A concerned group of Burnham-On-Sea residents has this week called on town councillors to withdraw their support of controversial plans for a new mini golf course on the town’s seafront.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last week how the proposed course on a grassy area of the South Esplanade had been approved by the council’s planning applications committee.
However, a group of residents, pictured above, attended the town council’s full meeting on Monday evening (June 7th) to demand councillors “rescind” their decision.
Resident Ann Popham explained: “This is open community land for everyone to enjoy. It was opened in 1938 and yet the golf course would see a large area completely fenced off.”
She told councillors: “It is your job to look after local people – these proposals are not in the public’s interest. The council will lose revenue from car parking, there will be disastrous noise, and the new food shop will attract seagulls.”
Sedgemoor District Council’s executive committee is due to decide on Wednesday (June 9th) whether the lease for the grassy area will be made available to entrepreneur Paul Chatwin.
Mr Chatwin said his course will be “sensitively designed” to minimise the impact on local residents. He added that there are “an awful lot of inaccuracies” being quoted by residents.
He hopes the proposed tourist attraction will attract new visitors to the town and help to boost the local economy, as first reported here by Burnham-On-Sea.com in February.
Town councillors cautiously voted against changing their decision, with Cllr Ken Smout telling Monday’s meeting: “I would like some protection placed on the land to protect the long-term interests of the town and be mindful of the concerned residents.”
