October 2006 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

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Two RSS news feeds launched
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com has launched two RSS news feeds to enable Internet users to quickly see when we have updated the site with breaking news and when posts have been added to the forum. RSS - 'Really Simple Syndication' - is a technology that's sweeping the Web. More...

Pumpkin event attracts crowds
YOUNGSTERS from across Somerset visited a Burnham-On-Sea garden centre this week to attend one of its popular pumpkin carving workshops. Staff at Sanders Garden World hosted two carving workshops to tie in with Halloween, attended by over 60 people. More...

Call for road safety changes
ALTERATIONS to road markings at a busy Burnham-On-Sea junction have not made it any safer, town councillors were told this week. Residents living near the junction of Priory Gardens say chevrons painted at the junction to divert traffic have not made it safer. More...

103 entries ready for Carnival
THE highest number of entries for almost 15 years will take part in Monday's 2006 Burnham-On-Sea Carnival. A total of 103 entries are ready to take part in the annual procession, which gets underway at 7.30pm from Love Lane before wending its way through the town. More...

Huge firework display planned
BURNHAM-On-Sea's carnival festivities will get underway on Sunday night (November 5th) with a huge seafront firework display. Starting at 7pm, the display will be operated from a platform on the seafront and, with a high tide, onlookers will see a special display. More...

Hinkley 'must not re-open'
BURNHAM-based campaign group Parents Concerned About Hinkley has today (Mon Oct 30th) called for Hinkley Point B to be permanently taken out of action following the temporary closure of the site's reactors. Both its reactors are currently shut down for checks. More...

Brean Park's £8k charity boost
MORE than £8,000 was handed over to good causes in the Burnham-On-Sea area by generous bosses at Brean Leisure Park on Saturday night (Oct 28th) following another busy summer season. Richard and Sarah House presented cheques to five local groups. More...

Halloween sweeps into town!
CUSTOMERS at The Reed's Arms in Burnham-On-Sea were in for a fright on Saturday (Oct 28th) when fun-loving staff at the seafront pub celebrated a Halloween beer festival. Staff pulled on witches outfits and masks as a 12-day Halloween beer festival got underway. More...

Drifting buoy sparks search
A COASTGUARD search was launched at Brean Down on Saturday morning (Oct 28th) after a member of the public dialled 999 after spotting what appeared to be an orange dingy drifting out to sea. Both Weston's RNLI lifeboats were launched at around 11.20am. More...

MP defends rise in expenses
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, claimed £111,795 in expenses during the last financial year, according to official figures released on Friday (Oct 28th). The figures show a two per cent increase in his spending compared to last year. More...

Burnham artist's work on show
A WEEK-long exhibition of more than 60 paintings by Burnham-On-Sea artist Michael Squire got off to a busy on Saturday October 28th. The talented 71 year-old has been painting water colours for more than 20 years and holding exhibitions for 16 years. More...

Golf club wins expansion bid
DELIGHTED bosses at Brean Golf Club, near Burnham-On-Sea, are celebrating after this week winning the go-ahead for a major expansion of their course. Brean Leisure Park applied to extend the 18 hole, 5715 yard course onto agricultural land south of Red Road. More...

Asda's final hurdle is removed
PLANNERS have this week removed the final obstacle standing in the way of supermarket giant Asda opening a huge new 40,000 square foot store in Highbridge, we can reveal. Asda wanted to vary its original planning application to alter boundary enclosures. More...

Farmers' market this Friday
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents will have an opportunity to buy fresh local produce when the town's monthly farmers' market is held on Friday, October 27th. The event takes place from 9am until 1pm along the High Street when a temporary road closure will be in force. More...

Anger over speed sign plans
ANGRY Burnham-On-Sea town councillors have this week attacked plans to introduce a speed warning sign along a quiet stretch of road in the town as "absolutely pointless." We reported in May that a speed sign is to be introduced along Marine Drive to crack down on speeding. More...

