicated street cleaner. Councillors this week voted in favour of spending £12,500 on employing a person to keep the streets of Burnham clean. More...

Trapped kids freed from car
Exclusive: A distraught Highbridge father had to smash one of the windows of his car to free two young children after they became accidentally trapped inside. Dominic Walcott received a frantic phone call from his girlfriend on Tuesday (January 27th) after the children were locked inside. More...

Three-way race for Princess Hall
THREE groups are now in the running to take over Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall. One is a commercial group of local businessmen, the other is a group of local arts and music enthusiasts, and the third is the Friends of The Princess, set-up by Sedgemoor District Council last year. More...

DIY chain not coming to town
SPECULATION that DIY chain store Wilkinsons could soon be opening in Burnham-On-Sea has been denied by the firm. The company had been rumoured to be considering buying Burnham's former job centre at the end of the High Street, pictured here, but a spokesman said on Wednesday there are no such plans. More...

Football duo shown live on Sky!
TWO excited young football fans from Burnham-On-Sea got their faces shown live on Sky Sports and also met several top players when they became mascots for a Division One game. Fraser McDiarmid, 11, and Finley McDiarmid, 7, walked out with the Leicester City players during a game against Yeovil. More...

MP set to hold barrage debate
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP is considering holding a public meeting to discuss local concerns about plans to build a Severn Barrage stretching from Brean Down to Wales. David Heathcoat-Amory's proposal comes a day after a short-list of five schemes was announced. More...

In photos: BARB pub quiz event
THE Burnham-On-Sea charity that runs the town's rescue hovercrafts received a cash boost on Tuesday evening (January 27th) when Burnham's Adult Learning Centre held a fundraising pub quiz in the town. A crowd of supporters flocked to The Reed's Arms for the BARB fundraiser. More...

In photos: World Holocaust Day
HOLOCAUST Memorial Day was marked in Highbridge on Tuesday (January 27th) with a short service next to the town's Frank Foley Statue. Dozens of residents attended the ceremony, which was led by Highbridge's vicar, Reverend Robin Lodge, in Bank Street, as pictured here. More...

TV fame beckons for musicians!
Exclusive: A GROUP of fun-loving musicians from Burnham-On-Sea are set to entertain millions of people across the UK by appearing on ITV1's Britain's Got Talent. The 'Wrinkly Rappers', who comprise Brenda Brooks (56), Marion Bower (66), Belinda Marks (46) and Terry Reynolds (65), are heading to Cardiff next week. More...

Three months of queues begins
THE centre of Highbridge was brought to a standstill on Monday (January 26th) when three months of roadworks began. Despite assurances from Somerset County Council that the work would not cause too much disruption, motorists faced long queues in Church Street. More...

Cards firm launched by students
ENTERPRISING Sixth Form students at Highbridge's King Alfred School have formed their own company selling greetings cards. A number of sixth formers, accompanied by several keen Year 11s, have formed Kings Kards, selling quality greeting cards to the general public through shops in Burnham. More...

Asda backs new police centre
HIGHBRIDGE shoppers can now pick up crime-fighting advice and discuss concerns with local police when they visit the town's Asda supermarket. A police information point has been set-up in the store's car park and is being run by the beat team and two PCSOs from the Highbridge team. More...

£4bn lagoon could cut flood risk
A £4bn tidal lagoon that could protect Burnham-On-Sea from coastal flooding was officially named as one of the five barrage schemes being considered a shortlist by the government on Monday (January 26th). The 'Bridgwater Bay Tidal Lagoons' scheme is one of the projects selected from the ten examined. More...

Pensioner 'shaken' by accident
Exclusive: A BURNHAM-On-Sea pensioner was left "shaken" after a two car collision in the town centre on Monday morning (January 26th). A Ford Fiesta collided with a parked vehicle near Palmers, the butchers shop, in the High Street and then slammed into a sign post. More...

Estate agents see rise in interest
Exclusive: THE property market in Burnham-On-Sea could be showing very early signs of a small recovery, according to estate agents in the town. Nick Puddy from Saxons, based in the High Street, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "There's definitely been more interest now than in the last few months of 2008." More...

