Published: March 13, 2008
Burnham-On-Sea jetty misses out on historical listing

A bid to get Burnham-On-Sea's jetty listed as a 'structure of special historic interest' in an attempt to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds for much-needed repairs has failed.

Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively learns the application has been turned down by English Nature - which states the jetty is "not of sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit listing."

The news has come as blow to those town councillors who were hoping that gaining the listed status would open the doors to much-needed funding to renovate the crumbling structure, which has received another battering during this week's storms.

Burnham's Deputy Mayor, Neville Jones, who has led the campaign to get the jetty listed, told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week that he is "very disappointed" by the decison.

He added: "Our jetty may not be as famous as the Lyme Regis Cobb, but it has played an enormous part in Burnham's history and deserved to be listed."

"I am disappointed by this decision and Sedgemoor District Council, the jetty's owner, will now need to do something soon about its condition or it will worsen."

English Nature said the application for listed status had not been approved for several "fundamental" reasons.

Kate Clark, Territory Co-Ordinator for the West, explained: "It is a mid 19th century, simple and functional structure with no claims to technological interest. It is not a particularly early example of a jetty and does not survive complete."

"It does, however, have local historic interest which is reflected in its inclusion in the conservation area. It therefore is not of sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit listing."

But Cllr Jones told Burnham-On-Sea.com he has still not given up hope of securing the hundreds of thousands of pounds that are needed to renovate the structure.

"There is a possibility of funding from one other source that I am currently exploring," he said, adding that while talks are ongoing he could not say more.

Our photos show (top) the busy jetty at the height of last summer, (centre) the jetty's crumbling tarmac surface, and (bottom) Burnham's Deputy Mayor Neville Jones inspecting the structure.