January D-day on lap dancing
ANXIOUS Burnham-On-Sea residents living near a High Street night club will have to wait until the New Year to find out whether its controversial plans to introduce lap dancing and extend its opening hours get the go-ahead. A court pre-hearing was held this week. More...

£1,300 handed to Kenyan choir
GENEROUS members of Burnham-On-Sea's Rotary Club and Inner Wheel this week handed over £1,300 to a group of visiting Kenyan schoolchildren who are in the area hoping to raise enough money to build a new orphanage. The money was raised at a special event. More...

RAF jet lights up town's sky
AN IMPRESSIVE light show was visible in the skies near Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday afternoon (Oct 24th) when an RAF aircraft tested its anti-missile flares during training. The Hercules aircraft was spotted circling Bridgwater Bay at 2pm, then letting off the flares. More...

Hinkley Point 'won't re-open'
QUESTIONS are being raised about the future of Hinkley Point B nuclear power station, near Burnham-On-Sea. Both its advanced gas-cooled reactors are currently shut down and anti-nuclear campaigners say it may never open again because of its current problems. More...

Cash boost for regeneration
PLANS to modernise Burnham-On-Sea have moved a step closer with the news that the town has been awarded £350,000 in regeneration cash - with the possibility of several millions to follow. The money has been given to the Burnham Regeneration Partnership. More...

Fresh appeal after armed raid
BURNHAM-On-Sea police have renewed their appeal for information following an armed raid at Avon Newsagents in Oxford Street last week. Police spokesman Dan Mountain said there had been an "encouraging response" from the public, but more information is needed. More...

Arctic Star presented to Tony
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI Chairman Tony Winterburn has been presented with an 'Arctic Star' to mark his work during World War II aboard the Russian convoys between January and December 1948. He said: "I am extremely pleased to receive this emblem." More...

Parking free in Burnham this Xmas
CAR parking in Burnham-On-Sea is to be completely free during the run-up to Christmas in a bid to encourage more shoppers into the town. Town Centre Manager Anne-Marie Spalding confirmed on Monday (Oct 23rd) that charges would be removed in December. More...

Local rock group in action
A LOCAL rock group who were a big hit at Burnham-On-Sea's FolkFest in September are due to perform a fundraising concert at Brent Knoll this Saturday, October 28th. Rockin' Replay will be in action at 7.30pm at the village's Parish Hall, raising money for the upkeep of the building. More...

New PCSOs join town police
ADDITIONAL Police Community Support Officers are joining Burnham-On-Sea police this autumn as part of their ongoing crack down on crime. Five PCSOs are patrolling Burnham now, with two newcomers having joined in the last two months and more on the way. More...

Musicians on song for BARB
A GROUP of Burnham-On-Sea musicians raised more than £100 for BARB, the charity that runs the town's rescue hovercraft, by performing a concert in the town on Saturday (Oct 21st). Three young members of Wessex Woodwind Band played at Burnham Sailing Club. More...

Eight jobs lost as firm closes
A LONG-established transport company based near Burnham-On-Sea has gone into insolvency this week with the loss of around eight jobs. A.G. Watts Transport Limited - whose warehouse is at Dunball - transports materials around the UK once they are moved off large ships. More...

Sea cadets visit hovercrafts
BURNHAM'S Sea Cadets were given a VIP tour of the town's hovercraft station this week when they met the crew and also got a chance to see the two craft up close. The group of youngsters and leaders were shown around the Spirit Of Lelaina and Light Of Elizabeth crafts. More...

Garden centre's Xmas preview
MORE than a thousand visitors attended an exclusive Christmas Preview Night at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Thursday night (Oct 19th). The centre invited guests to the event to give them the chance to see Christmas in its full glory. More...

New Harbour Master for town
CAPTAIN Peter Lee, Harbour Master for Bridgwater Bay, is hanging up his sea-boots this month and retiring from the position after 21 years. Mr Lee, pictured, is a well-known face in the Burnham and Highbridge area, as well as with boat users and trade vessels. More...