Reward offered as vandals attack
Exclusive: THE furious owner of a Burnham-On-Sea shop has offered a financial reward to try and catch the vandals who attacked his business for the fifteenth time in as many years on Sunday (January 25th). Mark Woods, owner of Watermark Financial Solutions at 62 High Street, faces a repair bill of several hundred pounds following the early morning attack. More...

Brean Rally 2009 - full preview
BREAN Leisure Park, near Burnham-On-Sea, will once again echo to the sound of high octane engines this coming weekend when the 2009 Brean Stages Rally gets underway. The two-day event takes place on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February and will attract top teams from around the UK. More...

Lions give BAY Centre new look
BURNHAM-On-Sea's youth centre has been given a fresh splash of colour thanks to the efforts of a group of volunteers from the town's Lions Club. Five members donned their overalls on Saturday (January 24th) to give the BAY Centre in Cassis Close a new lick of paint in time for the opening of its new youth cafe. More...

New Coastguard group formed
A NEW group to help Coastguards, their widows and families in times of severe hardship, distress and illness, is being set-up in Burnham - and the organisation, which is called the Burnham-On-Sea branch of the Coastguard Association, will hold its first fundraising event next month. More...

Shoe shop quells closure fears
'CLOSING down' posters plastered across the front of a Burnham-On-Sea shoe store have been misleading some shoppers this week. Concerned customers thought High Street shop Shoe Zone, pictured here, was set to follow the credit crunch-hit Woolworths and shut down. More...

Fire crews tackle M5 car blaze
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crews were called to a car fire on the M5 motorway on Saturday evening (January 24th). Two fire engines from Burnham were called out at 7.02pm after the vehicle was reported to be alight near the motorway's junction 22 for Burnham-on-Sea. More...

Town coach campaign launched
TRADERS in Burnham-On-Sea have this week launched a new campaign to encourage more coach companies to bring visitors into the town centre. Plans to launch the campaign were first featured on Burnham-On-Sea.com earlier this month amid growing concern. More...

£1.6m health club opens this week
Exclusive: A brand new £1.6m health club is set to open in Burnham-On-Sea next Saturday (January 31st). Home Farm's new health club, called Fusion Leisure, is creating ten new jobs and features a 15 metre swimming pool plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room plus gym equipment. More...

Sanders picks charities of year
STAFF at Sanders Garden World near Burnham-On-Sea have this week picked four organisations as their charities of the year for 2009. The centre will be holding fundraising events with the Somerset Air Ambulance, BIBIC, Freewheelers and Secret World throughout the year. More...

Woman found dead at property
POLICE investigating the sudden death of a woman in Burnham-On-Sea say there is no reason to believe the incident is suspicious. Burnham-On-Sea.com understands officers were called to a property in Broadhurst Gardens earlier this week amid concern for the welfare of a middle-aged woman. More...

Mixed reactions for Cove plans
Exclusive: A BRAND new image showing how Burnham-On-Sea's Marine Cove gardens will look after a renovation project is completed was unveiled for the first time on Thursday (January 22nd) - but the proposals have drawn mixed reactions. Harley Cook, Sedgemoor's Parks and Open Spaces Officer, displayed the 3D image at Thursday's meeting of Burnham Chamber of Trade and Commerce. More...

MP attacks light bulb plans
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP this week clashed with a government minister over controversial plans to ban the use of traditonal light bulbs in the UK. Burnham's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, was speaking in a Commons debate about environment issues on Thursday (January 22nd). More...

19 jobs go at Highbridge firm
NINETEEN full-time jobs have been lost at a Highbridge joinery company as the recession continues to bite. David Salisbury Joinery, which is based on Highbridge's Isleport Industrial Estate, specialises in quality conservatory and hardwood goods and announced the job loses this week. More...

Crime falls 15 per cent in town
CRIME in Burnham-On-Sea has fallen 15 per cent during the last year. Residents were given the statistics by police officers at a packed meeting in the town on Thursday evening (January 22nd) where local people were able to set police priorities for Burnham for the coming months. More...

