Published: September 19, 2008
Burnham-On-Sea shops shut down after poor summer season

Several shops across Burnham-On-Sea are shutting down as the effects of the financial downturn and a poor summer of weather have hit trade.

Seafront clothing store Rose and Amber told Burnham-On-Sea.com it would be closing at the end of September after a "disappointing" summer season.

And Bewitched, a clothing shop in Adam Street, has said it too will be shutting at the end of the month due to poor trading conditions.

Avon Independence in Victoria Street, pictured below, has already closed its mobility equipment shop to concentrate efforts on its Weston store.

The closures follow a poor summer of weather which, combined with the growing effects of the financial downturn, have reduced the number of shoppers in town.

Sue Clarke of Bewitched told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It has been a poor summer of trade and the 'credit crunch' seems to have dented shoppers' confidence in spending as much as they usually might."

Steve Matthews of Rose and Amber added: "It's not been a bad summer of trade, but it's certainly not been as busy as we'd hoped, which is disappointing. We've taken the decision to concentrate our efforts on our main store in Weston."

Alex Turco, Chairman of Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's sad to see these shops going. We are seeing tough economic conditions and it does appear that some shops reliant on seasonal trading have suffered this year."

Memorabilia and gift store Aladdins Cave in College Street is also shutting its store, although this is not connected with the downturn.