May 2007 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

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Highbridge parking costs slashed
CAR parking charges in the centre of Highbridge have this week been slashed in an effort to stimulate trade following the controversial closure of the town's Walrow rail bridge. District councillors have approved new charges of just 10 pence for an hour's parking at the Bank Street car park (pictured). More...

CCTV camera moves closer
RESIDENTS of a vandalism-hit Burnham-On-Sea street who campaigned for a CCTV camera earlier this year may soon be granted their wish. Lucy Wilmott, Sedgemoor's Community safety Officer, confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that a CCTV camera is being considered. More...

Jazz fans ready for park event
BURNHAM-On-Sea jazz fans are in for a treat this weekend when the resort's annual Jazz In The Park concert is held in the town. The event will get underway at 1pm in the Manor Gardens this Sunday (June 3rd) with three different jazz bands providing a foot-tapping line-up. More...

Schools gain 'healthy status'
CHILDREN at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Burnham-On-Sea have good reason to celebrate this week after their school set a glowing example of healthy living by achieving National Healthy Schools Status (NHSS). Several schools have achieved the award. More...

Princess fun is a half-term hit!
LARGE crowds of children and their parents flocked to Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall on Wednesday evening, May 30th, for a special half-term holiday visit by a group of fun-loving clowns! It was the first time the National Clown Spectacular has come to Burnham. More...

Petition calls for road changes
Exclusive: Hundreds of concerned Burnham-On-Sea residents have signed a petition demanding for safety measures to be introduced along a dangerous road in the town. Recently-elected councillor Joe Leach has launched a campaign to get a speed camera and pedestrian crossing introduced. More...

Roadside signs in the firing line
A CRACKDOWN on distracting advertising signs besides roads in the Burnham-On-Sea area could be on the way, with councillors set to debate the matter next week. Scores of the roadside signs have sprung up in Burnham and Highbridge during recent weeks. More...

Vintage vehicles roar into town
MORE than 150 vintage vehicles are set to converge on Burnham-On-Sea's seafront on Saturday evening (June 2nd) for the 14th annual Vale of Avalon Vintage Vehicle Road Run. The South Esplanade will be closed to traffic for four hours for the crowds. More...

Town skittles team celebrates
A BURNHAM-On-Sea skittles team is celebrating this week after beating one of the leading skittles teams at the British Championships. The Burnham team produced the shock of the round in their first game of the British Skittles Championships. More...

Vintage train passes town
AN historic steam train rolled through Highbridge on Monday (May 29th) when it took hundreds of sightseers from London to the south coast. The Duke of Gloucester locomotive, pictured, passed through Highbridge at 11.30am on its way to the city of Plymouth. More...

New crime initiative launched
SUPERINTENDENT Gary Davies, the Deputy District Commander for the police area of Somerset West which covers Burnham-On-Sea, has this week launched a new approach to tackle crime in the area. He's answered our questions about the new initiative. More...

Highbridge comes to standstill
The centre of Highbridge came to a standstill on Monday evening (May 28th) after a dramatic police motorway pursuit ended in the town. Two people were taken into custody by Burnham-On-Sea police after being pursued along the M5 in a vehicle believed to have been stolen. More...

Poor weekend for traders
WET weather hit Bank Holiday trade of businesses in Burnham-On-Sea over the weekend. Sunday was a day of strong winds and wet weather which left the town's beach far quieter than normal and Burnham's streets absent of crowds of holiday shoppers. More...

Walrow saga: Is the end in sight?
Exclusive: A HIGH-level meeting of councillors and Network Rail has raised fresh hopes of an early end to the dispute over Highbridge's Walrow railway bridge. Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively broke the news in March that the previously busy bridge could close for up to four years due to strengthening work. More...

Rain hits Burnham events
SEVERAL roads in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea were left under pools of water on Sunday (May 27th) as heavy rain swept the town, cancelling various events. This scene in John Street was repeated across the town as the traditional wet Bank Holiday weather led to disruption. More...

Health food shop goes on sale
THE owners of a popular Burnham-On-Sea health food shop are retiring and selling up after several successful years running the business. Tom and Sue Kyffin of Kyffins in Victoria Street told Burnham-On-Sea.com the business has recently gone on sale. More...

Police close car park in probe
Police partially closed a car park in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening (May 26th) as they investigated a 'suspicious accident' in the town. A man was run over by another a vehicle in a corner of the Somerfield supermarket car park on the town's seafront at around 5pm. More...

In photos: BARB safety event
WET weather failed to dampen the spirits of over 100 holidaymakers when they attended a Beach Safety Awareness Day at Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft station on Sunday (May 27th). Crew from BARB handed out leaflets and explained how beach users can stay safe. More...

Prom Night photo special
DOZENS of youngsters from Highbridge's King Alfred School pulled on their best dresses and smartest suits for their Prom Night on Friday evening (May 25th). Stretch limousines were out in force as the Year 11 students travelled in style to Rookery Manor. More...