Cash cuts threat to scout hut
A SCOUT group in Highbridge could be set to close if the district council proceeds with the possible disposal of its headquarters under cost-cutting plans. The 1st Huntspill and Highbridge Scout HQ is included in a council list of premises that could be sold off to save money by the district council. More...

Ambulance crews attend fatal crash
THREE ambulance crews from Burnham-On-Sea were called to a fatal accident on the M5 motorway on Thursday evening (January 22nd). The M5's southbound carriageway was closed following the collision between junctions 24 and 25 at about 6.40pm. A young child is believed to have been killed. More...

£140,000 boost for Apex Park
HIGHBRIDGE'S Apex Park is to receive a £140,000 windfall that will see its play area modernised. The project, which is being partly funded by the National Lottery, aims to deliver a 'natural play space' which will use existing grassy areas and natural materials in the Highbridge park. More...

Subway bosses visit Burnham
Exclusive: BOSSES from fast food chain Subway visited Burnham-On-Sea this month to view a former restaurant on the town's High Street which was being considered as the location for their new store. We were first to report in December that Subway wants to open a store in the town in 2009. More...

Coastguards get new night flares
Exclusive: SAFETY fears about the use of emergency flares appear to have eased after Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards were this week issued with a new stock of the devices. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported last October how fears had been raised after a government to stop their use. More...

Russian dancers to visit town
MEMBERS of Highbridge's King Alfred School Youth Dance Company, KAZDANZ, will soon be re-united with friends they met a year ago in Russia. During February 2008, members of the group travelled to the old town of Pereslavl Zalessky to spend a week at a Russian school, get to know students, and learn all about Russian dance. More...

Pub quiz for town rescue charity
PUPILS from Burnham-On-Sea's Adult Learning Centre are to hold a fundraising pub quiz in aid of the charity that runs the town's two rescue hovercrafts. The event will be held on Tuesday January 27th at The Reed's Arms on Burnham's seafront, starting at 7.30pm. Entry to the event will cost just £1 per person. More...

Pool to shut for repair work
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's swimming pool is to close for ten days during February when the facility gets an overhaul costing tens of thousands of pounds. Following a partial collapse of the pool's wall last month, when several metres of tiles fell off the side of the pool, the Swim and Sports Academy said the pool would be shutting for maintenance between February 13th and February 23rd. More...

Hinkley cash for crumbling jetty?
Exclusive: ICE and stormy weather have worsened the condition of Burnham-On-Sea's crumbling jetty during recent weeks, prompting town councillors to step up their search for sources of funding to get the structure repaired. New cracks have appeared in the tarmac near the bottom of the landmark, raising fresh concerns. More...

Car blaze tackled on M5 m-way
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crews tackled a car fire on the M5 motorway on Tuesday evening (January 20th). Two fire engines from Burnham-On-Sea and one pump from Weston-super-Mare were called out at 7.30pm after the vehicle was seen well alight on the northbound carriageway. More...

Fire couple 'thrilled' with tickets
A BREAN couple who lost their home in a devastating fire have this week been handed free honeymoon tickets following a community fundraising campaign. Burnham-On-Sea.com broke the news last November that a devastating fire had swept through their chalet next to Brean Down. More...

Tourism boss to star on poster
THE manager of Burnham-On-Sea's Tourist Information Centre is to feature on a new nationwide publicity poster depicting the 'face of British tourism.' Annette Haggett, pictured, entered a competition run by VisitBritain, the UK's national tourist board, to star on the tourism posters - and won! More...

Morrisons comes to Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Somerfield supermarket in Pier Street is to be rebranded as a Morrisons store after a change of ownership. Confirming rumours which appeared first on Burnham-On-Sea.com, the supermarket giant announced the move on Tuesday (January 20th). More...

60 kids attend Dreamscheme
POLICE in Highbridge have launched a new youth project this week which will encourage young people in the area to help improve their local community. The Dreamscheme initiative sees people aged between 8 and 16 years old come together and do community work in return for rewards. More...

CCTV images released after theft
POLICE have this week released these CCTV photos of a man they want to identify following the theft of alcohol from a Highbridge supermarket. The in-store security cameras captured the pictures of the man, who police think may be able to help them with their investigations into the theft at Somerfield last year. More...