Burnham In Bloom: Full results
OVER 150 green-fingered residents from across Burnham gathered in the town council's chambers on Friday night (October 20th) to receive scores of Burnham and Highbridge In Bloom awards. The annual event recognises the efforts of residents and businesses. More...

Fire crew frees trapped pair
POLICE and fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea were called to a two-vehicle accident on the B3151 between Wedmore and Cheddar at 7pm on Friday night (Oct 20th). Two motorists were trapped in the wreckage of the cars and Burnham firefighters helped to release them. More...

Wind farm appeal edges closer
ECOTRICITY, the controversial company behind the failed bid to develop a wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea, is making final preparations to appeal against the decision. Ecotricity's Jamie Baldwin confirmed the appeal is on track to be submitted later in 2006. More...

Have your say on town shops
SHOPPERS in Burnham-On-Sea are to be given their say about how to make shopping in the town even better. Plans for a shoppers feedback system were unveiled this week by the town's Chamber of Trade. Scores of feedback forms will be available at nine shops and online. More...

Antiques fair date announced
A POPULAR annual antiques and collectors fair is set to be held on Carnival Day in Burnham-On-Sea next month. The day-long event will be held between 10am and 4.30pm in the Princess Hall (pictured) on Monday November 6th and will raise funds for the carnival. More...

Walkers stride out for charity
MORE than 20 members of the Burnham and Highbridge Gateway Club pulled on their hiking boots to take part in a sponsored walk at Apex Leisure Park recently. The group were fortunate to have good weather as they strode around the lakes to raise money for their club. More...

Community award for officer
BURNHAM-On-Sea policeman Adrian Jones has been handed an award for his excellent work in the community. Chief Superintendent John Snell of the Somerset West policing district has awarded the Burnham-based officer a District Commander's commendation. More...

Armed robbery shocks town
BURNHAM-On-Sea police are appealing for information after an armed robbery in the town on Wednesday (October 18th). A man entered the newsagents shop in Oxford Street at about 9.20am and threatened staff with a gun. He made off empty handed. More...

Seven jobs go at supermarket
SEVEN middle managers at Burnham-On-Sea's Somerfield supermarket have been laid off this week as part of a cost-cutting move, we can reveal. The supermarket giant confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com on Tuesday (October 17th) that seven jobs have been axed. More...

ITV man to turn on Xmas lights
BURNHAM-On-Sea's High Street will glow a little brighter this Christmas with the news that 19 new sets of festive lights are to be switched on during November. An afternoon of activities will be held in the run-up to the big switch-on, it was announced on Tuesday (Oct 17th). More...

£11k skate park plans unveiled
AN £11,000 scheme to overhaul Burnham-On-Sea's skateboarding facilities is set to be unveiled later this week. Surrey firm Fearless Ramps will show how it proposes to introduce new facilities at Apex Leisure Park during a special meeting at Jaycroft Road. More...

Hinkley prepares for shut down
BRITISH Energy admitted on Monday (Oct 16th) that cracks in boiler pipes at Hinkley Point power station, near Burnham, are "at the high end of those previously experienced" and it's therefore temporarily shutting the reactor, which may be out of action for "months." More...

New fashion shop for Burnham
A NEW fashion shop has this week opened its doors for the first time on Burnham-On-Sea's High Street. Called Spangles, the new store is at 3 The High Street and replaces the former branch of DC Computers. Its owner said the first few days had been a busy time. More...

'Reckless' youngsters risk fines
YOUNGSTERS who filmed themselves standing on top of a car whilst it was driven along a beach in the Burnham-On-Sea area are breaking a bye-law and risk heavy penalties. Alarming footage of youngsters using vehicles on local beaches has come to light this week. More...

Anglers reel in bumper catches
OVER