Job centre is 'under threat'
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's job centre is under threat of closure - according to concerned bosses at Somerset County Council. The Jobcentre Plus office in the High Street - along with a separate office in Chard - could be closed in a cost-cutting exercise. More...

Fire crews tackle kitchen blaze
THREE fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea and Bridgwater were sent to Highbridge on Saturday morning (May 26th) after a kitchen blaze broke out in a flat. Neighbours called '999' at 11.20am after hearing smoke alarms ringing at the premises in Newtown Road. More...

New phone shop opens in town
A NEW mobile phone shop opened its doors for the first time in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday morning (May 26th). Phone Tek Nation opened in Cross Steet and manager Dean Ancil, pictured, has high hopes that the business will be a success. More...

Mud drama for elderly couple
TWO elderly people from Glastonbury who were briefly trapped in mud on Burnham-On-Sea beach on Thursday afternoon (May 24th) were helped free by a workman. Joy Taylor was walking along the beach between the town's jetty and yacht club, pictured. More...

Stranded car pulled from sea
A STRANDED 4x4 vehicle was pulled from the sea by rescuers after it became stuck in mud on Brean Beach, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Friday afternoon (May 25th). The wheels of the Nissan Terrano became stuck at 2.45pm after its owners drove to the water's edge to try and retrieve a jet ski. More...

Drugs seized by town police
BURNHAM-On-Sea police confiscated drugs from a 17-year-old boy during an operation in the town on Friday (May 25th). Several officers searched youths at Winchester Road, near the Infants School, following complaints that youths were smoking suspicious substances. More...

£20,000 lights plan unveiled
BURNHAM-On-Sea town councillors are considering going ahead with a £20,000 project to replace the town's storm-damaged seafront lights. The proposal was discussed at the latest meeting of the Town Improvements Committee on Thursday May 24th. More...

Lighthouse cottage is sold
BURNHAM-On-Sea's historic lighthouse keeper's cottage has been sold to a local family. An 'Under Offer' estate agent's notice went up outside the Grade II Listed property in Berrow Road this week. We reported last month how the 19th century cottage was on sale. More...

New £16,000 centre at Apex
WORK to construct a new £16,000 information centre at Apex Leisure Park in Highbridge has been completed this week as part of a facelift at the site. Harley Cook, Sedgemoor's Parks and Open Spaces Officer the keys to the building had just been handed over. More...

D-Day veteran's story on film
EVERY soldier has a tale to tell and Highbridge D-Day veteran John Gundy from has just had his first-hand account turned into a moving new film, made especially for schools. ‘Finding Buck’ traces Private John Gundy’s return to the battlefields of France to revisit places. More...

Hip hop lessons start in town
A NEW dance class combining 'Street Jazz' and 'Hip Hop' is to be launched by a Burnham-On-Sea performing arts group in June. Burnham's Curtain Call School of Performing Arts is to hold free 'Fusion Funk' trial classes for youngsters aged six and over on Saturday 9th June. More...

Farmers' market this Friday
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents will have another opportunity to buy fresh local produce and crafts when the town's monthly farmers market is held this Friday (May 25th). The event takes place from 9am until 1pm along the High Street in the centre of the town. More...

Barrage plans edge closer
PLANS for a £14bn barrage to harness the tidal energy of the Severn estuary took taken a step forward on Wednesday (May 23rd) when Trade Secretary Alistair Darling said tidal power was "in its infancy" but the government wanted to encourage its development. More...

Beach glass vandals tackled
LIFEGUARDS and police in Burnham-On-Sea met this week to discuss how to tackle the problem of broken glass being left by drinkers along the town's beach and seafront. It's a problem that has left two tourists with minor cuts already this holiday season. More...

Busy road shuts for fortnight
A POPULAR commuter route on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea is to close for two weeks during June whilst work to strengthen the route gets underway. Stoddens Lane will close for two weeks from June 4th, the County Council's Highways department has confirmed. More...

Party time for tourist group!
SUPPORTERS and members of a local tourism association based in Burnham-On-Sea celebrated their group's 21st anniversary on Tuesday (May 23rd). Sedgemoor Tourism Association marked the milestone with a celebratory continental-themed party at The Place in South Road, Brean. More...

Queen Square flats rejected
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build two three-storey buildings, each containing six flats, on public amenity space in Highbridge were thrown out by district planners on Tuesday, May 22nd. we reported last week on the unpopular scheme for Queen Square, pictured. More...

New row over unitary plans
THE leader of Sedgemoor District Council has this week reacted with "shock and dismay" to news that the County Council’s new leader, Jill Shortland, considers it "wasteful" to allow local people to express their democratic views on plans to create a unitary authority. More...