Princess plans to be discussed
A GROUP of Burnham-On-Sea businessmen who are considering buying the town's Princess Hall to turn it into an arts and music centre will be meeting district council bosses this week to discuss their plans. The group are due to discuss the ambitious proposals at a meeting on Wednesday (January 21st). More...

Race night tickets now on sale
MORE than 130 tickets have already been sold for a fundraising charity race night which will be held in Burnham-On-Sea next month. The event, on Saturday February 7th is being jointly run for Burnham Medical Equipment Fund, Burnham-On-Sea Lions and the Speedway Riders Fund. More...

Three months of roadworks to start
Exclusive: Businesses in the centre of Highbridge are bracing themselves for disruption when THREE MONTHS of major roadworks begins later this month. Gas mains along Church Street are due to be replaced during the work, which will begin on January 26th and last until the end of April. More...

RNLI seeks town tractor drivers
BURNHAM-On-Sea lifeboat station is seeking two volunteer tractor drivers to join its shore team to provide daytime cover. The tractor drivers play an important role within the RNLI shore crew, using specialised tractors to launch and recover lifeboats on the beach. More...

Residents celebrate victory!
A GROUP of campaigning Burnham-On-Sea residents who successfully fought plans by a property developer to turn a seafront home into a block of apartments held a celebration to mark the decision on Sunday (January 18th). Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last November that Allandale Road residents of had won their bid to get the application thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate. More...

Curtain rises on Burnham panto
FINAL rehearsals are underway this week for Burnham-On-Sea District Pantomime Society's annual show, which opens to the public later this month. The group's 40th performance, Cinderella, will be staged in Burnham's Princess Hall from Friday 30th January until Saturday February 7th (except Monday). More...

Power cut to 80 homes by winds
STORM force winds of up to 70mph gave Burnham-On-Sea a battering on Saturday evening (January 17th), leaving almost 80 homes without power and causing damage. The winds and heavy rain struck at around 7pm, bringing down trees and signs and causing a low voltage substation failure in Highbridge which left 79 properties without power for several hours. More...

Bingo players raise charity cash
TWO Burnham-On-Sea charities have received a financial boost from a group of bingo players. The Burnham Social Bingo group, which meets regularly at the Ritz Social Club, presented £545 to BARB and a similar amount to Secret World, following a year of fundraising events. More...

In video: Wassailing ceremony
THE Somerset tradition of wassailing - when good health is wished on apple crops for the coming year - was performed at three ceremonies in the Burnham area on Saturday (January 17th). The Rotary Club organised an event at Rich's Cider near Highbridge which was attended by 220 people. More...

New group formed for Cove
Exclusive: A NEW group of volunteers is to be formed in February to look after Burnham's vandalism-hit Marine Cove Gardens. Sedgemoor District Council is holding a 'Marine Cove Gardens Awareness Day' on Thursday 19th February at the Princess Hall, from 3pm - 7pm, when the new 'Friends of Marine Cove' group will be formed. More...

Hall bosses in insurance hope
BOSSES at Highbridge's Morland Community Hall are in talks with their insurance company about compensation after the ceiling broke through in one area, causing an estimated £4,000 of damage. The hall has been closed during recent days due to the accident, causing by recent winter weather. More...

In photos: Carnival awards night
OVER 150 people from carnival clubs across Somerset gathered in Brean on Friday evening (January 16th) for Burnham and Highbridge Carnival's annual presentation night. Carnival Queen Tara Moxey and Carnival President Malcolm Borland handed out trophies and tankards to the winning clubs. More...

Police set their priorities for area
SPEEDING vehicles in Brean and Berrow are among the problems that local police will be focusing on during the coming months, it was decided this week. A list of the priorities that police will be tackling was drawn up at a meeting in Burnham on Wednesday (Jan 14th). More...

Young otter is in safe hands
A WILDLIFE charity based near Burnham-On-Sea has admitted its first otter of the year. Secret World is caring for the young male, which was originally admitted to a vet in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The vets were keen for him to get care from somewhere with the proper experience. More...

