Published: November 4, 2008
Burnham town councillors urged to secure future of Princess Hall

Town councillors in Burnham-On-Sea have this week been urged to secure the future of the town's Princess Hall.

Burnham resident Tony Lynham told a meeting of the full town council on Monday evening (November 3rd): "It is vitally important that Sedgemoor District Council should not be allowed to consider selling off the Princess."

"Many towns would be only too pleased to have a facility like this - it's a wonderful asset - and it's only losing money because it's never been properly promoted by the district council."

"Many users like myself want it to stay as it is. It has so much potential and could easily double its income if it were better marketed. There are so many potential users."

He added: "We shouldn't be considering selling this - or any property - during the current 'credit crunch' when prices are so depressed."

His comments came minutes before town councillors discussed the future of the Princess during a confidential 30-minute session at the end of Monday's meeting that was not open to the public or media.

Town Mayor Peter Clayton told Burnham-On-Sea.com afterwards that the discussions had been "positive" and said it was too early to disclose further information about the issues being discussed.

Two weeks ago, Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report that the town had failed in its bid to secure £500,000 of funding for the regeneration of the town centre as part of the government's Sea Change scheme.

Plans to refurbish the Princess were unveiled by consultant Nigel Grainge earlier this year in close liaison with the Burnham Community Association, the Burnham and Highbridge Regeneration Partnership, the Princess Hall User Group and Burnham Chamber of Trade.