Cyclist dies after collision with car
A CYCLIST who was injured in a collision at the Edithmead roundabout near Burnham-On-Sea earlier this month has died, police announced on Monday (May 21st). The 66-year-old man from Winscombe tragically died at Frenchay Hospital on Sunday May 20th. More...

BARB to hold beach safety day
BEACH users will be able to learn how to keep themselves safe during a special beach safety awareness event in Burnham-on-Sea this weekend. BARB, the charity that runs Burnham's two hovercrafts, will be holding a Beach Safety Awareness Day on Sunday May 27th. More...

Tickets on sale for Ritz concert
TOP guitarists Cliff Moore and Jason Morris will perform together for the first time at a concert in Burnham-On-Sea next month. Organised by Jeff Ham of Burnham Rock, the event will be held in the Ritz Social Club on Saturday June 16th. Cliff Moore has played with top musicians. More...

Secret World holds open day
ANIMAL lovers will be flocking to Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Burnham-On-Sea, this coming weekend when the charity opens its doors to visitors to come and see some of their new born babies! The rescue centre will be open on May 26th, 27th and 28th. More...

Fatal accident on M5 near town
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a fatal road traffic collision on the M5 between Weston and Burnham during the early hours of Monday (May 21st). A Fiat Punto travelling southbound between junctions 21 and 22 left the carriageway at 12.30am and went down a bank. More...

Adult Learners Week in town
ADULT Learners' Week is being marked in Burnham-On-Sea this Wednesday (May 23rd) with a special educational event. Information and help will be available at Burnham's library in Princess Street, pictured, from 12pm to 5.30pm to coincide with the week. More...

Drugs seized, one arrested
ONE man was arrested and drugs were seized during a police operation in the centre of Highbridge on Friday evening, May 18th. This was the scene in the centre of the town as Burnham-On-Sea police teams and dog handlers swooped on a flat in Market Street at 6.30pm. More...

RAF band holds town concert
THE South West Concert Band of the Royal Air Forces Association will be performing a fundraising concert in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening, May 26th. Organised by the Lions Club, the concert at The Princess Hall will raise money for a Childrens Hospice. More...

Double rescue for RNLI crew
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Staines Whitfield lifeboat helped a jet skier in difficulty on Sunday morning (May 20th) after his craft broke down in Bridgwater Bay. The Atlantic 75 lifeboat was out on training at the time and redirected to the craft at around 9.30am. More...

PCs in new drink drive arrest
BURNHAM-On-Sea police's crackdown on drink drivers continued on Saturday (May 19th) when a man was arrested in Brean for driving while intoxicated. Brean beat officers PC Dominic Bryant and PC Chris Guest stopped a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Coast Road. More...

Open-top bus tour for team!
A LOCAL football team celebrated a successful season with an open-top bus tour around Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening (May 19th). Berrow Under Nines won the North Somerset Mini League and also the League Cup in their first competitive season. Video coverage

Decision nears on flats scheme
CONCERNED residents met councillors on Friday (May 18th) to air their views on controversial plans to build two new three-storey buildings, each containing six flats, on green land in Highbridge. A decision is due to be made on the scheme this coming Tuesday. More...

Survey praises bathing water
BATHING water quality in Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean has been praised in a new survey published this week. The findings of the annual study by the Marine Conservation Society, announced on Friday, are being published in the 2007 Good Beach Guide. More...

Highbridge house fire tackled
FIREFIGHTERS from Burnham-On-Sea tackled a big blaze at a house in Highbridge during the early hours of Saturday morning, May 19th. Two fire appliances from Burnham-On-Sea Fire Station were called to a domestic property fire in Dorset Close at 1.59am. More...

Pensioner duped out of cash
POLICE have warned residents in Burnham-On-Sea to be on their guard against bogus callers after two men duped a pensioner out of a quantity of cash on Thursday May 17th. The victim, 89, returned home in Severn Grove and shortly after entering the home there was a knock at his door. More...

Second RNLI launch in a week
BURNHAM-On-Sea's D-Class lifeboat was launched on Friday morning, May 18th, for the second time in a week after a walker reported that a person was in the sea. The Puffin lifeboat was launched from the jetty with a crew of three at around 9.00am. More...

Boxing event knocked out
A NIGHT of amateur boxing planned for Saturday evening, May 19th, in Highbridge has been cancelled at the last-minute. Roger Cross, one of the organisers, explained that a clash of events had led to several planned bouts being pulled at the eleventh hour. More...

Coastguards warn wave dodgers
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards have this week warned youngsters who 'play chicken' with big storm waves that they are potentially putting their lives in danger. It comes after an incident in the resort on Thursday night (May 17th) when several children were issued with safety advice. More... | Video

Fire crews tackle town blaze
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crews were called to the centre of Highbridge on Thursday evening (May 17th) after smoke was reported to be billowing out of a window. Fire crews found an unattended chip pan had ignited in the kitchen of a flat above a hair salon in Market Street. More...