School league tables published
NEW school league tables published by the government on Thursday (January 15th) show how Highbridge's King Alfred School compares against schools across Somerset. The league tables show that during 2008 a total of 39 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A*- Cs, but there were mixed comparisons. More...

Queues after M5 lane is closed
QUEUES of traffic built up on the M5 at Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday afternoon (January 15th) after a lorry broke down, causing one lane of the motorway to be closed for over an hour. The Highways Agency shut the hard shoulder and inside lane while recovery services attended the scene. More...

Grant windfall for Apex Park
HIGHBRIDGE'S Friends of Apex Park Improvements Group has this week been awarded a £2,615 grant from the Somerset Community Foundation. £1,615 will be spent on providing events and a further £1,000 will be spent on activities for children during 2009 including National Play Day on 5th August. More...

Windows smashed in 4am attack
WORRIED residents living along a Burnham-On-Sea road have this week called for police action to stamp out vandalism after several homes had their windows smashed. One home owner in Marine Drive had her windows smashed for no apparent reason at 4am earlier this week. More...

Credit crunch hits animal charity
A WILDLIFE charity based near Burnham-On-Sea is feeling the effects of the credit crunch, with donations falling by tens of thousands of pounds. Secret World at East Huntspill says the "worrying" fall in donations has come during a particularly busy winter period for the charity. More...

Residents launch new 'drop-in centre'
A GROUP of Burnham-On-Sea residents who recently formed an action team to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour on their estate launched a new drop-in service on Wednesday (January 14th) and received a £2,000 funding boost. The Rosewood Action Team held their first drop-in session at Rosewood Communal Hall. More...

High-visibility donation for kids!
YOUNGSTERS in Highbridge have been kitted out with new high visibility jackets to keep them safe around the town. Highbridge Childrens Centre has been donated 45 high-visibility jackets with the help of Highbridge police and Somerset County Council, and the children proudly showed off the new clothing this week. More...

Cash boost for audio news group
A BURNHAM On-Sea group that provides local news on audio cassettes for blind and visually impaired residents has this week received a windfall of more than £3,000. Sounds and Voices provides cassette tapes of news and information to 75 blind people throughout the Burnham area. More...

'Dreamscheme' invite to kids
YOUNGSTERS in Highbridge aged between eight and sixteen are being encouraged to take part in a new project to help improve the town. The first session of The Dreamscheme will be held this Saturday afternoon (January 17th) at 1pm when community-based work will be rewarded. More...

Wrangle further delays work
Exclusive: THREE months of roadworks which have brought a busy junction in Burnham-On-Sea to a standstill are being further delayed by a wrangle over land ownership. Deep trenches, dozens of cones and temporary traffic lights have been in place at the junctions of Abingdon Street and Pier Street since October. More...

New residents' group is formed
RESIDENTS and landlords at a housing development in Highbridge met local police this week to discuss ways of improving safety and setting up a new residents' association. The meeting took place at Highbridge Quay on Monday (January 12th), where plans for the new multi-agency group were discussed. More...

Tesco expansion approved
Controversial proposals to expand Burnham-On-Sea's Tesco supermarket were given the go-ahead by council planners on Tuesday (January 13th). Members of Sedgemoor District Council's Development Control Committee debated plans to introduce an extra 1,200 square metres of shopping space. More...

Kitchen blaze tackled in town
AN unattended chip pan has been blamed for causing a kitchen fire inside a Burnham-On-Sea bungalow on Tuesday afternoon (January 13th). Two fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea were called to St Mark's Road at 12.49pm when a neighbour raised the alarm after seeing smoke at the property. More...

Trefoil Guild boosts RNLI funds
A CHEQUE for £150 has been handed over to Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat station following a fundraising event by the town's Trefoil Guild. The group was launched over five years ago and each year chooses a different project to raise money for, with Burnham's RNLI benefiting. More...

BMX Club gears up for busy year
RIDERS at Burnham-On-Sea BMX Club are gearing up for a competitive year as they us seek to bring home more silverware this year. We have a full preview of the season ahead for the club and focus in on some of the club's upcoming stars of the future, plus our town's Olympic hopefuls. More...

