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Published:
February 14, 2008
Burnham-On-Sea
groups face big bills for testing of lighting columns
 Several
groups in Burnham-On-Sea face bills for thousands of pounds due
to tough new regulations requiring them to test street lighting
columns.
Tighter
health and safety regulations have recently come into force that
require lighting columns to be tested for their structural integrity.
Burnham
and Highbridge Town Council admitted this week it is bracing itself
for a big bill. Town Clerk Eileen Shaw warned councillors at a
meeting on Tuesday (February 12th): "We could face a charge
of more than £2,000 for testing the 46 lights along The
Esplanade."
Several
other groups in Burnham which use lighting columns also face being
charged for the testing work.
 Burnham
In Bloom, which hangs flower baskets from columns in the High
Street, and the Chamber of Trade, which hangs Christmas lights
on the columns, met County Council bosses earlier this week to
discuss how to split up an additional £1,000 bill for testing
19 lighting columns in the town centre.
Burnham-On-Sea.com
understands several lighting columns in Highbridge may have to
be removed altogether since they were built in such a way that
no longer meets the tough new policies.
The
regulations are already causing frustration, with town councillor
Eric Gill telling Tuesday's council meeting: "It's another
example of health and safety regulations being inflicted on us.
It's an unnecessarly complicated and expensive situation."
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