Tree felling aims to boost safety
SAFETY fears are one of the reasons for the felling of dozens of trees at a Burnham-On-Sea holiday camp. Work has been taking place this week at the entrance to Burnham Holiday Village in Marine Drive to remove a long line of trees during the quiet period before this year's tourist season. More...

In photos: Fancy dress party fun
COLOURFUL costumes with a movie theme were worn by fun-loving members of Burnham-On-Sea's Moose International group on Saturday (January 10th) when they celebrated the start of 2009 with a fancy dress New Year party. The event attracted a big crowd to Berrow village hall. More...

'Bring coaches back to Burnham'
Exclusive: A NEW campaign to encourage coach companies to bring more visitors to Burnham-On-Sea town centre - instead of other local attractions - is set to be discussed at a meeting in the town later this month. Many firms have expressed concerns about the falling number of coaches visiting the town in recent years. More...

Fire crews called to Berrow
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crews were called to Berrow on Monday afternoon (January 12th) after steam was seen billowing from a building. The alarm was raised by a resident near to the building in Church House Road at 3.22pm - and two fire engines from Burnham investigated. More...

Hunt and hounds visit beach
THESE were the scenes next to Burnham-On-Sea's lighthouse on Saturday morning (January 10th) when members of a local hunting group exercised their hounds on the beach. Over 40 hounds from the Mendip Hunt ran along the sands between Brean and Burnham due to the cold weather. More...

Town shops beat the recession
Exclusive: NOT all businesses in Burnham-on-Sea are feeling the financial pinch - and some seem to be actually benefiting from the countrywide recession. Charity shops in Burnham are among the traders that are doing well in the downturn. We've spoken to some of the firms that are doing well. More...

New tourism guide launches
A NEW booklet promoting tourism in Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean has been launched this week. The 24-page guide provides information about accommodation and places to visit in the Burnham area and has been produced by Sedgemoor Tourism Association. More...

In photos: Icy weather continues
TEMPERATURES plunged to minus nine degrees Centigrade during one of the coldest weeks that the Burnham-On-Sea area has experienced in many years. Our photographers ventured outside to some of the incredible icy scenes that were around the area, as the cold snap continued. More...

Petition backs low-cost homes
Exclusive: A petition signed by 27 Burnham-On-Sea people supporting the construction of more affordable homes in the town was presented to councillors this week to support a planning application for a new low-cost home. Eric Mackenzine has collected the names in recent weeks to support his planning application. More...

First look inside £1.6m club
Exclusive: A NEW £1.6m health club on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea is set to open its doors to the public later this month. Construction work on Home Farm's new Leisure Centre is slightly behind schedule, but is due to be completed during the next few weeks. More...

In photos: Xmas lights ceremony
RESIDENTS and businesses in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge who won the towns' annual Christmas lights competition have this week been presented with their awards. Mayor Peter Burridge-Clayton, handed over the certificates during this week's council meeting. More...

School re-opens after fault
PUPILS at West Huntspill Primary School, near Burnham-On-Sea, were back behind their desks on Thursday morning (January 8th) after the failure of the building's heating system caused the school to close on Wednesday. Work to rectify the fault was completed by engineers on Wednesday. More...

Could store's days be numbered?
Exclusive: WORRIED Burnham-On-Sea town councillors have this week expressed concern after it emerged that Tesco expects the proposed expansion of its Love Lane store to hit sales at rival Somerfield by over half a million pounds, potentially putting the store in jeopardy. Members of the town council's planning applications committee met to discuss Tesco's application on Tuesday (January 6th). More...

Ferry 'could generate 50 jobs'
DOZENS of new jobs could be created in Burnham-On-Sea if a cross-channel ferry service launches in the town in 2011. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last October how businessman Chris Marrow is planning to set-up a £5million Bristol Channel service. More...

Police hold community meeting
POLICE are inviting residents from the villages surrounding Burnham-On-Sea to a meeting where they will be able to discuss any issues they feel are affecting their local community. The 'Partners and Communities Together' meeting will take place on January 14th. More...

Hinkley B partially back in use
ONE of Hinkley Point nuclear power station's reactors was restarted on Tuesday morning (January 6th) after shutting down unexpectedly last Friday, a spokeswoman for the energy giant confirmed. Data from the National Grid showed the reactor was running at 11am on Tuesday morning. More...

Dog found after six days missing
Exclusive: A DOG that went missing for six days has been dramatically rescued by a fisherman from the foot of Brean Down, near Burnham-On-Sea, this week. Max, a 12-year-old Border Collie, ran away from his owners during a beach walk at Uphill on December 29th and was missing until a fisherman spotted him on January 4th. More...

Town fashion show to be held
MODELS will be strutting along a catwalk in Highbridge next month when a fashion show is held in town. Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel Club will be holding their annual fashion show and sale at King Alfred School on Tuesday 3rd February to brighten the winter gloom. More...

Wassailing tradition lives on!
THE old Somerset tradition of wassailing, held each year on January 17th (the old 'twelfth night') to ensure a fine crop of cider apples during the summer ahead, will be performed at a charity event near Highbridge on Thursday night organised by Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club. More...

Hinkley hit by power problem
BRITISH Energy is working on a restart plan for Hinkley Point power station after it was shut down early on Monday morning (January 5th), a spokeswoman for the company confirmed. The 610-megawatt Hinkley B8 reactor near Burnham-On-Sea tripped at 12.09am, added the spokeswoman. More...

Concern over 99p pints in town
PUB chain JD Wetherspoon is under fire for selling cut-price alcohol at its seafront pub in Burnham-On-Sea. From today (Monday, January 5th) pints of beer are being sold at the reduced price of just 99p at The Reed's Arms, pictured, and over 710 other Wetherspoon pubs nationwide. More...

In photos: Icy start to 2009
BURNHAM-On-Sea may have missed out on a white Christmas, but the icy start to 2009 created these wintry scenes along the town's beach on Sunday (January 4th). A bank of ice was washed up along the high tideline, creating these unusual scenes in Burnham and further alonfg the coast at Brean. More...

13 more homes planned for town
Exclusive: A PROPERTY developer has submitted a planning application to build a further 13 new homes at the former British Telecom Radio Station site in Highbridge. Bellway & George Wimpey had originally intended to build a new nursing home on the site in Worston Road, but it has now removed the building from its plans and wants to build 13 extra dwellings in its place. More...

Panto group's tickets on sale
TICKETS have gone on sale for Burnham-On-Sea District Pantomime Society's annual show. The group's 40th annual performance, Cinderella, will be staged in Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall from Friday 30th January until Saturday February 7th (except Monday). We have a preview. More...

Drivers line up for Brean Rally
MORE than 80 rally drivers have already applied to join the starting line-up of this year's Brean Rally, which will roar into action later this month. The event's organiser, Rod McKenna, told Burnham-On-Sea.com that the popular rally, which is held each January, is already fully subscribed. More...

New images of £2.5m health centre
Exclusive: BRAND new images showing how a proposed new £2.5million medical centre near Burnham-On-Sea will look have been unveiled. Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported in November how fresh plans for Berrow Medical Centre in Brent Road had been resubmitted for consideration by planners eight months after the first set of proposals were withdrawn. More...

Man injured in pub altercation
POLICE have appealed for witnesses following an altercation on Wednesday (December 24th) in Burnham-On-Sea. At around 10.30pm two men were involved in an altercation outside the Reeds Arms Public House in Pier Street. Shortly afterwards, a man was pushed from behind and sustained a head injury. More...

Icy end to 2008 in Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea ended 2008 with 24 hours of sub-zero temperatures. These were the wintry scenes along the banks of the River Brue, near Highbridge's Apex Park, where air temperatures failed to climb above zero degrees all day and the wind chill was predicted to be minus seven degrees. More...

Happy New Year!
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com wishes all its readers a happy and prosperous 2009. With a brand new year upon us, the dates of several leading Burnham-On-Sea events for 2009 have been announced. We've listed the main events so you can update your new diary and calendar and stay up-to-date in 2009. More...